Our Trainers
Keith Wittenstein
(a.k.a. “Tyler Durden”)
Keith is Head Coach, Founder, President, and all that jazz. He just so happens to be the only Level 3 CrossFit Trainer in the New York area. Apparently that means he’s pretty badass. Keith has been personally invited to coach at certification courses by luminaries such as Mark Rippetoe, Mike Burgener, Jeff Martone, and Jeff Tucker.
Before founding CrossFit Virtuosity, Keith founded CrossFit NYC, the first New York CrossFit affiliate, and the eighteenth affiliate nationwide. He has worked at a number of esteemed fitness facilities including David Barton Gym, Crunch, Equinox, and an array of New York’s top yoga studios.
Here’s a big list of all Keith’s qualifications. Yep, it’s a long list!
- Certified CrossFit Level 3 trainer.
- CrossFit Speciality Certifications:
- Basic Barbells
- Gymnastics
- Kettlebells
- Nutrition
- Olympic Weightlifting
- Science of Exercise
- Running and Endurance
- Movement, Mobility and Maintenance
- Certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.
- Certified by USA Weightlifting as a Sports Performance Coach.
- Registered yoga teacher.
- Purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under master Renzo Gracie, one of the most highly regarded practitioners and teachers of BJJ in the world. Keith co-taught the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club at Columbia University for four years.
- Ambassador for Lululemon Athletica.
- And last but not least, Keith holds a JD from Boston University. Just don’t ask him for legal advice… that was a long time ago!
Samantha Orme
(a.k.a. “Good Sam”)
Sam is Assistant Coach, Founder, VP, Secretary, and Treasurer, and hence has all the real responsibility around here. Pretty much everything she knows about coaching, she learned from Keith. She is CrossFit Level 1 certified, and although perhaps not quite as badass as Keith, has been known to pull off surprise workout victories every once in a while (challenge her to a handstand hold contest!) Sam sits around all day just waiting for Rip, Burgener, or Tucker to call and ask her to coach a cert, but so far no such luck.
A couple years back Sam decided on a whim to ride a bicycle across the continental United States and against all odds emerged unscathed. Later, she ran a half marathon and found it far more challenging than the 4,000 mile bike ride. Sam will understand why you want to be an endurance athlete, and will only try to talk you into training smarter.
