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We have gone over this in a newsletter before, but the topic of gymnastics grips is always a hot topic, especially around Murph time. So let us dive into this and explain the different types, the goals, and some tips on how to get better usage out of the gymnastics grip. Let us start by understanding that there are two different types of grips, hand protection, and grip enhancement. They both have their uses, but in my opinion the grip enhancement is far superior, especially for the type of stuff we are doing. Hand Protection grips are really more like gloves than anything else. They protect the palm of the hand, but offer nothing in terms of grip enhancement, and in most cases actually make it more difficult to hold onto the bar. The main goal of this post is to understand the difference, and make sure we are sizing/utilizing our grips to offer hand protection AND grip enhancement. There are a million different styles of grips out there, and we can't go over them all, but these principles will apply to any style of grip you choose. We will break this down into 3 parts, sizing/placement, utilizing the fold and/or friction, and hand position on the bar. Let's go. Sizing A proper gymnastics grip should be large, and at least extend to the last knuckle of the fingers.

2025 summer line will be pre-order only so make sure to get your orders in! You can check out more details and place your order at 12labours.bigcartel.com Orders are due by Friday May 9, 2025

As many of our Annapolis members know, in Fall 2024, 12 Labours started an official Barbell Club class on Monday and Wednesday at 5:30 pm in Annapolis. During our first 12 week cycle, the focus was on building awareness and stability in the proper positions necessary for the snatch and clean and jerk (olympic weightlifting), as well as the back squat, bench and deadlift (powerlifting). Our members who have attended have experienced immense success in their lifts, both in improving form, as well as improving strength. The second cycle which started in January 2025 has been focused on first continuing to build technical proficiency, followed by improving strength with technical proficiency, and finally working towards some of our olympic lifting member’s first competition at the Cap City Open on April 27. As we look to the future with Barbell Club, we are hoping to not only invite more members into our lifting sessions to continue building technical proficiency in the lifts but also enhance the process of working towards competition for members who would like this opportunity. Barbell club programming for the Olympic Weightlifting side will involve two tracks, a locally competitive track, and a nationally competitive track. For anyone new to the sport of Olympic weightlifting (snatch, clean and jerk), local competitions can be entered by any athlete who fulfills the requirements of that specific meet (USAW sanctioned meets require a USAW membership). Athletes are designated to the weight class of their choosing (we typically guide towards competing at a weight class that your body is naturally comfortable at) and can be Junior (under 18 years old), Senior (over 18 years old), and Masters (35 years old and over) age groups. National and International meets can only be entered by athletes who have posted a qualifying total at a local meet, or more competitive meet depending on what the athlete is hoping to register for. A qualifying total is the total kilograms that the athlete must lift, at a minimum, to be able to register for that meet. For a 12 Labours member who would like to compete locally, the Barbell programming will include: 2x/week Barbell Programming (M/W 5:30 pm class) + Squat/Accessory Day (to be performed independently) We strongly suggest attending as many in - person barbell classes as possible if you plan on competing to maximize success and comfort when stepping onto the platforms in competition. There will be 2-3 opportunities for local competition each competitive year. For a 12 Labours member who would like to compete nationally, there are a few other requirements to be fulfilled: Athletes must have competed at a local level and have a qualifying total to register for this next level of competition. 3-4x/week Barbell Programming - This will be an expanded version of the Barbell class programming to work towards the level of commitment necessary to compete at this level. There will be 2-3 opportunities for national/international competition each year. We are excited to open up more opportunities for our 12 Labours members to get stronger and perform better both within and outside of the gym. Please do not forget that Barbell classes are open for all 12 Labours members, and you DO NOT have to compete to attend. We are happy to coach anyone who wants to learn more about the lifts, improve technique and get stronger! We will be starting a new cycle on April 28, which will also help us work towards our next local meet, Tough Temple, held in Rockville, MD on July 12-13, 2025.

As we continue to strive to make an impact on our communities, we were honored to host the Mid Atlantic Collegiate Championship for Navy's CrossFit, Blue and Gold. This is a yearly competition between 5 schools in the Mid-Atlantic region and give the students an opportunity to showcase their fitness. Producing an event that we can be proud of is no easy task and requires a lot of people. And so, a massive THANK YOU is owed to the volunteers who made this event possible. Thank you for dedicating your time energy, knowledge and wisdom to supporting our vision of empowering our communities through fitness.

As we move into the next cycle of programming you are going to see some changes. In an effort to create some clarity we are renaming the tracks. Instead of Rx+/Rx/Scaled you will now see Sport/Fitness/Wellness. These words will more accurately represent the goal associated with each track rather than the undefined categories we have previously used. As always members are not confined to one track; we encourage you to move between tracks as your goals change, your fitness improves, and you explore your strengths and weaknesses. Hopefully, this allows you all to see better results based on your personal goals. Below is a short description of each track to provide some clarity. Sport- You want to compete in regional and local competitions and be competitive. You have a firm grasp on movement patterns and skills and are highly conditioned. Your main goal is to become better at CrossFit as a sport. Fitness- You want to be as fit as you possibly can at this stage of your life. You want to be able to use your fitness for pursuits outside of our walls such as your career, other sports, or just because you want to be a badass. Health- You want to live long and prosper. Being healthy enough to enjoy your daily life and hobbies is the number one priority. You are less concerned with the weight on the bar and the gymnastics skills; instead you are focused on how well you feel mentally and physically. As always, our goal is to create an atmosphere where you are empowered to achieve YOUR best human potential.

Certifications: CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, Dynamic Stretch Specialist, NCSF-CPT (in progress) Member Since: December/2024 Coaching Since: April/2023 Favorite Movement: Strict handstand pushups Favorite WOD: Annie, fast and fun! (when doubles are doubling) Favorite Workout Gear (i.e tape, belt, grips, wrist wraps, etc). Knee sleeves! Game-changer for squatting, walking lunges suck less, and good protection for rope climbs. Born and Raised: Born - Holland, the Netherlands. Raised - Columbia, Maryland Favorite Food: Japanese hibachi or sushi Favorite TV Show/Movie: The Vampire Diaries or Schitts Creek/The Hunger Games series Hobbies: reading/journaling, exploring new coffee shops, brunch and brewery outings on a nice day out Hidden Talent: I have been told that I am really good at writing/expressing thoughts with words. Athletic Background: I tried almost every sport in high school. Field hockey was the only one that clicked, but I didn’t pursue it post high school. I participated in pick-up sports here and there, but nothing consistent before CrossFit. Long Answer (2-3 sentences) Favorite 12 Labours Memory: This past Resolution Games, Elena and I were dancing around 4th place leading up to the final event: Tortoise vs. Hair. (let’s just say I am a Tortoise) The pressure to “send it” for the podium spot had me shaking in my boots, but we had ironically landed 3rd in that event and 3rd overall. When the results came in, I screamed, jumped for joy, and immediately located Elena to share the great news with an extra-enthusiastic jumping hug. Occupation: Marketing Specialist. I worked for a digital marketing agency for almost three years and have been freelancing and contracting since. Interesting Fact: I told myself I would never move back to Maryland when I left the state to attend Virginia Tech for college. Returning home was the best decision I have ever made and greatest joyful surprise, in-part largely for the ever-evolving close relationships that I keep developing here. Why do I coach? I coach CrossFit for greater access to the members and an ability to build close connections with athletes. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a movement “click” for someone. Supporting their growth with front row seats to all the action is a big privilege for me. Miscellaneous - Add a custom question “What is one language you would choose to have automatically downloaded into your brain” I am half-Turkish, and would love the opportunity to communicate with some family who live there. However, I have always dreamed of spending a few months in the Netherlands, where I was born. I would have to pick Dutch.

Athlete of the Month: January - Columbia Member Spotlight: Brittany Yannuzzi @byaz6423 Brittany started at 12 Labours in April 2024 and was quickly adopted by the 3:30pm crew. The coaches say that Brittany is a ray of light to have in class because she is always so positive and willing to learn. Brittany had always loved working out, but was sidelined in 2022/23 when she had to undergo surgeries on her hip and spine. After recovering she was finding it hard to have discipline on her own and wanted to try something new in a group setting. Brittany says it been the greatest decision she’s ever made. Since starting CrossFit, it has been a great outlet for Brittany to help channel stress from her fast paced and high pressure work days. She’s noticed a big difference in her mood and energy levels since incorporating CF into her routine. When asked what she likes most about 12 Labours, Brittany said, “Everything! I love the people, the structure of the workouts but most importantly the coaches. They are top notch and so supportive. I began my journey with Coach Stef and she has truly played a vital role in my journey. Her passion for the sport quickly rubbed off on me and she has been such a positive influence in my life.I’ve also had the pleasure of really getting to know Coach Erin through her Sunday yoga classes. She has also been an incredible mentor and friend.” A standout memory for Brittany was volunteering at her first MAAC Fest where she was able to supply forklifts for the set up and breakdown of the event. It felt good for her to give back to the sport that has already given her so much in a short amount of time. A fun fact about Brittany is that she is a 2nd degree blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and she loves cars. She currently has 2024 C8 Corvette that she is obsessed with.

Athlete of the Month: January - Annapolis District Member Spotlight: Alex Barnet @barnet_a Alex is a high school junior that initially started personal training at 12 Labours with Coach Fred to get fitter for sports and dance. Now she is a regular of the 3:30pm class, jumps into Hyrox, and attends Barbell Club. Her dad, Henry, also works out 12L and her brother is a CrossFit coach. Alex says that her dad and brother always encourage her to do her best. When Alex was introduced to Olympic Lifting she didn’t realize she would like it so much. The coaches commend Alex for being very driven and coachable. They say she takes in every cue and is able to execute in her lifts. What Alex likes most about 12 Labours is, “The coaches and athletes that train there are always pushing me to do my best and not give up, even when the workouts are difficult.” Since starting CrossFit Alex has gotten much stronger, hit multiple PR’s, can Rx WODs, and enjoys bragging rights when she beats her dad in a workout. A fun fact about Alex is s he was a competitive and world qualifying Irish dancer!

Athlete of the Month: December - Columbia Member Spotlight : Michaelina Holmes @michaelinaholmes Michaelina grew up playing sports and always considered fitness to be a part of her identity. When she started college she put sports aside to focus on her education. She would do random free workouts she found on the internet and soon became frustrated with her very slow progress and a fitness routine that felt meaningless. Michaelina started at 12 Labours in the spring of 2022 with the encouragement of Sean and Betsy Barnes. She was inspired by their progress and decided to give CrossFit a try. Michaelina started in Elements and immediately felt welcome and supported by Coach Emily. Michaelina felt intimated by the laundry list of skills included in CF, but trusted in the process and has slowly chipped away at them. Before starting at 12L Michaelina did not think she would ever have the strength to do a pull up. “Unlocking my pull ups was euphoric, but so was realizing i can finally squat below parallel without struggle.” Not only has Michaelina improved her fitness, but CrossFit has helped her her to take better care of herself and increase her self-confidence. “Our gym feels like family to me, and I am really grateful to be surrounded by so many positively influential people. I’ve always struggled with self-confidence, and the 12L family has helped me learn to trust myself. I feel constantly reminded that (within reason) anything is achievable with hard work and consistency.” The strength Michaelina has gained in the gym has given her the confidence to overcome any adversity outside the gym.