Athlete Spotlight: Omkar J!

Meet Omkar Joshi, one of the athletes who makes the CrossFit Oakland community so special. Omkar has been part of our Oakland CrossFit gym for over three years, bringing more than 20 years of running experience, a curious mind, and an appreciation for workouts with lots of moving parts. His idea of a good workout? Variety, a little chaos, and ideally a few things happening at once. 😉

Want to join the CrossFit Oakland community and work out with Omkar? Book a Free Sssion to get started!

From Running to CrossFit

Omkar has been a runner for over 20 years, so he's no stranger to staying active and putting in the miles. But CrossFit has introduced him to a whole new world of strength training, functional fitness, and athletic skills.

His favorite strength movement?

The Clean & Jerk.

Not necessarily because he's mastered it, but because he'd really like to! We appreciate the ambition, Omkar.

His favorite kind of CrossFit workout?

Anything with lots of moving parts.

He enjoys the variety and chaos, which tells us he's probably in the right place.

Finding New Firsts at CrossFit Oakland

One of Omkar's favorite things about his time at CrossFit Oakland is that he's experienced so many firsts.

Before joining CFO, he wasn't someone who regularly went to the gym. Since then, he's worked his way toward new skills, new challenges, and some pretty exciting milestones.

One favorite memory stands out:

Getting his first pull-up!

There's something special about achieving a movement that once seemed out of reach. That first pull-up takes patience, consistency, and a lot of hard work, and it's a milestone worth celebrating.

It's also a great example of what we love about CrossFit: there's always something new to work toward, regardless of your starting point or fitness experience.

So Many Goals, So Little Time

Ask Omkar about his fitness goals, and you'll quickly discover that he has a list!

A few things he's working toward:

• Getting consistent double-unders (DUs)

• Kicking up into a handstand

• Making it to the top of a rope climb

• Improving his Clean & Jerk

We love that he's got plenty of goals to keep him busy. Each one requires a different combination of strength, coordination, technique, and practice.

That's part of what makes CrossFit training so rewarding. There's always another skill to learn, another strength goal to chase, and another opportunity to improve.

Developing New Medicines by Day, Developing New Skills at CFO

Outside the gym, Omkar has a pretty fascinating day job.

He's currently the Chief Technical Officer at a biotech startup, where he and his team are developing long-acting medicines for age-related eye diseases.

In other words, while we're working on getting stronger and improving our fitness, Omkar is working on developing new medicines that could make a meaningful difference in people's lives.

Not a bad way to spend the workday!

His Walkout Song? Seven Nation Army

When it comes to a walkout song, Omkar's choice is:

🎵 "Seven Nation Army"

A classic. A great beat. And honestly, pretty perfect for walking into a workout.

We're guessing that familiar bass line gets the energy going before the first barbell hits the floor.

Fluent in Four Languages!

Here's an interesting fact about Omkar that you might not know:

He speaks four languages fluently!

We'll leave it to you to find out which four, but we're officially impressed.

Now we're wondering if he can coach a workout in all four languages. That could make for an interesting Saturday morning class!

What Omkar Loves About CrossFit

For Omkar, CrossFit Oakland has been a place to discover new abilities, experience plenty of firsts, and keep challenging himself.

From getting his first pull-up to working toward double-unders, handstands, and rope climbs, he's embraced the process of learning and improving.

And we love that he continues to show up with curiosity, enthusiasm, and a willingness to tackle whatever combination of movements the workout throws his way.

That's what makes our CrossFit community special. It's not just about lifting heavier weights or getting faster. It's about showing up, learning new skills, supporting one another, and celebrating progress along the way.

We're grateful Omkar is part of our community!

Keep Chasing Those Firsts

More than three years into his CrossFit journey at CrossFit Oakland, Omkar is still setting goals, learning new skills, and finding new ways to challenge himself.

Next up: consistent double-unders, handstands, and that elusive rope climb!

Thanks for being part of the CFO community, Omkar! 💪

Want to become part of the CrossFit Oakland community? Book a Free Session, meet us, try a class, and see what makes CFO different. Whether you're brand new to CrossFit or an experienced athlete, there's a place for you here. Our coaches will help you build strength, improve your fitness, and develop skills at your own pace.