COACH FEATURE: Julian Yang
From 11 years of CrossFit experience to soon stepping into a coaching role at CFCL—Julian’s journey has always been rooted in movement, learning, and connection.
If you’ve met Julian, you know he brings a calm confidence, strong work ethic, and easy friendliness to every class he’s part of. And in the coming months, you’ll start to see him in a new role—on the coaching floor.
A life built around movement
Julian grew up in South Korea, staying active from a young age. He practiced Taekwondo in childhood, picked up squash in middle school, and has always been drawn to physical challenges—skiing, hiking, swimming, and anything that keeps him moving.
Before moving to Saskatoon, he spent seven years working as a personal trainer, helping others build confidence through strength and fitness. He’s now continuing that learning as a Registered Massage Therapy student, deepening his understanding of movement, recovery, and injury prevention.
Discovering CrossFit—and sticking with it
Julian didn’t originally start CrossFit for himself—he began to support his partner at the time. But it didn’t take long for him to get hooked.
The intensity, the challenge, and the group energy quickly pulled him in. He found something different from a traditional gym—the ability to push past limits and experience that shift from “I can’t” to “I did.”
Eleven years later, he’s still showing up.
Finding CFCL—and what comes next
After moving from BC to Saskatoon, Julian arrived without many connections—but that changed quickly when he found CFCL.
“The members have been incredibly friendly and welcoming every time I step into the gym. Being part of this community has truly made me feel at home.”
Now, that sense of belonging is part of what’s motivating his next step.
A natural move into coaching
For Julian, stepping into a coaching role at CFCL feels like a natural progression.
With previous coaching experience and years of personal training behind him, this next chapter is about continuing to grow—while giving back to the community he’s become part of.
“It just felt like a natural step… a way to keep growing and contributing.”
He’s especially looking forward to connecting with more members, beyond the smaller group he typically sees during his own training times.
“I’m really excited to meet more people and build those connections.”
A coaching approach that meets you where you’re at
Julian’s approach is simple: one size doesn’t fit all.
He focuses on understanding each person’s starting point—then adapting movements and expectations to match. At the same time, he’s not afraid to challenge people when they’re ready for it.
“I meet people where they’re at… but I’m not afraid to push when they need it.”
His own journey—learning through both successes and mistakes—has shaped how he coaches, with a strong emphasis on proper movement, injury prevention, and long-term progress.
More than just a workout
For Julian, the goal of any class goes beyond the workout itself.
“I want members to walk out feeling better than when they came in—physically, mentally, or both.”
That’s the kind of environment he’s aiming to create: supportive, motivating, and grounded in progress that feels good.
Life outside the gym
Outside of training and school, Julian is a big animal lover—especially dogs. He once owned a French Bulldog and is always quick to volunteer if someone needs a dog sitter.
He also loves cooking and finds real joy in sharing meals with others:
“It’s such a joy to see my friends and family enjoying the meals I’ve made.”
Looking ahead
As Julian prepares to step into coaching over the next couple of months, his focus is clear:
To build strong relationships.
To create a supportive, challenging environment.
And to help people feel confident in their progress—while having fun along the way.
We’re excited to have Julian stepping into this role soon.
Eleven years of CrossFit, countless PRs, and a new home at CFCL.
If you’ve met Julian, you know he brings a calm confidence, strong work ethic, and easy friendliness to every class he walks into. But long before he joined CFCL, Julian was already deeply connected to movement.
A life built around activity
Julian grew up in South Korea, staying active through sports from a young age. He practiced Taekwondo in childhood, picked up squash in middle school, and has always loved exploring physical challenges—skiing, hiking, swimming, and anything that gets him moving. He also has a soft spot for musicals, and tries to visit his parents back home at least once a year.
Before moving to Saskatoon, Julian spent seven years working as a personal trainer, helping others build confidence through strength and fitness. He’s now a Registered Massage Therapy student, expanding his understanding of movement from both a performance and wellness lens.
Discovering CrossFit—and getting hooked
Julian didn’t initially choose CrossFit for himself—he started to support his partner at the time. But it didn’t take long for him to realize this wasn’t just “another type of workout.”
The intensity, the constant challenge, and especially the group energy pulled him in quickly. He loved pushing harder than he ever would have on his own in a regular gym, and he found real satisfaction in crossing those invisible lines between “I can’t” and “I did.”
Eleven years later, he’s still showing up.
A decade of progress and proud moments
Over the years, Julian has collected a long list of milestones:
• local competition wins
• new personal records
• consistent training no matter where life takes him
But the thing he’s proudest of isn’t a single lift or a moment on a podium—it’s his dedication. Eleven years of showing up, improving, learning, and staying committed to the process.
Finding CFCL after a big move
Moving from BC to Saskatoon was a big life shift, and Julian arrived without many connections. That changed quickly once he walked into CrossFit CL.
“The members have been incredibly friendly and welcoming every time I step into the gym. Being part of this community has truly made me feel at home.”
The sense of belonging, the familiar rhythm of training, and the genuine warmth of the CFCL community helped turn a new city into a place he could settle into.
Life outside the gym
Outside of CrossFit and school, Julian is a huge animal lover—especially dogs. He once owned a French Bulldog and jokes that if anyone in Saskatoon has one and needs a dog sitter, he’s first in line.
He also loves cooking and finds real joy in feeding people:
“It’s such a joy to see my friends and family enjoying the meals I’ve made.”
Looking ahead
Julian loves team competitions—sharing the challenge, the camaraderie, and yes, the suffering—so if you ever need a partner for an event, don’t hesitate to reach out. He’s always ready.
As he continues training at CFCL, he’s excited to build more connections, keep growing stronger, and blend everything he’s learning as an RMT student with his years of fitness experience.
And if you ever want to book a practice massage, he’d be happy to help.
We’re so glad he chose CFCL as his Saskatoon home—our community is genuinely better with him in it.