Full Name: Charles DerGurahian, Jr.
Nickname: CJ
Hometown: Schodack, NY
Occupation: Production Engineer
Educational/Training Background Info: Bachelors of Science: Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech in 2012. I played soccer, basketball, and baseball in high school and club baseball in college.
Qualification: CrossFit Level 1 Certificate
First WOD: 4 Rounds, 400m Run, 20 Wall Balls 20#, 15 Toes to Bar, 10 Hang Cleans 115# – I had to modify everything except for the run and earned a “30:00+” as my score. Around halfway through, the coach asked me if I wanted to quit. I told him I didn’t care how long it took, I was finishing and it was at that point I was hooked.
Greatest Fitness/Nutrition Advice: It’s imperative to get out outside your comfort zone in order to overcome mental and physical barriers or plateaus.
Favorite Quote: The entire “Inch by Inch” speech from Any Given Sunday. It gives me goosebumps EVERY time I listen to it.
Go to cheat meal: Chick-Fil-A and anything with chocolate and peanut butter combined.
Words of Wisdom for rookies: Don’t compare your scores to others who have been CrossFitting for longer than you have. As long as you show up and put in the hard work each and every time you’re on the mats, you will see the progress you are after and gain more mental toughness as a result.
Benchmark lifts: Clean & Jerk: 315, Snatch: 210, Back Squat: 400, Front Squat: 360, Dead Lift: 466 for 3 Reps, Strict press: 215, Push Press: 285, Bench Press: 285
Who inspires you: The Compound members who push me to a new level each and every day.
Why CrossFit?: I needed something more than the “Globo Gym” routine, which clearly wasn’t working, to rehab my knee after ACL reconstruction surgery since I was still walking with a limp a year later. My body weight and health was quickly getting out of control, so I gave the Compound a 3 month trial and now I can honestly say I am the fittest I’ve ever been. I haven’t even considered going back to the old way of training.
Personal Goals: Podium in a SuperFit event and continue to progress in my fitness journey in all aspects.
Favorite Compound Memory: The 2014 CrossFit Games Open. I was just 1 month into CrossFit and signed up the night before the Open started. I continuously thank everyone who convinced me to sign up because I would have been extremely upset with myself if I didn’t participate in the Friday night throwdown’s.