Adapt and Overcome

The Story of an Adaptive Athlete

Brandon Wood and his twin-brother, Sean Wood, were born prematurely with a condition known as cerebral palsy, or CP for short. CP is a group of disorders that affect a person's balance, and their ability to move and maintain balance and posture. Despite this condition, Brandon Wood is an athlete and has worked hard to overcome the physical challenges that CP presents on a daily basis. 

Brandon Wood coaches the beginners boxing class at Ramos Boxing Club in Albany. Wood began coaching about 10 years ago and coaches beginner, advanced, and pro boxers and MMA fighters. Wood graduated from LBCC in 2004 with a degree in criminal justice and afterwards began working with troubled youth, which is what lead him to boxing. Because of the balance issues caused by Wood's CP, he has never been able to compete in either boxing or MMA, but wrestled for six years in middle and high school and trained in other combative sports. He also spent several years competing in wheelchair basketball. 

Brandon Wood gets in one last pre-competition workout at House of Pain CrossFit Gym in Albany Friday, Nov. 11. In addition to participating in sports, Wood has always enjoyed weight training. In 2020, he tried CrossFit for the first time. "I wanted to try it because the variety of movements and better use of all around muscle groups. But the first time I tried it I hated it," Wood said. "But one of the coaches at the gym I tried, Elena Mendoza, was persistent and kept checking in with me. Later, she opened her own gym and I came back to try it again. After the free week, I signed my life away." Since then Wood has been training at Mendoza's CrossFit gym, House of Pain.

Brandon Wood peddles the echo bike during the first WOD of the Salem Gobbler Gauntlet 2022 CrossFit Competition at the Salem fairgrounds Saturday, Nov. 12. The competition is comprised of three separate WODs, which is a CrossFit term for 'workout of the day.' Each WOD is timed, and each team must complete a series of exercises with as many repetitions as possible within the allotted time. The team with the most repetitions wins. During this WOD, Wood's team must rotate through the echo bike, ski machine, dumbbell snatches and hanging knee raises, accumulating as many calories burned and reps completed as possible during the round. Wood's coach, Elena Mendoza (right), is by Wood's side to assist him with the transitions on and off the bike quickly which can be difficult for him due to his mobility issues. Mendoza has helped Wood to find exercise modifications that work well for him, and has been a huge motivator in his decision to compete in CrossFit.

 

Brandon Wood (center), and his teammates, Jeff Stimpson (left) and Andy Keys (right), are competing in the Male Novice Division. This division allows athletes to scale (perform movements with less weight or complete fewer reps than the prescribed workout), or modify workouts to suit their specific needs. A judge stands by each team (shown on the left) to count and ensure each rep is done correctly. During this WOD, two team members must hold up the weight on the gurney, while the third member completes 60 wall ball throws. After which, the team must take a lap carrying the gurney, and then take turns completing jump overs and burpees as many times as they can before the time runs out. Wood was able to do complete all the exercises in this WOD with few modifications which he says is because of CrossFit. "Since I started CrossFit my balance and strength are much better."

One of the staples of any CrossFit team competition is great team names. Wood's team is aptly named, "Snap, Crackle, Pop."

Between WODs, Wood takes a break and hangs out with his wife, Brie Wood (left). Brie Wood is an Instructional Assistant in the Math Cafe on LBCC's main campus in Albany. Brandon and Brie Wood live in Albany with their two boxer dogs, Sirius and Raven. About a year ago, Brandon got Brie to try CrossFit with him and now they both enjoy working out together.

Jeff Stimpson, Elena Mendoza and Brandon Wood hold up the first-place trophy for the Male Novice Division. Their other teammate, Andy Keys, had to leave before the winners were announced. This was Wood's third CrossFit competition, and his second first-place win. Wood says he will definitely be competing again in the future. He offers this advice for any other athletes, adaptive or able, "Learn to be comfortable in the pain cave so you can find your way out. Persevere through the hard shit."

In 2021, the official CrossFit games introduced several new adaptive divisions for athletes with disabilities. These new more inclusive divisions make it possible for more athletes with mobility issues to compete at higher levels in CrossFit.