Getting to Know The Real Bryce Smith: The Unveiling of the Man Beneath the Golden Locks

Getting to Know The Real Bryce Smith: The Unveiling of the Man Beneath the Golden Locks
Interview by Invictus Member Jose Montanez

B-Ryce has been bringing fun and games to the Invictus family since he arrived. Literally! Warming up his classes with games that make you forget the most intimidating of workouts and driving us all insane trying to come up with a new fun fact; nobody wants to take part in the burpee penalty. A Lannister doppelganger, he is simply a five year old at heart. Just ask him about CrossFit and he will tell you his definition: constantly varied high intensity playing around. He is famous for saying, “This is CrossFit, you gotta stop thinking! Just have fun. Play with your fitness,” but what else is going on underneath those golden locks!?

Jose: Referencing Game of Thrones, your family’s motto is that “A Lannister always pays his debts”. Do you currently owe any debts?

Bryce: No but I would like the rest of the gym to follow my family’s credo. When we train, we sometimes place bets or wagers to motivate ourselves and other to maximize our potential. With that being said, Rasmus is still in debt to me because I hit a 305 pause split jerk for two reps when he and everyone else doubted me.

Jose: Your brother Tyrion Lannister a.k.a Ricky Moore has said “Once you’ve accepted your flaws, no one can use them against you.” Do you agree? Is he your inspiration?

Bryce: Yes I agree, because in the sport of CrossFit I can’t change the fact that I am part of Team Long Femur. Being 6 feet 4 I have come to terms that I have to travel longer distances; I have had to learn how to adapt and pace workouts. Ricky has inspired to me to come up with my own saying which is “Don’t allow what you can’t do affect what you can do”.  Besides you are only as good as those you train with.

Jose: Is it true that you hear symphonies in your head whenever someone you are coaching gets a PR?

Bryce: Yes, I feel like I just beat Bowser in Mario Kart! Haha. I get really excited when others hit a new personal record because I see all the hard work that our athletes put in each and every day and it’s always awesome when they have something to show for their hard work. I also really have a bond with a little thing called trust. This will make sense in a second. I think hitting a new personal record is in some way an acquired skill, not necessarily an indication of whether the programming is working or not. In that sense it is similar to test taking. Not everyone is a great test taker and that doesn’t those that are any smarter than those that are. Anyway, sometimes, hitting PRs really helps us coaches because it allows athletes to really trust us and buy in to the program. Without trust there is nothing. That is true in training, with relationships, and in life.

Jose: So, you spent some time in Switzerland. Do you think Swiss cheese is better than American cheese?

Bryce: I actually spent time in living in Sweden, haha, but I would have to say goat cheese is best!

Jose: Is it true that chocolate milk does give you wings?

Bryce: I’ve always really liked milk and it’s even more magical out of a glass bottle. I don’t really have a crazy sweet tooth so I never really drank chocolate milk, plus I wanted to stay away from all that sugar. However, once CJ helped me understand the importance of regulating cortisol “stress hormones” by upping insulin “raised by increasing blood glucose levels” immediately post workout I recognized how functional the beverage could be not just to satisfy my taste buds but aiding in recovery. So, to simplify my Bill Nye the Science Guy answer: Chocolate milk does give me wings and takes me to PR city! I have to add a little side note that chocolate milk is not the best idea for everyone, especially those with body composition goals, but really helps to aid recovery for the hard gainers out there.

Jose: What motivated you to become a CrossFit Coach?

Bryce: As a coach I get to leave an imprint on the world. I teach one person and they teach others; one lesson in mechanics, a motivational talk etc… ends up reaching dozens of people and that can never be forgotten. Like Babe Ruth a.k.a the Great Bambino said to the Benny the Jet Rodriguez in the Sandlot, “Heroes get remembered but legends never die, follow your heart kid and you’ll never go wrong.” One of my biggest fears in life is falling in to an occupation that you hate just to pay the bills. That truly is work and that places you in a box. If you enjoy what you do, you will never work a day in your life, and you are more likely to be successful. Passion is the key. Help other succeed and you will too. I am fortunate enough to have the best job in the world.

Jose: Word on the street is that you have more shoes than your girlfriend…

Bryce: Hey, you have to look good at all times and be ready for any occasion because it’s important how you carry yourself and your presentation to others, just look at David Beckham. In all seriousness, growing up we didn’t have a lot of money so I would get one pair of shoes that I would have to wear even when broken. When they got holes or rips in them my father would do his best to fix them by putting cardboard in them and using duck tape which makes me appreciate the simpler things in life. “Simplicity is ultimate sophistication.”

Jose: When you hear the song “Waves” what is your first thought?

Bryce: Ricky and I singing and dancing inappropriately before a heavy lifting session. If training isn’t fun then it isn’t worth it. We always find ways to have fun.

Jose: What is your go to dance move?

Bryce: Let me demonstrate!

Jose: When you have a prefect hair day do you have a perfect lift day and who has the better hair, you or Rasmus?

Bryce: Oh no brainer I do because it’s authentic and American made. When you look good, you feel good, and you play good, which often leads to better training days.

Jose: If you could have breakfast, lunch and dinner with three people who would they be?

Bryce: I would have Breakfast with John Wooden because he would be relaxed and know just what to say to get you going in the morning. His wisdom and knowledge would set the tone for a great day. Be quick, but don’t hurry. Lunch with Phil Jackson because he would teach me something in such a way that would enhance my mental game. After all, he is the Zen master. Dinner with Tom Brady because I feel like he and I can relate on many levels and I would love to end the day hearing some of his life experiences. He has always been characterized as untalented by many scouting experts but somehow has found a way to be the best. Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard. Sometimes the flashiness of talent is the limiting factor for many athletes.

Jose: If you could have anyone write and read your eulogy who would it be?

Bryce: Ralph Waldo Emerson, who is famous for saying, “Nothing great was ever accomplished without enthusiasm.” His positivity and ability to empower your innerself reflects how I would like to be remembered. There is a hero inside each and every one of us, and some of us can help others truly believe that.

Jose: What book best depicts your life?

Bryce: Playing for Pizza by John Grisham. This book is very similar to my experience playing basketball in Europe and helped me learn a lot about myself at a young age.

Jose: What would be your dream vacation?

Bryce: The same vacation that I took from age 2 to 20; a trip to mammoth camping, hiking, fishing and going on tons of adventures exploring the wild Sierras like Huckleberry Finn with my family because it has enabled me to explore, dream, and discover. I am a huge family guy, and spending time in nature with family helps us to learn a lot about ourselves and about life.

Jose: Which character in the movie The Sandlot would you be?

Bryce: I wouldn’t be one character – I would be a few them! First I would be Benny for his leadership qualities and dedication to master his craft. Second, I would be Smalls for how nerdy I am and how sometimes I won’t take monumental risks. Third, I would be Ham for his witty trash talking ability and love of food. Last but not least I would be Squints because he ended up with the most beautiful woman in town and had the courage to kiss her real good.

Jose: What is your favorite childhood memory?

Bryce: Growing up in a cul-de-sac (like Cody’s hair!). Playing tag, hide-n-go seek and capture the flag with the neighborhood kids. So much fun plus they all taught me valuable life lessons like integrity, enhancing problem solving skills, innovative thinking, compromise, and enhanced people skills.

Jose: Why do you say things like “take your shirt off, elbowing bad guys in the face and who’s cool I’m cool” when teaching the Olympic lifts? Is it because you are as cool as the other side of the pillow?

Bryce: Well played with the Stuart Scott reference. Now there is a guy who was passionate and took his profession to another level! You know what they say, “Nothing great was ever accomplished without enthusiasm,” and I really try to bring enthusiasm to my coaching. Plus, if you’ve seen any of my dance moves then you know my coolness has no limits!

I like using analogies when coaching because it helps people to remember. I used to teach CrossFit kids and being a kid heart I always love to play games. Fun analogies like that make you feel like the difficulties of Olympic weightlifting really aren’t so difficult and they help to simplify the technicalities of Olympic lifting. One of my favorite quotes of all time is, “We never really grow up we just learn how to act in public.”

Jose: Are you all about the bass?

Bryce: Being an athlete from a jumping sport like basketball, the importance of violent hip extension in generating force is obvious – Ass moves MASS!

Jose: A quote that I think truly embodies Bryce:

“Everybody gets one chance to do something great. Most people never take the chance, either because they’re too scared, or they don’t recognize it when it spits on their shoes.” The Sandlot.

There is much more to Bryce than just games; a former basketball standout that has seen his career take him all the way to Switzerland…I mean Sweden (ha!); his path to coaching CrossFit is a unique one. It was a pleasure having the opportunity to get to know the real B-Ryce and showing people the man he truly is.