CrossFit Brit

This is my second review Crossfit Briit.
As always, Crossfit Brit is an amazingly welcoming box while I am away from home. I have been there maybe 6 – 7 times throughout the years and I have always had a great experience.
Sham is a friendly, knowledgeable coach that keeps you safe along with pushing you to your limits. He has no hesitation in correcting my bad form, pushing me further, or just plan being my true coach while I am visiting.
All of the equipment is top notch. Each time I return, there is always a small improvement made somewhere. Every bar, rig, plate, KB, etc is in great shape.
I’ve never been to a busy class here, but there never seems to be a shortage of equipment. The space can get tight though, but has never been an issue with me.
Lastly, all of the fellow athletes are just as welcoming. Everyone pushes each other through the WOD’s which helps of course.
Thanks again, Crossfit Brit.

It was awesome visiting Crossfit Brit today. I was a bit hesitant to visit a new box since I had a bad experience visiting another box while I was out of town. But Coach Nick and the members at Crossfit Brit made me feel really welcome. I love the class size and the fact that Nick was very attentive to us and watched us through the lifts and WOD. I plan on coming back whenever I’m in town for work. I would recommend this box for visitors since it’s an intimate box and the community is very welcoming and caring. Sham the owner, who was not there when I visited, but together a great program today. An intense and challenging workout but very doable ! Thank you Crossfit Brit!

I joined about six months ago and I love this place! I’d never done any weightlifting before and I can see the big improvements i’ve made since joining. Sham and his fellow trainers really know fitness and where to push you if you need, or can take it. If you want to be your best in 2016, there’s no better place to join!

I have never been so impressed with a crossfit box in my life. They are an all around perfect package. Awesome coaches, awesome members, awesome clean and organized gym. Love it. I’m joining tomorrow! Crossfit Brit is first good thing to happen to my move to Irvine!

I moved to California about 3 ½ years ago and as soon as I got here I noticed Crossfit gyms seemingly on every corner. I didn’t know much about it other than the typical rumors of «it’s crazy hard, you will definitely get hurt and it’s super intimidating», so of course I had to try it! I went to a number of gyms all with a mediocre experience. Some, the members didn’t even acknowledge me, others coaches didn’t provide adequate attention to what I was doing and I ended up getting so sore I couldn’t straighten my arms for an entire week. I was ready to throw in the towel on the whole crossfit idea but decided to try one more «box». That box was CrossFit Brit and I am so thankful I did. As soon as I walked through the doors I was greeted with a smile by not only the owner and head coach, Sham, but by every single person there. I’ve never felt so welcomed somewhere in my entire life.
As soon as we started the workout I knew I was in the right place. Sham walked me through every phase of every movement to make sure I was doing it correctly to avoid injury. SO important and something not many crossfit coaches are patient enough to do. Sham is one of the most knowledgeable, caring and genuine people I’ve ever met. He takes the time to get to know each and every member and knows how to push each person based on their individual abilities. He makes your goals his priority and he does this all while making sure you have proper form. Sham has countless certifications and is privy in all aspects of fitness. His programming is exceptional and as a result every member continues to make significant strides and grow as an athlete.
I had struggled with my weight for a long time even though I was always pretty active. I made endless efforts to get myself in the gym and eat right but I was consistently inconsistent. I wasn’t seeing fast enough results so I basically just gave up and went back to my old habits. When I met Sham, his wife Sonja (the nutrition guru) and the CrossFit Brit community I had no idea the difference crossfit could make in my fitness struggles and in my life. The positive energy and motivation that the coaches and members give, keep you coming back for more. I needed that push and I needed someone who knew what they were doing. Little by little I started seeing results and feeling myself get faster and stronger. That’s when I became addicted. Sham always challenges me and gives me the confidence that every doubt I was facing I could overcome. I’m living proof he was right. This time 3 years ago, I had no confidence in my image and wasn’t very concerned with the things I was consuming on a daily basis. Now I wake up excited to go the gym and see what new challenges I’ll face. My health is finally on track and I’m in the best shape of my life.
The confidence that comes from this type of program is not just one of self-​image but one of self. Yes you can do anything you put hard work, dedication and time into. Cliché or not, it’s the absolute truth and this can be applied to every aspect of your life. It’s shaped me to be a more confident woman knowing that I’m truly capable of accomplishing anything. I’ve never met such genuine, caring people. People that want to see you succeed just as much as you do. People whose goals are to see you reach yours. People who see greatness within you when you may not see it yourself yet. I have made friendships here that will last a lifetime and this is how they treat every person that walks through the door for the first time. Is it crazy hard? Sometimes yes, but what worth doing isn’t? Will you «definitely get injured» — not with proper coaching provided. Is it super intimidating? Not this gym. Crossfit Brit is a breath of fresh air in the fitness world and wouldn’t be where it is today without Sham, the other coaches, Brandon, Travis, Nick and Brian, and its amazing members. I’m so thankful I found CFBrit, best decision I ever made.

Crossfit Brit has been an amazing experience for me. I was new to crossfit when I walked through the door, but I immediately felt comfortable. Sham (the owner) is an amazing guy that I fully trust with my health and fitness. All of the people that I have met at this box have been great. Joining Crossfit Brit has been a positive change in my life.

Did a drop-​in here once and loved it! They have an awesome space, friendly members and amazing coaches. Sham and Nick taught the class that night and did an excellent job and warmed us up with a run/​stretches, took us through a fun kettlebell EMOM, followed by a mentally tough metcon with push presses, pull-​ups, and overhead squats. We then ended the class with a cool-​down stretch. Definitely needed after that spicy workout! The coaches here are very knowledgeable and I was very happy with my experience here.

I honestly could not say enough positive things about CrossFit Brit. At first I was not only intimidated by the perceived intensity of CrossFit Brit, but also the rumors that after I would look like a body builder, and being a female that was not the look I was going for. I’ll let you know that only one of those is true. Yes, CrossFit is intense but I started seeing results immediately and have never felt better about my body. And to top it all off, all the coaches plus other members at CrossFit Brit makes it an incredibly fun environment. I actually looked forward to going to the gym each day, and it felt like family there. Everyone there wants to help you, teach you, challenge you, cheer you on, and make you the very best that you can be.
This place is hands down the best. SHAM (the owner and head coach) is absolutely amazing; he reviews proper form and technique at the beginning of every class. In addition, he never hesitates to offer his educated wisdom on techniques, nutrition, soreness, and more. Nick Jeffers (trainer) always circulating around the room providing feedback to all the athletes, making sure form and technique aren’t compromise for speed or weight. Travis (trainer) he is very detail and will walk you through every single movement with extremely patience. Each coach has their own style of teaching but one thing in common, they all have the ability to make you laugh during an extremely tough WOD which makes the atmosphere super fun.
CrossFit Brit has changed the way I look at working out, changed the way I view nutrition, and changed my whole outlook on fitness. And while doing so, it’s introduced me to a countless number of amazing people.
There are other gyms out there but there is only one CrossFit Brit

I am beyond happy that I switched to this box. Sham and all the coaches make sure they are paying attention to your form/​technique. The minute I walked in everyone introduced themselves and made me feel comfortable and right at home. The way the business is handled is very straight forward. If you email with questions they get replied to pretty quickly. I highly recommend CrossFit Brit!

I’ve been to several boxes throughout OC and in my opinion, CrossFit Brit is the best box, hands down. Many coaches are great athletes but very few coaches are great teachers of the sport. Sham is the owner and head coach and has been coaching and training athletes for 20+ years and his experience shines through in each workout. He is extremely passionate about creating better athletes and makes it fun while doing so. As CrossFit is a challenging and at times, intimidating workout/​sport; Sham creates a welcoming environment from day 1 for both inexperienced and experienced CrossFitters.
Another amazing part about CrossFit Brit is the focus placed on the movements and the programming. The upmost importance is placed on proper movement and prevention of injury. One of the things I enjoy most about working out at CrossFit Brit is the amazing programming. In addition to programming amazing WODs, one of the best things that separates CrossFit Brit from other boxes is the programming of daily stretching and warm-​up activities. Each warm-​up and stretching exercise is specifically and strategically designed for the workout for that day — which mitigates the risk of injury and generates top performances. Again, only experienced and knowledgeable coaches and trainers can execute this properly and it is evident each day I come to the box.
The vibe is light, welcoming, and fun. The people at CrossFit Brit are a second family.
Lastly, the coaching is extremely professional and classes start on time, the box is extremely clean and if you’re ready to have «a bit of fun,» I highly recommend you give CrossFit Brit a try.

Sham was one of my first crossfit coaches back in early 2012, and I believe that’s one of the reasons why I stuck with crossfit. A good coach will teach you technique, but also knows how to push you. They know which verbal cues work for certain people and which don’t. Sham and Sonja have done a fantastic job creating a great community at Crossfit Brit. After being gone for almost 2 years, I came back to visit SoCal for about week and wanted to check out the new box. Both were extremely warm and welcoming, making me feel like I never left at all. I could tell by talking to the members of the box love it there. Everyone was extremely friendly and took initiative in introducing themselves — not something you find in a lot of boxes.
Great community, friendly and knowledgeable coaches — all the makings of a fantastic box.

Joining crossfit requires a couple of things, a great space, encouraging members, and most importantly an amazing coach. This place has it all and then some! Sham (the owner) has excellent coaching skills with numerous credentials to back it up. As a result, he keeps you safe while you achieve major fitness goals. I used to be a cardio person, doing the same thing over and over, spending way too much time at «globo-​gyms,» with no notable results. Here I have had unimaginable gains, my strength and endurance have grown by leaps and bounds. Not to mention, some wonderful new friends too. Crossfit can be intimidating to some but not here. Even if it’s your very first attempt at crossfit, drop by take a look, try out a WOD, and you will be leaving with the itch to come back to one of the best boxes in the OC!

I was traveling for work and dropped in to work out with Sham and company. I wish I could give them 10 stars instead of 5. What an excellent community! Coach Sham knows his business and cares about your success in the workout. The Irvine community is lucky to have them around. I would join here in a heartbeat if I lived in the area.

Amazing! Being completely new to crossfit, it’s a totally different mentality than just «working out». I didn’t think that I was out of shape, until I tried a WOD. However, Sham is like a personal trainer, and he walked me through every step. It was definitely difficult, but he knows how to scale you so that it’s completely do-​able but still gets you gasping. He knew I’d be sore the next day, so he even took the time to help me stretch. (which was almost as painful as the workout)
You can tell how passionate he is about fitness & health. He & «Mrs. Sham» even got me started on the Whole30, and I’m feeling fantastic! (Tight but fantastic)
If you’re fearful about jumping into crossfit, as I was, Sham is perfect because he knows how to push each person to their limit without overdoing it. This box has also attracted a great group of people. They’re all extremely friendly, helpful, and supportive. I’m almost 40, and I think I’m on the road to being the healthiest & fittest I’ve been in my life! Thanks Sham & Mrs. Sham!

First, I have to admit that I have drank the CrossFit cool-​aid. I go to CrossFit Brit 4 – 5 times a week at 6am. (I’m a teacher and go at 6am even during the summer because I love it so much). CrossFit is the toughest form of exercise I have done since college and it has given me the best result ever. My fitness and strength has changed drastically. My running has improved, I can do pull-​ups, and lift amounts of weight that I never had any interest in ever lifting.
The secret to this gyms success is really simple: Sham. He is the owner and main coach. Sham puts up with all my crap and keeps me honest. He never lets me or anyone slack off in a workout, he critiques my form every single day and makes sure we are all having fun when we feel like we want to die from a tough WOD.
Sham has not only helped me with my fitness but he has coached me through eating paleo. He is always available for advice regarding exercise, food or just life in general. What I love about Sham is that he takes the time to actually get to know every single one of his members. He is personally invested in all of us and genuinely wants us all to succeed. He isn’t just the coach in the corner watching the time go by, he keeps us all injury free, and motivates us all to do our best.
Overall:
–Sham has changed my life, body and mind
–I used to hate weight lifting, and now I can’t get enough
–Every class is different, challenging and worth waking up early for
–The members of this gym are all wonderful people and awesome to workout with
–It’s worth every penny

My girlfriend and I were in town visiting family for the 4^th of July and needed a box to drop in at on Friday. We found Crossfit Brit and everything about the box was awesome. Sham (the owner) greeted both of us at the door and was extremely personable and an all around great guy. There was no cost for a drop in rate which was awesome since most boxes regularly charge $ 20 or at least want you to buy a T-​shirt. We bought a shirt because we like to have a collection from each out-​of-​town box we go to, but other than that there was no charge.
As we went back to the box we were greeted by all the other members and all of them were so nice and welcoming. There were only ~7 people total during our workout which was great because we were able to get such detailed coaching on form and movements from Sham. Sham took his time with my girlfriend and I to critique each of us on our overhead squat and clusters even though we were just there for the day. You can tell he truly cares about people performing the movements the correct way which I believe makes an excellent crossfit trainer. We have both been doing crossfit for awhile and he was able to give us both tips that improved our technique and performance immediately. Overall you cannot go wrong with Crossfit Brit and I will be back if we return. Awesome WOD and great warm up and strength component.
Pros: Small box with great coaching, friendly staff and members, great location and equipment, no drop in rate and sweet shirts, free bottles of water
Cons: none!

Crossfit Brit is an amazing gym. Where else could you do incredibly hard workouts, to the point that you crumple in a ball on the floor afterwards, but be smiling the entire time?
Sham, the owner, programmer, and trainer at Brit, is encouraging, pushes you to your limit, but always makes sure the workouts are safe. The programming is well thought out and the results are incredibly rewarding. Sham gets to know each of the members well and how to push each person individually. All members are at different levels and Sham knows just how to push each person to their ability.
Before Sham, I couldn’t do pullups, couldn’t do double-​unders, and certainly couldn’t squat more than 35 pounds. I now do all pull up and double under workouts at RX, and have hit triple digits on several weight bearing exercises. Sham is just as cheery at 6am as he is at 6:45pm. He is a stickler for form and makes sure every movement is done safely.
What’s also great about Crossfit Brit is the people. After class, most of us sit around chatting for half an hour afterwards. Its a very warm, inviting place to be, to the point that most of us don’t want to leave. Ages range from 20 to those in their 50s, but everyone gets along well and always encourages each other.
Its hard to imagine a better Crossfit experience. I’ve tried a few other gyms but for the programming, the coaching, and the camaraderie, I think Crossfit Brit is the ideal place to work out.
In general, I feel Crossfit is the ideal workout, especially for someone who grew up playing team sports and misses that competitive spirit and team camaraderie.

Well, I started doing crossfit before joining a box, but it isn’t the same until you have some correcting your form and pushing you from personal knowledge about you.
I met Sham from the 6 AM classes at SCCF, and to be honest was a little intimidated by him. Very stern, wasn’t going to let bullshit fly. But I guess that’s why I went back to him. And continued to follow him when he left, and opened Crossfit Brit.
I have type 1 diabetes, have since I was 15 months old. So at the ripe age of 20, I generally push myself harder then anyone does. But on those days I try to take off, Sham holds me to those standards I generally hold myself to.
If anything, we’re a tight knit group that is completely warm and welcoming to outsiders. A small beginning to even bigger horizons. Come in and check us out, we’re bloody awesome.
Plus, we get JACKED.

Brian, Did not just sum up what Crossfit is about, I am sure everyone that goes there agrees with him.
I started Crossfit in October of 2010. I was in no shape or size to think i could do crossfit. Sham has been the best and worst part of each WOD.
Best:
Full range workouts
correct movement and position-​makes everything easier
Knowledge and Experience (He knows how to modify so that you are always improving)
Sham knows ever-​ones name and where you started and where you are at! You feel like you are getting a one on one training session with a cheering team.
Worst:
Nothing gets by him (He pays attention and you cant get away with half efforts)
You feel like a train hit you after every WOD — No matter if it is your first or 100^th
I guess the worst of the WODs is what gets you the Best of the experience and fast results.
I have been training in health clubs for 24 years (Started when i was 14) I have worked with many diff trainers, for max fitness to weightloss. I have never had such a complete full fitness experience in that 24 years.
Here at Crossfit Brit, your warmups are like mini WODs and the WODs are never more then 25min. Sham is the absolute best!

Since the popularity of CrossFit has grown significantly in the recent years, CrossFit boxes have popped up everywhere and there seems to be an endless amount of choices available. Many people complain that CrossFit is expensive. It’s not cheap compared to a membership at 24 Hour or LA Fitness. But find a CrossFit box that has a quality coach and members you vibe with and I guarantee you won’t think twice about monthly membership. Especially after you see an all around improvement in your fitness.
I first trained with Sham when he was coaching at South Coast CrossFit. I truly enjoyed my experience there and quickly learned why Sham’s classes consistently had the largest attendance. It was a no brainer for me to leave SCCF to train with Sham when he decided to open CrossFit Brit!
Prior to CrossFit, I was an avid gym goer for nearly a decade at local 24 Hour Fitness gyms. All I did was lift weights and did close to no cardio. I felt that my fitness gains had plateaued, I was constantly bored and got tired of watching guys do more flexing in the mirror than actual exercise. When I first started CrossFit in May 2012, I had no idea I was going to become an addict. Since then I’ve leaned out, have gotten stronger and would consider myself to be in the best shape of my life.
I owe much of this to Coach Sham. Under his coaching and instruction, I have seen unprecedented gains in my level of fitness that I was never able to achieve by just going to the gym. Sham has years of experience as a trainer and extensive knowledge in Olympic lifting as well strength and conditioning. All of which add to his effectiveness as a CrossFit coach, due to the importance of the Olympic lifts involved in CrossFit. I consider a good coach one that 1) Has a strong knowledge of the fundamentals and 2) Can actually perform and demonstrate the movements they are teaching. Sham possesses both. He has a ridiculous amount of knowledge and has always been able to address all my questions and concerns. He’s more than a true English gentleman, this guy can move mad weight and makes it look effortless.
I have been to other boxes and had the pleasure of training with other coaches. As such, I can say with confidence that Sham is a legit coach. His attention to detail combined with his genuine passion to see you succeed in achieving your fitness goals has resulted in a loyal following. One of the most valuable assets Sham has as a coach is his ability to spot issues with my form/​technique and explain it to me while giving me a solution. This has elevated and improved my Olympic lifts by leaps and bounds.
CrossFit Brit is relatively new, so the equipment is trickling in slowly. But there’s definitely enough there to make you realize that all those random machines at those globo gyms are useless. The members at Brit are all friendly and awesome to train with. There’s always that friendly competitiveness in the air, but every member is there to cheer on the person next to them.
So to summarize:
— CrossFit Brit members are awesome.
— Coach Sham is legit.
— CrossFit gets you SHREDDED & JACKED!
— I heart CrossFit