James E. Walker

  • CCS STM ART
  • Bio Signature Practioner
  • Co-Owner, Strength Coach

James has over thirty years of experience as a professional trainer, strength and conditioning coach, fitness director, fitness consultant, and collegiate instructor. James is known by athletes, trainers, colleagues, politicians, entertainers, and executives for his technical expertise on physical training. His extensive knowledge on anatomy, physiology, and exercise science attracts a clientele of both athletes and non-athletes seeking peak performance.

Alumni of the University of Maryland, James studied Kinesiology (the study of movement) with an emphasis on biomechanics and exercise physiology. As a student at Maryland, he conducted the first scientific study of the “biomechanical analysis of the rear hand punch.” He also founded the first Martial Arts Society, where all styles of martial artist could train and was a teaching assistant for karate in the PHED department.

During this time James began writing strength and conditioning programs for many student-athletes and had the opportunity to work with some of Maryland’s finest track athletes. This led to a position as the strength and conditioning coach for the University of Maryland men’s Basketball team, which became ACC Champions that year.

In the mid-eighties, James participated as an athlete and regional assistant coach with the U.S. Olympic bobsled team. James is a Certified Conditioning Specialist for the NSPA (National Strength and Professionals Association) and served on their advisory board. For almost ten years he taught, certified, and proctored exams for aspiring trainers, strength coaches, and numerous fitness professionals.

For over 17 years, James was employed as a fitness director with two major health club corporations within the Washington, DC area. The first five were with the Silver Spring YMCA and the later twelve were with WSC (Washington Sports Club), where he initiated and taught their personal trainer certification program. At this time, he also operated a successful personal training and consultation business, called Pro-Fit. In 2000, James was one of a few strength and conditioning coaches to study and get credentialed in Active Release Technique™ a form of scar tissue treatment and management.

James continues to pursue applicable knowledge and cutting edge trends in training and remains affiliated with a select group of national and international strength coaches-trainers who share a similar philosophy. As an athlete James participated in basketball, bobsled, boxing, football, gymnastics, track, and various martial arts where he attained a black belt. He resides in Centreville with his wife and two daughters, six and one years old.

Monica C. Walker

  • USTF, CSCS
  • Sprint & Strength Coach
  • Co-Owner

Monica has been involved with coaching and the fitness industry for over 20 years. She has experience in track and field, gymnastics, and collegiate strength and conditioning programs. Monica has also worked as a professional trainer, researcher, and in health club management. Her unique perspective as an elite athlete and coach allows her to be versatile and innovative with training.

Alumni of the University of New Mexico, Monica received a dual Bachelor of Science in Physiology & Biochemistry. A stand out in Track and Field, Monica achieved success early as a nationally ranked scholastic athlete in track and field. In high school she accepted an invitation along with other nationally ranked track athletes to participate in the Olympic Development Program at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. As a scholarship athlete in college, Monica found success at both the conference and national level in track and field as well as becoming a 1996 U.S. Olympic trials qualifier. During her summer months while in college Monica worked as a full time certified gymnastic coach and a certified personal trainer.

Monica worked as a collegiate strength and conditioning coach, coaching female athletes in soccer, softball, and track. In addition, became a certified strength and conditioning specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Monica is a member of the US Track and Field Association (USATF). While completing her graduate internship with an international track and field coach, Monica worked with highly competitive college, amateur and professional track and field athletes. The environment allowed her to develop an acute eye for teaching athletes the technical and fundamental skills used in elite sprinting.

As an exercise therapist in a large sports medicine clinic, Monica worked with active and competitive athletes in their post rehabilitation stage. Monica has over ten years of experience managing health clubs and recreational facilities, which involved staff recruitment, training, development, customer service, and continuing education. She is currently involved with consulting Cigna Healthcare and various companies on wellness, fitness, and performance around the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area. Monica is a native to the Washington, D.C. area; she is from a family of highly competitive athletes. Her oldest brother, Raymond C. Crittenden, IV was one of the few athletes to excel and play soccer, basketball, and football at Virginia Tech. He finished his athletic career in the NFL as a wide receiver. Her youngest brother, Derrick A. Crittenden was an All-State & All American High School football player that completed a successful collegiate football career at Boston College.

Raymond C. Crittenden IV

  • MS CSCS USATF
  • Professional Strength & Speed Coach
  • Senior Consultant

During his years at Thomas Jefferson High School, and then Annandale High School as a student-athlete, Ray was a vibrant competitor earning honors in football, basketball, and soccer. Profoundly recognized as one the the areas best triple sport athletes Ray excelled both on and off the field earning scholarship offers from around the country.

Because of his rare athletic ability Ray was able to receive a scholarship to Virginia Tech to play Football, Basketball, and Soccer. As a multi-talented athlete who played a key role in the development of the men’s soccer program before turning to football and playing in the NFL, Crittenden still ranks as one of the best all-around athletes ever to compete at the varsity level for Virginia Tech. He came to Blacksburg as the first full-scholarship soccer player in Tech history. Before he left, Crittenden re-wrote the soccer record book,  as a key figure in the development of the men’s soccer program. As a freshman in 1988, he scored 15 goals, setting a single-season school record that has been equaled just once. He also set school season marks for shots (70) and points (34).

As a freshman from Annandale, Va., he helped the Hokies to a school-record 11 victories in ’88, a mark that stood until 1996. He was named the team’s most valuable player and earned all-state, all-Metro and all-South Atlantic Region honors and all-america recognition.

After the completion of his first soccer season, Crittenden joined the men’s basketball team as a shooting guard. Working behind four veteran players at the deepest position on the team, including Vernell “Bimbo” Coles, he saw reserve duty during the 1988-89 season.

As a sophomore, Crittenden turned his concentration back to soccer. He scored eight goals that season to become the school’s career leader in goals after just two seasons. He was named All-Metro and was voted the most valuable offensive player of the Metro Invitational Tournament after scoring three of Tech’s five goals on the way to the championship.

Following his junior season, Crittenden decided to give up his final year of soccer to play football for the Hokies. He finished his three-seasons as the soccer program’s career and season leader in shots (244/73), goals (31/15) and points (74/34). He still ranks among Tech’s top six all-time leaders in all three of those career and season categories.

Crittenden joined the football team for spring practice in 1991 and worked at flanker. He saw action in the 1991 season opener as a returner and then worked his way into the starting lineup for the remainder of the season. Crittenden bounced back with an excellent showing in the spring of 1992, taking over the No. 1 spot at split end. During the 1992 season, Crittenden played in every game, earning some starting time in the process. He caught nine passes for 113 yards and a touchdown and attracted attention as a kickoff return specialist.

After graduating from Tech with a degree in communications, Crittenden signed his first contract in the NFL with the New England Patriots and played in every game for the Patriots as a receiver and return specialist during the 1993 and 1994 seasons. He ranked fifth in the AFC in kickoff returns as a rookie. Crittenden spent a total of five seasons in the NFL, including stints with the Carolina Panthers and San Diego Chargers, before serious knee injuries led to his retirement in 1998.