Introducing your 2019 Iron Buffalo Recipients || JoAnna Brand & Sayyed Naghaviani
Every year, we’ve chosen a male and female that stood out to us and exemplified the things that we look for in members of our community. In year’s past, this award has been called the Push-Up Man and Push-Up Woman of the Year award. While we will always be proud of our Push-Up men and women, we chose to bring to light a new award with our new ownership. Our first Iron Buffalo recipients were announced in the 10th year of business in 2018!
The Iron Buffalo award reflects many of the same things we looked for with the PUM/PUW. The athletes chosen were not limited to physical ability alone, although both of these athletes are quite talented in their individual areas. It also encompasses their ability to connect with their fellow CFA members, their continuous drive, and their commitment not only to this community, but to their own longevity, health, and overall being.
As Tim was considering the elements of this award, he turned to his own family and his own history. The Buffalo has been a symbol in his family for many years. From family homesteading a ranch in Buffalo, Texas where he and his brother made many childhood memories, to his hometown in Bartlesville, OK where Buffalo statues line the intersections of the city. Even the company he formed to purchase the gym, The Buffalo Collective, uses the symbol.
The Buffalo, in Native American culture symbolizes a spirit of abundance and friendship. As a totem it symbolizes earth-centeredness, selflessness, and the power of a team unit. The buffalo itself is a symbol of power. It has the strength the carry heavy burdens, not just physically, but in all aspects. We find all of these qualities to be what we looked for in our athletes of the year and could not be more proud to call them the Iron Buffalo recipients.
These athletes exemplify all of these amazing qualities and more. They lead by example. They work hard. Their family and friends are a priority in their lives and they uplift and encourage those around them. We are so honored to share the interviews of our 2019 Iron Buffalo recipients, JoAnna Brand and Sayyed Naghaviani. Congratulations you two! We’re grateful to have you as a part of this team and this family.
JoAnna Brand
When did you join the CFA community?
2014 (2009 for CF, but 2014 CFA)
What is one of your most memorable moments from your early days at CFA? Any ‘newbie’ stories you’d like to share?
Getting those first couple bar muscle ups and having Gen there to record them!
What is it about CFA that you love or that is different from other sports/programs you’ve tried?
It’s like playing. Just fun stuff. sometimes a struggle, but always worth it. And FUN. Even when I have to row.
What advice would you give yourself if you could go back in time to when you first started CrossFit?
I just wish I could have started it in my teens or 20s, before broken ankles and poor form set in…
What was your initial reason for starting (your ‘why’)? How has that ‘Why’ changed?
Looked like fun, and to be a challenge. And I love pull ups and push ups!!!
How did you create long term fitness/CrossFit success for yourself?
Finding things I enjoy, that I can do alone as well as with others for motivation. Running around in the woods, CrossFit, and just sustained movement throughout the day.
What makes you come in and train on days when you don’t want to?
I always want to!! But if my body is telling me to rest, I have no problem listening!
Recent PRs?
I have recently adopted a “by feel” policy, so not many recent PRs. But I feel good every day!!! Or most days, anyway.
Current training goals?
Just stay healthy and keep enjoying my CFA and trail tribes.
Tell us about an obstacle you have had to work through in your training. How did you work through it?
I am getting older and despite being pretty fit and able to do most of what I want, I have had to re-evaluate goals like hitting a 300 pound deadlift. It is more important to stay strong and healthy and be able to do the things I enjoy. If I am forever stuck at 285# on my DL as a PR, so be it!
What is your cheat meal go to?
Not a meal, really. But cheese.
What does the Iron Buffalo title mean to you?
It’s an honor and I am humbled and proud all at once. I love this community.
Thoughts upon winning the title?
See previous statement. Honored and humbled and proud and also grateful and thankful. So many folks in our community worthy of this…
How will you use your new found Buffalo Strength?
Continue with my slow, forward progress, with some occasional skipping thrown in to keep things fun. 🙂
What are you most excited about in the upcoming year? Gym related and/or personally?
I’m in a good place, so just maintaining the status quo. BALANCE!!
Leave the fine folks of CFA with some parting wisdom.
Be grateful for every day. There’s a song with a line about having good days when you keep your level of gratitude above your level of expectations. Do THAT.
***********************************************************************************
Sayyed Naghaviani
When did you join the CFA community?
Feb 2017 started CF in March of 2013.
What is one of your most memorable moments from your early days at CFA? Any ‘newbie’ stories you’d like to share?
Most of y’all know I work out at the 430PM class but I started working out at CFA during the 730am class. At the time I was thinking I was going to be one of these early risers who seized the day and felt “energized” after working out in the morning. What happened is after about a month my back locked up on me while we were warming up back squats and I laid on the ground for about 30 minutes. I don’t think I went back to a 730am class after that unless it was forced. 430PM is my jam. Morale of the story is we all know what time of the day we are at our prime. Focus your training at that time and you probably will do a lot better and wont hurt yourself squatting just the barbell.
What is it about CFA that you love or that is different from other sports/programs you’ve tried?
Everyday is different but the same. Different meaning it’s rare we do the same workout but when we do its a benchmark to see if you have improved from the last time you did it. Variety keeps me interested and allows you to crush some workouts and be humbled by others. Same meaning I see the same lovely faces everyday that push me to do work harder and not sandbag.
Be patient. You don’t need to PR every time you lift. If you push yourself too hard you will get injured and all that will do is frustrate you and set you back. Have patience, learn the proper techniques and
skills, and your gains will come. I can promise you that.
I guess the question is why did I get into Crossfit. It was 2013 and I was working out with a friend of mine. Tiny beanpole of a girl. She wanted me to do a CF workout with her, 10 minutes in I was so frustrated because I couldn’t do half the movements, I quit, threw the dumbbells across the room and went back to a treadmill. I went and found a CrossFit gym a week later. Nearly puked on my first workout which was a half “Cindy”. I knew then I was completely out of shape.
Why do I do it now?
Because my health is my number one priority and being almost 40 I have never been healthier.
See last few answers. But to sum it up have patience, create a routine, and stick to it.
What makes you come in and train on days when you don’t want to?
Honestly skipping days makes coming in the day after even harder. Be consistent and you wont want to not come in.
235 Squat Clean, 335 Deadlift, 100 Dubs, 215 Jerk, 205 Push Press, 175 Squat Snatch, 300 Back Squat, 30′ Handstand walks, 2 unbroken Ring MU, 6 unbroken Bar MU
Tell us about an obstacle you have had to work through in your training. How did you work through it?
Injuries are an obvious one but considering how much I travel for work I could easily “skip” days. What I do is I try to book my 
meetings so I can drop into a class wherever I am at. I don’t cherry pick. I drop into the gym that is most convenient given my travel schedule. Being the new guy makes it almost like a mini competition every time which is kind of fun.
What is your cheat meal go to?
Pizza, Shitty domino’s pizza.
I like to think that I provide a good example to others given the experience I have and how hard work pays off. Not just in the gym
but outside the gym as well. I guess this award exemplifies that so the recognition is kinda nice.What are you most excited about in the upcoming year? Gym related and/or personally?
Finally getting to Machu Pichu in the fall.
