about
OUR STORY
OWNERS, Brian Campbell (Left) - Lars Thompson (Right)
WHAT IS FUSION ATHLETICS ANYWAY?
This organization started with our first location, CrossFit Tides, located in a small space inside a warehouse in St. Joseph, MI. Since then, Fusion Athletics has grown. With our 9-year anniversary in October (2021) of this year, our emphasis has become living and breathing our core values; humble, hungry, and people-smart. With experience and tradition on our side, we have become a health laboratory where customers can experience everything – a great CrossFit workout, detailed nutrition counseling, and intimate personal training. On March 23, 2018 we took a huge step forward opening two more locations, CrossFit Torrent in Kalamazoo, MI and CrossFit Current in South Haven, MI. As we are very fond of our Great Lakes here in Southwest Michigan, each one of our gyms holds the reference of water in its name. This trifecta has helped us complete the health and fitness Bermuda Triangle that we call Fusion Athletics!
THE HISTORY
OUR coaches
Brian Campbell
HEAD COACH/OWNER
About Brian: I was born and raised near the Kalamazoo area and moved to Southwest Michigan in my late 20's and took a job with a local police department. After exploring all type's of fitness I found my way to functional training with a colleague in the police force. We began doing a combination of Strongman and CrossFit in an effort to better our on duty fitness.
After some time of doing this, and better acquainting myself with CrossFit and its methodology, my wife and I decided to open a CrossFit affiliate in St Joseph. CrossFit Tides was then born in Oct 2012. Emily and I truly love being a part of a place where people come to improve their health and fitness, and create long-term relationships with our members.
My favorite part of being a coach is… My favorite part of being a coach is helping people realize they can push past any barrier they have set in front of them. I believe that people are capable of so much more than they believe and as a coach we are a small part of unlocking that potential.
Favorite WOD: Adam Brown Hero WOD
2 Rounds For Time
24 Deadlift (295/205 lbs)
24 Box Jumps (24/20 in)
24 Wall Ball shots (20/14 lb)
24 Bench Press (195/125 lbs)
24 Box Jumps (24/20 in)
24 Wall Ball shots (20/14 lb)
24 Clean (145/100 lbs)
Favorite Movement: Power Clean
Go-to Healthy Snack: RX Bar
Cheat Day Favorite: Cookies or Cake
If I’m not at CFT you can find me: Spending quality time with my family.
Coaching Credentials
CrossFit Level 2 Trainer (CF-L2)
CrossFit Football Course
CrossFit Scaling Course
CrossFit Spot the Flaw Course
USAW Sports Performance Coach
Eleiko Certification for Olympic Weightlifting and Program Design
CPR/AED Certified
Experience
Head Coach – CFT
Affiliate Owner
Retired Police Officer
Firearms Instructor
Athletic Background
Baseball
Softball
Football
Basketball
Emily Campbell
OWNER/COACH
About Emily: I never know how to answer this question! Lol! I'm somewhat of a mutt, I guess. Originally from the other side of the state (Detroit area), until almost my senior year of high school, then moved to and graduated from Sturgis, MI. I met Brian in Kalamazoo, MI while I was finishing the Special Education Program at WMU, and Brian was in the Police Academy. It was love at first sight, of course!
He accepted a position with a local Police Department, and I began my teaching career with Berrien RESA, teaching children with Autism, which is what brought us to this beautiful city of St Joseph.
I love teaching! I started “teaching” a.k.a. telling my younger siblings what to do from a young age and actually fell in love with helping people. Yes, even my siblings! So once we opened the first CrossFit gym in Southwest Michigan, I fell in love with helping people all over again! The environment may be different from my classroom, but we all have goals and continue to work hard to achieve them.
In 2011 we were blessed with twin girls who have grown up at Tides. I love that they have not only a positive, healthy environment to be a part of, but they are surrounded by such an amazing group of people every day! They get excited to be at the gym and do “their workouts”, and it brings me so much joy for our entire family to be part of an amazing community! I’m truly thankful.
How you started at CrossFit Tides and what made you transition into coaching: We opened CFT in 2012 just after we had the girls. I remember doing my first WOD while Brian pushed the girls around in our double stroller. It was a great stress reliever for me being a first time mom of twins, and helped me to feel normal again. People say it also made me more pleasant to be around! As the girls continued to grow, so did my love for CrossFit and being healthy not only for me, but my family as well. I decided to continue my education and get my L1 Certificate. Coaching classes, building relationships and trust with our members, and seeing them reach their goals pushed me to be better for them. I decided that my next step was to get my L2 Certificate so I could continue to improve my coaching abilities. That’s what’s so great about coaching, you can always continue to learn and improve!
My favorite part of being a coach is…The goose bumps I get from watching people do things they didn’t think they could do! When a member makes your arm hair stand up, you know it’s a great day! I love going to “work” everyday and seeing our members. The other part of coaching that I love so much is the relationships that have formed and how our community continues to grow. It’s a wonderful thing to be a part of, so thank you CFT! You guys/gals are what makes me love to coach!
Favorite WOD: I can’t say I have one favorite WOD, but anything with squats or cleans, double under’s, pull-ups, or wall balls. Yes, I kind of like them.
Favorite Movement: I LOVE squats! Well, except OHS. Anything overhead is my least favorite. And I also like power and/or squat cleans, what girl doesn’t love to clean, right?!
Go-to Healthy snack: I always like a good salad. If it has hard-boiled eggs and purple onions in it, that’s even better!
Cheat day favorite: I’d have to say anything salty and crunchy would be my favorite. Like a bag of salt and vinegar chips, but the small bag because if I had the large bag, I’d eat the entire thing!
If I am not at CFT you can find me: Playing My Little Ponies with my twin daughters and our yellow lab, Benny (our sweet prince), or having a dance party! When we take a quick water break, I try to keep up with laundry. I also love and cherish our time as a whole family, out and about, doing activities.
Coaching Credentials
CrossFit Level 2 Trainer (CF-L2)
CrossFit Adaptive Training Course
CrossFit Scaling Course
CrossFit Spot the Flaw Course
Eleiko Certification for Olympic Weightlifting and Program Design
CPR/AED Certified
Experience
Coach – CFT
Affiliate Owner
Retired Special Education Teacher
Athletic Background
Softball
Basketball
Dany
COACH
Where you are from and about you: I'm originally from Alabama, but grew up in South Florida. I traveled the U.S for a little while before settling down here in beautiful SW Michigan!
My favorite part of being a coach is… working with our members! I love seeing them grow as athletes and become part of a new and exciting community.
Favorite WOD: that's a hard one… but I'd have to say DT. It has some of my favorite movements in it!
Favorite Movement: cleans or back squats – I can’t choose.
Go-to Healthy snack: Chobani Yogurt or mixed nuts.
Cheat day favorite: Sweets! I’ve usually always got a sweet tooth.
If I am not at CFT you can find me: reading a book or out doing something active. We’re big outdoorsy people in my house.
7 Fun Facts about Dany:
I did theater/music most of my life.
I like fall and winter more than I like summer and spring. Snowboarding is one of my favorite hobbies!
I used to travel the U.S in a camper working for a property investment company.
I love love love animals, but my favorite animal is an owl!
I’m a huge bookworm. I hope to have a library in my house one day.
I do a lot of writing – just for fun, but I think I might write a book one day. I just have to figure out what I want it to be about and that’s the most important part!
I grew up in South Florida where my dad was a scuba instructor most of my life. I assisted him with training new divers in the summer when I wasn’t in school.
Coaching Credentials
CFL1
Athletic Background & Experience
I was actually never athletic (other than a little bit of dancing when I was in theater) until I was 19 and someone I knew approached me about joining a CF gym in Delray, FL. I tried it out and like everyone else was immediately obsessed. I bounced around to a few different boxes while traveling, but usually fell off and had to start back over again after months of not working out. I was so happy to find a great community here in Michigan when we settled down. I’m not your typical coach by any means, because I’ve started from the bottom multiple times before, but I think that shows that anyone can do this – if I can, you can!
Ryan Murrin
COACH
Where you are from and about you:
I'm originally from Greenville Pennsylvania, but after meeting my wife in 1997 we eventually moved to South Bend where she is from. I've worked at Whirlpool for 20 years and have had a successful career there. I have two boys that enjoy sports, skimboarding, and surfing. We moved to Michigan in 2014 and have loved every minute of it.
My favorite part of being a coach is…
Adjusting incorrect form.
I love taking a less than perfect movement and helping the athlete to become more efficient and safe for their workout.
Favorite WOD:
To be honest, I don’t really have a favorite WOD. What I like about Crossfit is that it’s constantly varying. I guess the constant change is my favorite.
Favorite Movement:
Muscle Ups, Pull Ups, Power Cleans
Go-to Healthy snack:
Cashews… always eat some before a workout for some fat booster.
Cheat day favorite:
Ice Cream! But let’s face it… it happens on more than just cheat day.
If I am not at CFT you can find me:
On my boat
7 Fun Facts about Ryan:
Used to be a guitar player in a band
Love boating
When my wife says “I want this”, I say “I can build that” and then do it.
I love reading military books. I’ve read Lone Survivor 3 times. Their dedication and sacrifice is inspiring.
Love coaching youth sports. I like teaching how teamwork and working hard to achieve goals in sports translates directly into professional careers.
I’ve traveled to multiple countries all over Europe.
I love watching survival shows. Alone is my absolute favorite!
Coaching Credentials
Level 1 Crossfit certification
Recreation League Baseball Coach
All Star Baseball Coach
Travel Baseball Coach
Youth Football Coach
Youth Soccer Coach
Youth Basketball Coach
People Leader for work
Athletic Background & Experience
High School Basketball Captain
3rd in State Pole Vault
Baseball
8 years of Crossfit