DAVE DURANTE
In addition, David captains Team Power Monkey (part of Power Monkey Fitness) which is comprised of elite gymnasts and coaches who help design new gymnastics equipment, as well as help the fitness community get a better technical understanding of gymnastics movements. David also teaches dynamic acrobatics to aspiring circus performers at the premier circus school in NYC, Circus Warehouse.
David has been doing CrossFit for about 5 years, is a CrossFit Level 1 coach, and has a regular gymnastics class at CrossFit LIC in NYC. He is excited about getting more involved with the CrossFit community and is passionate about bringing a comprehensive understanding of gymnastics to boxes all over the world.¹
When it comes to comparing gymnastics and CrossFit, Durante thinks that women body type is a bit more conducive to be a high-level crossfiter than professional gymnast. Everything in gymnastics is about baby steps. David Durante explains that being able to move your own body-weight translates very well into all different movements. Even with coaching high level athletes it is about taking foundation and applying them into high level movements.
He tries to explain athletes that with technique they will be not only able to do the movement from today. Today´s standards might be different tomorrow.
“Muscle-ups are not even a skill in gymnastics. They have no value.”
When David Durante says something like that he doesn´t want to demoralize CrossFit. He just wants to bring athletes to the peak of their performance.
“It is incredible to see athletes with no gymnastic background to do things which take gymnast years of practice.”
An outstanding name for him is Chris Spealler. According to Durante, Spealler has incredible ability to understand movement.
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Image Sources
- christa-+-ben: Ben Bergeron / Christa Giordano