Austin Begiebing, CF-L4

I'm a Level 4 Certified CrossFit Coach, a husband and a father. I feel extremely blessed to be able to share my passion of CrossFit with others. I get to teach CrossFit to trainers all over the world as a CrossFit Seminar Insrtuctor. I teach Level 1 seminars and Level 2 seminars. I have 20 years of coaching experience and have been involved in organized sports my entire life.

I first heard of CrossFit in 2002 from my mother who came across the website while searching for nutrition information. I was a trainer though and wasn't interested in another fitness trend that would just end up fizzling away. I didn't feel like I needed anything new, so I kept training with my traditional commercial gym program. As much as I turned my back on CF, it kept resurfacing in different ways for years. Looking back, it is so obvious I was meant to do this.

I was in the gym back in 2006 and a CF discussion popped up on an online fitness forum. I was bored of my same old routine (you know the classic.... back&bi's/chest&tri's/legs&shoulders/cardio&abs) and CF was there to take advantage of my lack of interest in my current fitness plan. I did my first CF workout that day. It took me just 15 minutes. I was lying on the floor wondering how it was possible for a 15 minute workout to do this to me. I was a fitness professional and thought I was pretty fit. I knew instantly CrossFit would forever change the fitness industry. I started studying the CF journal and all the free videos I could find on crossfit.com. I signed up to go to a Level 1 seminar and earned my level 1 certificate in February 2007. It was a life changing experience in many ways. Since then I have been on a never-ending quest to improve my knowledge as a CF coach and share it with others. 

CrossFit has brought true "functional fitness" to the masses and I am proud to be a part of this movement. I am proud to say that CrossFit Milpitas is not just a gym but a solid community of people who help each other improve on a daily basis. Come check us out!

austin@crossfitmilpitas.com

Vito Taulealo, CF-L3

  Fitness has been a passion of mine for quite a while and after years of bouncing around different gyms selling memberships, personal training, etc., I began working for a new gym, and there I met Austin Begiebing.  He was another "fitness" consultant, my "sales manager" actually.  Little did I know he was more than that.  He bugged me about the new fitness program he was on called CrossFit, that it was the biggest thing coming in fitness, and urged me to get certified. This is probably where my life changed.  Fast forward to 14 years later and now instead of selling people bogus dreams about "Health and Fitness", supplements and large PT packages, I was coaching CrossFit classes on a regular basis. Developing bonds and relationships with my athletes, nurturing an understanding of where they are in their fitness lives, where they want to be, and effectively delivering them to results. The term "home away from home" although a cliche, is really what it means to be an athlete here at CFM. The support system from everyone in this community is usually what most fitness programs lack. I am constantly humbled by the love, support, motivation etc., that our athletes display on a daily basis. Come and see for yourself, I am excited to get to training with you!!

vito@crossfitmilpitas.com

 Jenn Chiaramonte, CF-L2, PN-L1, Community Engagement Manager

To say my nutrition journey started in 2017 would be a lie. Yes, that was the ultimate choice that got me to where I am today, but the journey really started when I was a kid. From a very young age, I was always told I was fat. I would never be considered the “pretty one” of the family because I was too fat for anyone to want me for my looks. So I was the “smart one”, or the “funny one”. In turn, I spent my life not focusing on my outside appearance but working on who I was on the inside. Fast forward a decade or so and I found CrossFit. I fell in love with what my body could do. When I started, I had no endurance, no cardio. But man oh man, could I lift some weight. And sometimes, I could lift weight really fast too! I always told myself “hey, you might not be the fastest, or the leanest, but darnit you will be the strongest!”, because even if you are fat at least you could be strong too. With CrossFit, you don’t have to be the best at any one thing, just good at a lot of things. So I could do a bunch of other stuff like pull-ups, burpees, box jumps, etc. and I was “okay” at them all. Fast forward a couple more years; I got married and popped out 2 wonderful kids. But, my back could no longer pull the weight it used to. My gymnastics were “meh” along with my cardio. I knew I had more inside me and I wasn’t reaching my full potential. I knew my nutrition was in the toilet. Two kids and a love of fast food will do that to you if you’re not careful. So I decided to get my nutrition under control. In about 9 months, I lost about 25 pounds. I went from a size 12 to a size 6, sometimes a 4, depending on the brand. I lost over 18 inches all over my body. My fitness went through the roof! I love running now, my lifts are getting stronger, and my gymnastics is so much better. But most of all, I’ve learned to love myself and what my body can do. I have learned that the number on the scale has absolutely nothing to do with how you feel. Most importantly, I learned that my self-worth is not defined by how I look on the outside. I have learned so much in fact, that I want you to get there too. So, I became certificated through Precision Nutrition and later on went through Healthy Steps Nutrition training program. And I am so excited to share what I've learned! I want you to see how nutrition can change even the tiniest cell in your body. I want to show you how balancing your nutrition can really change every facet of your life, not just fitness. I’d like to be your tour guide on the journey to a healthier, stronger, happier you!

nutrition@crossfitmilpitas.com

 Justin Cho, CF-L, CPT, CES

I’m obsessed with fitness now, but like most people, it wasn’t always that way. Basketball was my life from a young age through college, but my amazing height of 5’7” and less-than-athletic build limited my full potential.

I started working out at 19, and that was my first experience realizing how much more potential I had. I became stronger, faster, and capable of doing so much more on the court.

Unfortunately, some serious knee injuries took me out of the game, and I became inconsistent with training. In 2017, I finally took control of my body, and in 2018, I started personal training.

I love helping others, especially through fitness. There’s no better feeling than watching someone achieve new things or realize they’re capable of more than they ever thought.

In 2022, CrossFit opened another door for me, and since then, I’ve been all in. I love being a well-rounded athlete who can jump into any sport.

I still deal with the effects of past injuries, but I always find a way to scale, adapt, and continue getting fitter and stronger. I truly believe CrossFit can be a powerful tool in improving overall health and preventing many lifestyle-related illnesses, while also building a wide range of skills.

I love being a coach and plan to continue coaching for the rest of my life. I hope to make a lasting impact on people’s lives and help them realize their full potential.

Ty Evans, CF-L2, USA Gymnastics Pro Instructor

I’ve been an active athlete in gymnastics and ninja warrior for my whole life. The pandemic hit and I really needed something to motivate me and get me back to my athletic lifestyle after being lock down for the year. I started watching Youtube videos of past CrossFit games as well as tutorials on how to do certain lifts and skills. I was sold! I started searching for gyms in my area and I came across CFM and Austin was more than happy to bring me in. I was hooked after Day 1 and I knew this was what I was looking for.

Along with being an athlete, I also coach competitive gymnastics. I’ve been coaching competitive gymnastics for 10 years now and I love it. As I was going through this CrossFit journey, I took an opportunity to learn how to coach CrossFit as well. I’ve always enjoyed teaching people how to do new skills and helping them achieve their goals. I’m hoping my gymnastics background can play a big role in helping everyone.

 Tyler Begiebing, CF-L2

      I am a Level 2 CrossFit Coach and enthusiastic about learning and developing as a person, a coach, and an athlete. I have found CrossFit Milpitas to be a great environment for that goal. I am blessed to be able to share this experience with those I serve. I coach at 2 CrossFit gyms but have a special place in my heart for CrossFit Milpitas as it is where I grew up as both a CrossFit athlete and coach. 

      I first discovered CrossFit in 2006 when my brother Austin invited me to train with him for a week. At the time I was a sophomore in high school and was pretty involved in sports. The first workout I did was 20 minutes long and it crushed me. I immediately fell in love with the intensity aspect and came back every day that week for more. After graduating high school, I decided to jump in all the way. I fell in love with the camaraderie of the community, the care and attention to detail by the coaches and the development of improved fitness that came by simply showing up every day.

     In Sept of 2008 I decided to get my CrossFit Level 1 and started my coaching journey. I am grateful to say that CrossFit is huge part of my life, and I am excited to share this experience with you! 

Gopalan, CF-L2

Physical activity has been a part of my life since a young age. I used to play different sports through my college days with soccer holding a special place in my heart. When I heard about CrossFit, I had no clue what I was getting myself into; but seeing people jumping over boxes, climbing up ropes, walking on their hands and lifting heavy weights all in the same place in a single workout session did intimidate me a bit.

The thing that pushed me towards joining CrossFit Milpitas is the fact that there is a huge community (and not just a coach) to teach and encourage. To push me and keep me accountable for showing up to put in the work every day. Before starting my CrossFit journey here at CFM, I had little to no experience of strength training, Weightlifting or gymnastics. Even more, the viewpoint of relating the term fitness to not only physical appearances but also to mental and psychological well-being was something that I was not aware of.

The years that I have spent here learning about mind-body connection while doing any exercise, having a supportive community for accountability, and learning how to eat healthy are things that have changed my life in ways beyond my imagination. It has helped towards my journey of being a better version of myself.

Now, I would love to share my coaching knowledge and experiences with you all; hoping that our community (of coaches and athletes) here at CFM can help you in your path of being a better version of yourself.

Sabrina Chong, CF-L2

I joined CrossFit in February 2020 after a friend brought me to his gym, saying it drastically improved his productivity. Prior to that, my health/fitness journey had been anything but linear. I struggled with severe mental health issues since I was a kid. Food was one of the ways I coped, so naturally I was overweight. I’d binge eat, hate my body, crash diet, work out really hard for a few weeks, burn out, rinse and repeat.

Then I found CrossFit.

I no longer rely on prescription drugs with harsh side effects to aid in my mental health and my body drastically changed throughout the past few years. Not to mention maaad PRs! But it’s so much more than that. I’ve learned a lot in the process about willpower, consistency, choices, nutrition, the importance of community, the list goes onnnn!

And THAT is what gets me pumped to coach- to be able to share what I’ve learned thus far, and see you become the best version of yourself, all while having A TON of fun! I want my ceiling to be your floor and expedite the process by sharing knowledge I’ve gained through my own journey. It’s so much more than aesthetics. Your body will change, that’s a given, but I want to share the ‘magic’ -if you will- of how CrossFit has changed my life in and out of the gym, and get you some PR’s along the way!

 Tiffany Foronda, CF-L1

My fitness journey began in 2015—something a bit unexpected, as I had never considered myself the “workout” type. After having two kids, I realized how important it was to take care of my health so I could keep up with them as they grew.

I started with bootcamp classes and quickly discovered that I genuinely enjoyed it, even though I wasn’t in the greatest shape at the time. For about a year, I stuck to strength and conditioning workouts, always feeling intimidated by CrossFit and the barbell, assuming that level of training was “too intense” for me.

That changed one day when a class unexpectedly incorporated a mix of bootcamp and CrossFit, including barbell work. I was already there, so I gave it a shot—and to my surprise, that moment sparked everything. From then on, I was hooked. I never imagined I would fall in love with CrossFit, but even more than the training itself, I found a deep appreciation for the community. It has truly been life-changing. 

Through consistent effort, I became more intentional about how I train, fuel my body, and take care of myself overall. I committed to becoming the best version of myself, learning from incredible coaches and seeing progress year after year. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of seeing your hard work pay off.

That feeling is exactly what inspired me to become a coach. I’m passionate about helping others experience those breakthrough moments—whether it’s mastering a new skill or hitting a PR! There’s a unique sense of accomplishment that comes with it, and it’s even more meaningful when shared with a supportive community.

CrossFit has become a part of who I am, and I’m incredibly grateful for the impact it’s had on my life. I’m excited to share what I’ve learned and support every person who walks through our doors.