GRIT is a little spot, not much more than a converted garage on Castle Street. What they lack in space and pizzazz, they make up for with enthusiasm.
Ambience & Equipment
The space is austere enough, no shiny mirrors and TVs that you'd see in your average Colombo 07 gym. Rubber matting, austere white walls festooned with enthusiastic slogans, graffiti and the 9 moves of crossfit.
They're really heavy on their ethos of pure fitness without the frills, although the equipment itself seems extensive (to a newbie). Timers, bars, plenty of varied weights, and even a massage room come together to give enthusiasts the full GRIT experience.
Vibe & Training
This is some of the most bafflingly enthusiastic energy you'll come across in a gym. Brim full of incredibly fit and sweaty crossfitters, there's no self-conscious preening and curling as you'd find in a swank Cinnamon Gardens gym.
Instead, I feel as though the community aspect of crossfit is one of its biggest draws. With plenty of women as intent and unrelenting as their male counterparts, loud club music, and shouts of encouragement to flagging comrades, it's an incredibly inclusive environment.
You'll also be set up with trainers who will take you through the beginnings and basics of crossfit. Be warned though, regardless of what they tell you, this is NOT meant for beginners who have never done regulated exercise before. You need to have a basic level of fitness and training before, or else you will end up in pain and injuring yourself.
Logistics
Your first 3 classes are free on trial, after which you can sign up on a monthly basis or else pay about Rs. 500 per hour-long session. Lessons or sessions start at the top of every hour from 5-8 PM on weekdays, and you can peruse their FB page for information on morning and weekend classes.
Overall
Us chunky chaps at YAMU aren't fans of crossfit (or any form of exercise for that matter), but as our operations and waistlines expand, we thought this would be a good idea. As far as gyms go, GRIT was an interesting twist with no frills and full community enthusiasm. If you're looking to make friends and work on that core, this is your spot.
