From Letná park to fifteen years in Žižkov
How an American with a Level 1 certificate and a stubborn streak built the second CrossFit gym in the country, lost nearly all of it, and built it back.
2009
Prague
Joey walks into his first CrossFit workout convinced he's fit.
“I thought I was in great shape. Then I did my first CrossFit workout. After peeling myself off the floor, I knew there was still a lot of work to be done.”
2010
The certificate
Joey gets his CrossFit Level 1 and starts coaching. He hasn't stopped since.
2011
Letná park, Prague
No gym, no money, just a park and a few stubborn people. CrossFit Committed becomes the second CrossFit gym in the country, training outdoors in every weather.
2013
The hangar, Holešovice
A 500 m² wooden hangar, one of the biggest training floors in the country. Members describe it as a Rocky movie set. 350 people call it their gym.
“At the big gyms their entire business model is built around the assumption that you'll buy an expensive membership and never show up. They count on it. Not here.”
2020
The year everything broke
COVID closes the gym, the landlord ends the lease. Members drop from 350 to 45.
“I moved into the gym office and lived there for two years to keep this place alive.”
2021
Žižkov
A new hall behind a courtyard gate on Hartigova street. Smaller crowd, same standard: every class coached, every result measured.
2026
Fifteen years
100+ members. 80+ of them competed in this year's CrossFit Open. Joey holds a CF-L3 and has competed in every Open since 2011. Still coaching. Still proving people are stronger than they think.
“My job is proving to people that they're stronger than they think.”
Joey Scafidi, CF-L3. He has competed in every CrossFit Open since 2011.
The people who'll know your name by week two.
Joey Scafidi
Owner · CF-L3
Coaching since 2010. Clients from Olympic athletes to people who were told they couldn't train.
Honza Valtera
Coach
Found CrossFit in Switzerland. Train smart, stay healthy: injury prevention is his thing.
Helen
Coach
Former swimmer, gymnast and track athlete. The technique specialist. Thursday 6 AM is hers.
David Arneil
Coach · CF-L2
Member since 2012, coach since 2022. Living proof the system works: CF-L1, then CF-L2 a year later.
Ahmed
Coach
Member since 2016, former software development manager. Coaches like a mentor, because he is one.
Janos
Operations
Ten plus years in the gym, runs operations, and one of the strongest athletes in the room.
Tuna
Labrador · Head of Morale
Does not scale burpees.
Come meet us.
The first Kickoff Strategy is free, and Tuna usually shows up.
Free, 45 minutes, InBody scan included.