Paradiso CrossFit

I started going to Paradiso in December of 2014. I was about 43 pounds overweight at 238 pounds, 64 years old, and huffing and puffing my way through life. I could only do a couple of pushups, and was unable to do more thereafter for the rest of the day.
I signed up for individual coaching by Jackie on the advice of my daughter and her husband. I had no idea what cross fit even was. Every week I had one objective — for one hour, to the limits of my ability, do whatever Jackie told me to do. Jackie, ever mindful of my limitations, worked around them. Over time, she transcended them.
She gave me tips on eating, and kept scrupulous records of my progress. She knew the limits of my ability, and set the next workout a few percent above that. The results were amazing.
Today, 9 months later, at 65 years old, I am 40 pounds lighter, my waist is 9 inches thinner, and I can do 6 sets of 10 pushups, a couple of pull-​ups (without any assist), lift weights I never lifted before, and safely twist my body like a pretzel. I discovered muscles I never knew I owned and feel them now with every step I take. I don’t even know what all the exercises are called, but I do them.
I feel strong, confident, and totally alive inside. I still don’t know much about cross fit, but Jackie does. We have a very productive relationship — she tells me what to do, I do it. Simple.
When I look in the mirror now, I hardly know it’s me. Recently, a co-​worker remarked in the office — «You look great. You look 20 years younger.» It warmed the heart of this old man.

Okay, I wanted to make sure that I got a representative sample of PCF before I wrote a review so I have been working out there for about 6 weeks, worked out at both locations (MDR and Venice), and done workouts with at least five different coaches. So, I think that I can provide a review that is both informative and honest. It is a warm, supportive, HARD, intense, great workout with coaches who want to make sure you are doing it correctly and workout partners that are friendly and helpful. I came to crossfit after being a powerlifter and competitive road cyclist for years and was suspicious to say the least due to the loads of negative press that crossfit as a sport has out there on the internet. I can say that my experience has been only positive and I would encourage anyone interested in the sport to first start at PCF. They have an on-​ramp program that pushes you to attend workouts that can focus on the form and exercise to ensure that before you start working out in mixed classes, you know what you are doing. The coaches are great and modify workouts based on any injuries or problems that you have and make sure that you are doing okay and pushing yourself toward your goals. Overall, I have to say that if you are interested in getting a great workout and being pushed to a limit that is safe and incredibly self-​esteem building, then give them a call. As a side note, I don’t work for them, don’t sell anything for them, and am just a regular person who quit their gym after a few classes at PCF and have not looked back since. So, in summary, AWESOME place. Go. You’ll be glad you did.

Absolutely love this place! If you need a Crossfit gym and live in the area you must check them out! Not only do they have great workouts but they have phenomenal coaches that will make sure your form is correct. They specialize in different things so they are very well rounded. Also their programming is very thought out and planned perfect to make sure you get training on all movements. This is perfect and helpful to ensure all your body parts are getting a good workout and not overworked. They are patient, friendly and the energy there is very positive.
The have special Olympic lifting classes and coaches. The people that go there are friendly and amazing athletes. If you want to get a great workout while also getting good at Crossfit then you must give them a try. The owners are very nice too. This gym throws a lot of events to bring the communicate together. They are truly a family!

Simply the best CrossFit box out there. Ive dropped in to many other boxes around the country (and others in far away lands) and even been forced to join a new one in the Bay Area due to a job change and not one comes close to Paradiso. Why you may ask? ;) Its the combination of great coaches, many of whom are top crossfit competitors themselves, great programming (in this case following one of the nationally recognized crossfit programs rather than just making up their own), your fellow crossfitters, who are great people in and of themselves, but also dedicated crossfitters who make you raise your game and last but certainly not least is Dave Paradiso («Diso») himself. Diso is just an all around great guy who cares about every member. Paradiso Crossfit (PCF) also puts together a whole bunch of fun outside activities like WODs on the beach, swim programs, camping weekends and ski weekends.
I worked out at both locations and both are great. I had to leave LA and the number one thing I miss, by far, is PCF! You are lucky to be able to be part of the family there if you decide to join.

I dropped in to Paradiso Crossfit in March during a business trip. I arrived a bit early and one of the owners had me fill everything out and I was able to get a shirt (which is almost as important as the workout itself.) The coach was friendly, gave some helpful tips as I was working on the lift, as well as encouragement, and we talked briefly about the Open and how we had done on the past workout. The members were also friendly, and during the workout I was paired with a girl who was so encouraging throughout the workout. Overall, I had a great time visiting and felt really good after I left. If I’m every in MDR again, I’ll definitely hit them up before any other boxes.

I’ve been super impressed with this Crossfit gym. By far the best in the area, and I’ve been to a couple others. Prices are reasonable (relative to other crossfit gyms) and coaches are enthusiastic, attentive, and helpful. Extra workouts such as track night are very cool as well.

Awesome environment, kick ass workouts, friendly and supportive team of coaches! Diso really knew what is was creating when he put PCF together! Inspirational vision and team!
Proud to call this my CF gym ;)

I’ll put it to you this way. My girlfriend and I go to Paradiso Crossfit in Venice. We are moving and our number one criteria for relocation is staying as close as possible to Paradiso Crossfit. I’ve been to other boxes. These are the most knowledgable and enthusiastic trainers i’ve encountered. The programming is by far the most challenging i’ve seen, but the results i’m getting are incredible. The owners are dedicated to knowing every member, building the community and making physical fitness holistic and fun. This positivity and dedication gets passed down to the staff and the members themselves. No matter what shape you’re in, you’re going to thrive here.

Super fan of this place. When I’m in Venice or MDR, I hit up a Paradiso location for an early morning WOD. This location in Marina Del Rey is super convenient and the coaches are awesome. The box itself is on the smaller side but from what I understand, has been around a long time and you can definately sense a rich tradition and community here. If you WOD, WOD here when you’re in MDR.
I just tried the Venice location this morning. It’s SICK!

My husband and I were pretty typical — we worked out, we ate healthy, but we weren’t in great shape. I was running half marathons at the time so this is not code for «couch potatoes».
Four months after joining Paradiso and starting a Paleo diet my husband has lost 40lb, I’ve lost 28lb. We both feel really healthy. We enjoy going to Paradiso every morning.
What makes Paradiso a great place to work out?
— Top notch instructors. They really know their stuff, they are attentive, and caring
— Great community. I know everyone in the class, they are nice people, we celebrate each other’s achievements.
— Crossfit works. If you read up on the «science» you’ll figure out that Crossfit is essentially the culmination of leading edge exercise theory. The great thing is you don’t need to know any exercise theory to do crossfit.
«But I’m not in good enough shape to do crossfit»
Every exercise at Paradiso can be scaled. Yes there will be people doing handstand pushups in your class (and if you stick with it you’ll be able to do those as well), but there are also people doing incline push-​ups at the same time.
If you’ve been wavering over whether or not to join a gym, or do crossfit, my recommendation is come to Paradiso, give them three months, and be good to yourself by making the time to really commit for those three months. If you don’t get awesome results I’ll be really surprised!

Paradiso Crossfit is kind of amazing. I’ve been to quite a few boxes (the term for crossfit gyms), and the experience at Paradiso far exceeds the others. Here are a few reasons why. First, the instructors, every last one, are thorough. They listen to you, they hear your concerns, they are knowledgeable about injuries, they see little things that can make you a better athlete. Also, they’re nice. Seriously nice.
The box goes above and beyond a typical crossfit gym in other ways as well. They have a farm delivery CSA-​type program where you can get a box of produce every week. They have a special deal with US Wellness Meats so you can get grass-​fed beef at a discount. They sell Stronger Faster Healthier fish oil so you don’t have to pay shipping.
The gym is also constantly having fun outside-​the-​box events, where you can put your fitness to use functionally. We’ve done mountain-​climbing, a mini-​triathalon, snowboarding, SUP, etc. There are weekly running and swimming classes, as well as specialized olympic lifting classes. Yoga was added recently. Amazing.
The classes are limited in size, so you have sufficient individual attention.
I’ve made a lot of great friends at this box, and you will too — hurry up and join us!

Paradiso is an amazing place to get in shape. Although the other reviews already speak to it, I felt the need to add my own comments.
Paradiso Crossfit was founded by David Paradiso. David makes the place great by truly creating a welcoming environment. This is a crossfit gym, and in that regard it is very good relative to the others I’ve been to. The programming is good, the on ramp program is excellent, and the coaches are great and knowledgeable. The website is the best I’ve seen by a million miles for a crossfit gym, with a HUGE video archive and very active posts from the coaches. In addition, the online scheduling, free tracker account, and other tech elements I find really cool as a tech nerd myself.
What is really great though is that David constantly strives to improve the place and is frequently putting in improvements. For instance, there is a track night and a swim night to learn good running/​swim form, there is a gym CSA program and there is a discount on ordering grass-​fed meat. The main point here is that this is more than just a crossfit gym, its more like a fitness community with individuals who are interested in improving their lives.
If you are reading this because you’re thinking about joining a gym do yourself a favor and read up on crossfit. I’m a believer myself after seeing the results. If you are interested in crossfit and live in the Venice (new location) or Marina Del Rey area then make the right move and come check out Paradiso.

Well trained staff, friendly environment, and super complete set of training options for any level. Tired of boring routines, unmotivated to have a serious workout, or do not have the time to develop a good training schedule? This place is for you.
My best fitness club decision so far.
They truly put people first than the mighty dollar.

After about 1.5 years coming to this box and 4+ to Crossfit I wanted to update my previous review (see below if you’d like to read the novel).
Things that have gotten better:
–time caps have been added to many of the workouts helping to keep the total time one spends at the gym closer to 1 hour most days.
–I am now getting slightly more feedback on technique which I really appreciate.
–they are in the process of opening a second location.
–We now do a group warm up most days which is much much better in my opinion than the individual routine of the past.
Things I still don’t like/​have gotten less desirable.
–my 6am class is now too crowded for the gym. This might change when the new gym opens but as of now… it is pretty tight. On some days people are literately right on top of one another. I am also in competition for the 1 shower now (in the past I was the only one using it) which if I lose… am a bit late for work.
–there is an increased emphasis (lecturing) on crossfit supported diet theories which, as I wrote last year… I very much dislike.
–While the time caps help, programmers still try to cram too much (warm up, skill work, + workout) into the 1 hour.
— I also dislike how the pre-​workout skill work has nothing to do with the workout itself. If the workout includes cleans… why not warm up by doing cleans? This will help make sure you’re doing cleans correctly (or at least in better form) when you get to the workout.
Overall, I think this is still a nice gym for me. Like everything in life there are positives and negatives. 3*s.

My friend Sara kept telling me «you have to go» and I kept putting it off. I had done Crossfit before and it’s damn hard so I was not excited to put myself through the on ramping of something else in iCal.
I’m so happy I went. The owners are awesome and the’ve created a place where everyone has a great attitude and bodies. You never know who you are going to run into at this gym. It’s a must.

Update:
It’s been almost year since I wrote this review & I find myself appreciating this gym so much more. After traveling and moving out-​of-​the-​area, I am searching for a new Crossfit box to join. Unfortunately Paradiso Crossfit has made this very difficult. Each time I step foot in a new box I find myself comparing it to Paradiso Crossfit, and each time the new box comes up short in many areas: form, community and guidance.
I can not stress enough just how much support one receives and how spoiled Paradiso members are. Everything from Zeb aka «form-​police» and «meticulous» Diso uploading explicit instructions online showing how to perform the movements. You don’t realize just how helpful the in-​depth blog updates are unless you are at a new gym. All members are kept apprised of the future of Paradiso CF and there were often other articles sharing info how to improve form, eating etc. The whole Paradiso team really invests their time and energy into helping members improve and building a welcoming community. So thank you Paradiso for being the gold-​standard of a Crossfit community.

This place is fantastic! Seriously, I have to be the least coordinated person to walk through their (garage) doors, yet all the coaches there have been SO helpful and patient and seem genuinely interested in helping me learn. Yeah, it’s a little intimidating to look around and see some crazy fit people performing impossible feats like it’s nothing, but it’s also inspiration to keep Crossfitting and try to get there someday!
I did distance running for most of my 20s (marathon/​half marathons/​etc.) and have always done the globo-​gym classes when not training. But I got so sick of it and didn’t see the results I wanted. Since I follow a paleo/​primal diet, I kept hearing about Crossfit and how amazing it is. The problem was that I was scared out of my mind to try it – yeah, I can run (okay, jog) without falling down, but that’s about the height of my athletic prowess.
After checking out their website and Unilocal reviews for a few months, I finally bit the bullet. The first day I walked into On-​Ramp my «coach» James greeted me before I had time to even look confused. The On-​Ramp program was a great way to ease into Crossfit – you only have to make a fool out of yourself in front of one person instead of the whole class :).
Now I’m in the regular classes and still love it! Yeah, I have to modify just about everything because I’m still working up to higher strength and skill, but the workouts still kick my butt. And seriously, it is so much more fun than running on a treadmill for hours at a time. I just wish I had sucked it up, put on my big girl pants and joined this place sooner!
P. S. I’ve been to two other CF boxes and I have to say that this one is far superior. I didn’t feel like I had any coaching at the other two spots and the atmosphere wasn’t nearly as friendly or energetic. Coaches like Diso, James, Zeb, Lara, etc. at PCF make all the difference!

The short and sweet: Paradiso CrossFit will change your ife for the better in as little as 30 days, but the results will last a lifetime. If you’re serious about getting healthier, getting fit, being more active, or just improving your overall quality of life, then give Paradiso CrossFit a chance. You’ll be stronger, faster, smarter and will have made some great new friends, too.
I’ve hated traditional gyms my whole life. Too boring. Too many aggressive roid-​heads. No direction or advice on what to do or technique to use. Not so at Paradiso CrossFit. Everyday is different, challenging and fun. Honestly. Who knew getting your ass kicked day after day working harder than you’ve ever worked before could be so much fun? The coaches walk you through everything so you’re 100% certain you’re doing the exercises and movements correctly before the workout. Not only does this mean you’re getting the proper results from each workout, it also ensures you won’t get hurt!
Oh, and the results were amazing. I started CrossFit in July of 2011 at 245 lbs. Within 4−½ months I’d lost 50 lbs. Dead serious. Fifty pounds in less than 5 months. And I am a hell of a lot stronger than I’ve ever been. How’s that for results?
The «gym» goes beyond the physical walls of the location, too. Paradiso and its coaches are dedicated to helping you reach your fitness goals whatever they may be. From rock climbing, marathons on the beach, bike rides, beach volleyball, boat rides and much more, Paradiso encourages you to expand your own expectations for yourself.
It’s the most tight-​knit community I’ve ever been a part of — and I grew up as a member of the Southern Baptist Church. The members are dedicated, inspiring, supportive and all-​around wonderful people. There is so much to love about Paradiso CrossFit and the CrossFit community, it’ll change the way you look at health and fitness for the rest of your life.
«Everybody love everybody.»

Great coaches, friendly faces, infectious energy, and all the fun and competitiveness of Crossfit without the intimidation that can scare off newbies and breed ogres. I’m so happy with my decision to join PCF. It has renewed my enthusiasm for working out, something I never really lost, yet never knew how much better it could be.
Previously, I was an Equinox member and loved every second of it for two years. I was the Foursquare Mayor of Equinox Westwood for three months! I took classes twice a week (Tabata, Whipped, any cross training classes), lifted heavy once a week, worked on gym tricks, and chose a workout off
once a week. Sometimes, I rested.
Gradually, I got more into Crossfit workouts after noticing that the people who were «beating» me in fun gym competitions were almost always Crossfitters. It was becoming impossible for me to complete most Crossfit workouts (equipment-​wise) at the Eeq, so I tried out nearly every Crossfit gym on the Westside — Brick, Crossfit LA, Focus Culver City, Dogtown, LAX Crossfit (which I loved), and Paradiso. After a month of gym hopping, I signed up for Paradiso’s On-​Ramp program and I couldn’t be happier that I did.
Why did I end up joining PCF?
— PCF’s on-​ramp/​intro program is a month long. If you’re in pretty good shape, your compression shorts might groan at the thought of doing intro classes for a month. IMO, it’s 100% worth it to take the time to learn proper form and the coaches at PCF really hammer that home in effective ways. There is nothing more terrifying than being thrown to the wolves in a workout with tons of snatches and cleans when you don’t even know what they are or how to do them without destroying yourself and future generations of your clan. This month prevents that from happening.
— They have a great website with instructional videos and previews of the next day’s workout. If you’re like me, you can go full-​on gym nerd and watch the videos while eating dinner. The best part about the site videos is that they’re demo’ed by the coaches at a speed everyone can understand, not just taken off YouTube showing Crossfit superheroes that are smashing WODs in the face and then ripping doors off cars with their neck muscles to demo the advanced kipping door rip.
— Lots of smiling faces before, during, and after the workout. I think that people don’t forget the fun part of working out here. It doesn’t turn into a nightly f-​bomb filled gruntfest (I do drop the occasional s-​bomb when pushed, cannot lie). Nice Shrek who has a donkey friend would be here. Mean pre-​meeting-​Fiona Shrek would not. If you’re looking to find friendly faces in your Saturday intro class, start it and be that first smiling face. It makes everything a lot more fun.
— No pressure to jump into heavy weights or «RXed» workouts if you’re not ready, but encouragement to be awesome if you are. I feel safer doing the movements here than I did in some classes at Equinox, despite the fact that the weights are heavier and movements of higher intensity. Instead of just letting everyone go for speed in the name of all that is Paleo Burgener Zone Burpee Wall Ball Kipping Air Squat Thruster, there’s an emphasis on doing things right (and I feel like I’m learning so much every day).
Sure, I miss my cushy stretching mat that I used to fall on my face on, spotless yoga studio where I would suck at yoga once a month and try not to let one go, my heated massage table, sauna and steam room, and all the cardio ass-​kicking (yes, cardio ass, that thing) fun I had at Equinox, but joining PCF has gotten me excited about working out all over again.
There are gym superheroes all over this box and you’ll have no problem finding gym idols for pretty much every lift, movement, or skill who will help you find your way to joining the League of Extraordinary Gymmery. Really, who doesn’t like superheroes?

If you haven’t heard about CrossFit, then you need to check it out! It’s awesome mix of cardio, gymnastics, and weight lifting. It’s an all-​around workout that pushes you to your limits and keeps you coming back for more.
A few months ago, David Paradiso opened his own «box» (aka gym) around the corner from me. He had me come by and for a free beginner workout. I was instantly hooked and a week later started the «On Ramp» program. It’s a great month long class for beginners that teaches all the basics of CrossFit, like the difference between a squat clean and a snatch (and no, it’s nothing dirty).
I’m not gonna lie, I was a little scared once «On Ramp» was over but the great instructors, Diso (the owner), Zeb, Matty, and Gretchen, look out for me every class. They make sure that each workout is scaled to my skill level and I get the most of each class.