Who are you? Nikolay “KOKO” Atanasov

How long have you been doing CrossFit? Quite a while! I’ve stopped counting.

Why do you do CrossFit? Because it’s effective! Through this method I help people feel more alive. Over the years I’ve also integrated other approaches, but the main goal is always for our athletes to feel better within themselves. When I sense that, or when someone gives me such feedback, it makes it all worthwhile and reminds me why I do CrossFit.

What other sports do you enjoy? Since I started with CrossFit, I discovered Olympic Weightlifting and Gymnastics. I’m still deeply fascinated by the art of weightlifting and its impact on both the conscious and subconscious levels of those who practice it and chase results. I’m grateful to my coaches in this sport – Zdravko Stoichkov and Kostadin Grozdanov – who introduced me to it and taught me valuable lessons, to the point where I began training and preparing people in this (paradoxically, I know) very elegant sport.

Before CrossFit, I competed in alpine skiing, played a lot of football, and studied martial arts. CrossFit brought all of my previous sports experience together and gave me a new direction.

In recent years, for my personal growth, I’ve been experimenting with Taoist practices, brain hemisphere balancing techniques, and more, including studying Family Constellations. I’m still looking for new methods or elements to integrate, so I can expand my capacity and grow. This aligns perfectly with the CrossFit motto of Constantly Varied Functional Movements — only now, for me personally, without the pressure of High Intensity. I let things happen more naturally.

How would people at the gym describe your coaching style? Great question! I should probably run a survey on that one 😉 I hope they’d describe me as reasonable. I walk into the gym with the intention of contributing positive energy to people — even if it’s just through my presence. Sometimes that’s enough. Other times I help someone overcome themselves or achieve more than they thought possible — and those moments are truly precious. They’re the biggest reward I get as a coach.

What’s the atmosphere in the gym like when you’re there? The gym, and especially the people in it, give me energy. I give my energy back. Usually, I’m very happy with the result.

Favorite CrossFit equipment and why? The barbell! It has the power to awaken deep — or sometimes shallow — hidden fears and demons. I’ve experienced it myself, and I see it in others. It’s unique and at the same time a serious challenge!

Favorite CrossFit movement and why? Handstand and Bar Muscle-Up. Both movements are psychological barriers for many people, and as mentioned earlier, it’s very rewarding for me when I can help someone get past that barrier and realize they can do something they once thought impossible. That’s where our strength as coaches lies — we have the methodology and experience to show people they’re capable of what they see others doing. Everyone starts somewhere!

What difference do you see in people before and after the Intro Course? Our Intro Course is designed to introduce newcomers — or people coming from other sports — to the specific movements used in CrossFit training. It’s educational and focuses mainly on the details of proper movement execution. We use bodyweight, PVC pipes, and basic weights. We, the coaches, rely on the fact that after the course people already have a foundation to build and grow upon. For me, the Intro Course is the most valuable time in the gym. You learn new things, build new connections, and face a wide range of challenges for both body and nervous system. After the course, the effect continues — details are refined, weights are introduced — however, all of that comes once the base is there!

A day or week without training is…? Time for other activities — I also work a “normal job” as a Sales Manager. After that, it’s time with my kids, friends, or exploring new opportunities. And sometimes, it even means… rest.