Garage Gym of the Week: Daniel Jackson

by Susie Sebastian Jan 08, 2018

ab trainer • advice • barbell • bumper plates • garage gym • gym • gymnastic rings • kettlebell • med ball • plyo box • pullup bar • resistance band • Squat Rack

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What is your name? Daniel Jackson
How old are you? 28
Do you have an IG handle or website you’d like linked? @danejack61612
Tell us a little about yourself: I’ve been a part of the CrossFit community since 2012. I’m the Assistant Coach for the National Pro Grid League (NPGL) Miami Surge, and have worked with CrossFit Cataclysm in Harker Heights, TX. I have recently received my Masters degree in Coach Education and Athletic Development from Xavier University and also have CrossFit Level 2 and CSCS. My wife is a Captain in the Army and we are currently in Atlanta where I have had the opportunity of working with Training Think Tank
How would you describe your training style? I spend most of my time focusing on CrossFit training, however swimming has been taking a priority lately. I’ve been lucky to have to opportunity in swimming with athletes like Noah Ohlsen, Travis Mayer, Chasity Snowden, and Lucas Parker.
How would you describe your fitness/strength level, currently? Relative to previous years, my fitness, overall, has dropped a little. We’ve had some significant family life-changes over the past year (new child, moving across the country, and then moving again). That being said, I’m still able to train aerobically here and there with an emphasis on injury prevention.
What are your fitness/strength goals? Current goals are to basically improve body composition, “bulletproof” my lower back, and create a good fitness example for my 3 little girls.
Describe your garage gym. Our gym is in a 24ft x 20ft garage with 9.5 ft ceilings. Most of our equipment has come from FringeSport and Eleiko. We have 500# worth of Eleiko bumpers (used from NPGL), Eleiko competion kettlebells (used from NPGL), and a used women’s barbell from Eleiko. Other than the squat stand, the rest of the equipment came from Fringe (rings, Studbar, Assault Bike, Rower, Medicine balls, 30"x24"x20" box, all bands, Abmats, Vaughn Bar). The flooring is just stall mats from Tractor and Supply.
Who works out in your garage gym? Our gym is primarily used by myself and my wife. Sometimes we will host some people I program for and coach and put them through some work.
Why did you build a garage gym? The main reason we built the gym was because we’ve always wanted a fitness “facility” within the house. However, it has turned into more of a convenience thing as we have 3 children and I stay at home with the girls, mostly. Therefore, it’s easier to stay home and get a workout than have to shuttle the kids around or try to get grandma and grandpa to come help.
What is your favorite piece of equipment in your garage? I don’t think that any equipment we own would be considered a waste as we use all of it.
What piece of equipment was a waste? We’re looking to add dumbbells and a heavy bag + heavy bag stand. That won’t be anytime very soon, but it’s what we’d like to get next.
What is the next piece of equipment you are going to get? The only dream equipment, for me, would be a Flipper of some sort. Like something from the 2013 CrossFit Games or the NPGL.
How did you build your garage gym? We built up our garage all at once based on what we had saved up and through financing. It was easier for us to go that route. FringeSport, Eleiko, Tractor and Supply, and even Sears helped us strike good deals to create exactly what we needed.
Do you have any tips for anyone else looking to build a garage gym? If you’re starting out, be comfortable in a smaller space. We originally had our floor set up as a 8x18 which was super small, but it worked. Also, when mounting barbells, kettlebells, etc. think simple tasks vs complex that will cost a lot. Example: we used bicycle garage hooks to hang out barbells. Cheap and efficient.