Boxing Strong Coaches

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"I love to push people to surprise themselves with what they can do. Mind over matter is definitely a valid concept when it comes to boxing. I believe in encouraging small victories, taking challenges one step at a time, but most importantly in continuing to raise the bar. We are only as physically strong as our minds are strong.
 

I absolutely love boxing; as a trainer, I get to see the way that boxing encompasses nearly all of the physical training elements — to this day, it remains the most challenging workout I have ever done. Boxing builds, tones, shapes, and sculpts bodies, and most importantly, strengthens minds.”

Masha is a former competitive fighter and the 2017 NCBA West Coast Champion (139-lb fight class) and the 2015 Silver Medalist (132-lb fight class); she is a USA Boxing-Certified Coach, National Association for Fitness Certification (NAFC) Certified Personal Trainer and Rock Steady Boxing Certified Coach.

She is the founder and owner of Boxing Strong® and she brings her boxing and training experience to her diverse range of clients with their various fitness and athletic goals. Masha works with her athletes to help them find their own physical and mental confidence through the art of boxing.

Masha is also a proud mom of a teenager, and she works to help her son become the best athlete he can be!

Mikael was born and raised in Finland. He served in Military Police as a Military Police Sniper until 2003 and is currently in Reserve. After that he worked in Security, traveling to Hong Kong and Thailand. Always keeping a keen eye on health and wellness, he started his journey at a supplement company as a business executive when he relocated to California with his family.

Mikael has over 20 years of Martial Arts experience, countless amateur boxing fights. He competed all over Europe and Asia in MMA, boxing, submission, wrestling, BJJ, Kyokushin Karate and, of course, Thai Boxing. Mikael was one of the pioneers at his home country to bring the MMA scene. Fun fact, he was in the same amateur boxing tournament as Mike Tyson in Finland, just a few years later. 

As for his personal hobbies, he actively partakes in rock climbing, camping, fly fishing and his son's baseball practices. He lives a "dad life" now, and thoroughly enjoys teaching his son martial arts and sports. 

"Shake and bake" - Mikael

Christian has been in the fitness world since he was 13 years old as a Bolivian folklore dancer, became an instructor at the age of 15 and continues to be a leader on the floor since then. Christian has over 15 years of exercise experience ranging from, Muay Thai, dance, swimming, CrossFit, cardio kickboxing and now is a coach at First City Crossfit and Boxing Strong® in Monterey, CA. 

Coach Christian focuses on helping others achieve their fitness goals, all types of levels, ages, and personalities. Currently Christian is one of CrossFit teens coach, Kids Boxing Camp coach, and a private coach to many individuals and family members and couples. Christian has worked with kids most of his coaching career and continues to make a difference for each and everyone of his athletes. Christian definitely likes to focus on sports conditioning type workouts. He delivers the most exhilarating and fun workouts, all the while making them effective when it comes to shedding weight. 

Christian is not only passionate about health and fitness, he is also a creative chef for his own business called Pure Love Food. Not only does Christian love to create food for any occasion, he also likes to connect his two passions and caters to individuals with meal-prepping locally. 

Outside of work and working out, Christian is a fun pet dad to his dog Ghost, who often accompanies him at the gym and other adventures in daily grind.