About Colin McNulty (hey, that’s me!)
I’ve had this blog since 2007 and only just got round to putting this About Me page up. Why? Because I’m a typically restrained English man, and the idea of writing a page all about li’l’ ol’ me is rather repugnant to my sense of English refrain.
Besides, where on earth do you start describing who you are? Assuming I even know who I am, could I summon the words to express myself adequately? Indeed, what is it to “be” someone? What is it exactly that distinguishes me from, well, you? Sadly I’ll have to fall back to the cliché of defining myself through traits and experiences and hope that satisfies your curiosity.
To start with then, as I’m sure you’ve workout out already, I think too much! Or so I’m told. Personally I think (there I go again!) that most of the world must walk around with their brains turned off or something, because I think I would be doing life an injustice to think any less, but there you have it, that’s thinking for you! 
So then on to the potted history: career wise I’m a Chartered Engineer and have worked on many engineering projects such as:
- Remote controlled robots for nuclear power plant inspection and repair
- Air to air missile simulation systems
- Formula 1 racing car test rigs
In 2000 I started my first company and since then have mixed my own online business ventures with being a freelance IT Consultant, consulting at blue chip companies like:
- HSBC Bank
- Barclays Bank
- EADS (the owners of Airbus)
- British Telecom
- The Ministry of Defence
As many sedentary western office workers do, I had become fat and over weight, I had a 43″ waist and was 30% body fat. In 2007 I found CrossFit and got started on the Zone Diet and it changed my life. Check out these before and after pics, pretty amazing huh? My achievements since starting CrossFit (click the links to see write ups of each certification with more pics):
- CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
- CrossFit Kids Trainer
- CrossFit Olympic Weightlifting Trainer
- British Weight Lifting Associates Assistant Coach
- British Masters Weight Lifting Champion 2010
More details on last year, with pics of the certificates for example are here. Left is a pic of me with Greg Glassman, CrossFit’s creator, back when he was actually doing certifications personally and I was honoured to attend the first ever CrossFit certification outside of north America.
I’ve saved the best till last though: I am also a Personal Defence Readiness (PDR) Coach at PDRmanchester, which is the general public branch of Tony Blauer’s (world famous martial artist) S.P.E.A.R. self defense system. On the right is me (grinning FAR too much!) and Tony, which was also at the first ever PDR cert outside of North America. Just to give you an idea of how well adopted it is, apart from being taught to military and law enforcement units all over the world, the SPEAR System is the only system of self defence mentioned by brand in the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) training manual, required reading for all English police officers!
But that’s not why I like it. PDR is not a martial art, there are no belts, there are no white (or black) pyjamas to wear, and you don’t have to wait 3-5 years to get your black belt before you can defend yourself effectively. Give me an hour and I will make you safer inside or on the street. Give me a day of your life and you’ll feel safe nearly everywhere you go! How would that change your life? It changed mine.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Colin,
Thanks for sharing the information. I’m glad I came across your blog. I’m experiencing elbow pain and the first time I noticed it was a quick pull-up session in Disneyland in November 2011 of all places. I’m not sure what caused the pain, either over doing it on pull ups (pistol/hammer style at my local gym) or something else. Now two months later I wouldnt say anything is better. I cannot do any pulling exercises and grasping objects really hard hurts on the inside of my elbow. My new Kaiser doctor ran me through a very quick checkup where I pushed up and down against her hands for resistance and felt no pain. I can do pushups, dips, heavy squatting, bench press, some shoulder work but ANY heavy pulling like cleans or clenching my steering wheels causes the pain.
Does that sound similar to you?
Because of this pain I’ve had to stop lifting which means no more olympic lifting and I’m going CRAZY!! I’m two weeks into Insanity Workout (similar to P90x) and it’s killer and no pain but I miss lifting.
I’m going to try your exercises and see what happens over the next few weeks. I’ve been taking fishoil, gloucossimine/chondroitin and an antiinflamitory since July for a knee pain that went away.
Thanks in advance!
-Ryan
ps. Google California Strength and look it up on youtube. Its an Olympic gym with guys training for the 2012 games. The weight they move will blow you away! Plus they have some technique vids that are pretty awesome.