Our coaches will help you FEEL Amazing
Meet the team thats dedicated to making your goals a reality.
mike carr
our story
Friction was founded originally by Jeff Burlingame in June of 2014. Bobby Armock and Mike Carr were the first coaches and worked their way up the ranks into the CEO and COO roles respectively. In 2018, Bobby and Mike took over for Jeff as operators of the business. Fast forward to September of 2019, Jeff sold the gym to Bobby and Mike. Ever since, the two have led the gym to have 10 staff members and to have helped the greater Grand Rapids area!
bobby armock
meet your support team
angela silsby
COACH
How you found fitness: I started attending Friction shortly after it opened. I was bored with working out on my own and wanted something a little more challenging.
Athletic background: I started this journey at a more "mature" age and without a long history of athletic endeavors.
How you got into coaching: The decision to come to coaching really lies with the athlete that walks in and thinks it looks impossible due to age, previous injury, or overall health/conditioning. I wanted to continue my pursuit to learn as much as possible and share it with others to break down those barriers.
What it means to you to coach or what you love about it: We always applaud the loudest for the athlete that has to push their own personal boundaries, no matter how long it takes. It is one of my favorite things about coaching and fitness, bringing everyone together.
What is your favorite thing to coach or specialty or type of client you enjoy working with: Hero Workouts
Anything else people should know about you: When not at Friction, I am involved in dog rescue/fostering and my full-time job that won't let me wear gym clothes.
Certifications: CF-L1
trina ang
COACH
How you found fitness: My aunt told me to try this CrossFit thing with her and I said okay.
Athletic background: Soccer for 10 years, a little bit of everything else sprinkled in between from gymnastics and even flag football.
How you got into coaching: Finding fitness as a young adult I initially got into coaching to help me afford my gym membership (LOL). I wouldn't say I necessarily saw myself getting into coaching if you would've asked me before, but I knew I'd be doing something to help people in some way and I've found a really rewarding way to do that
What it means to you to coach or what you love about it: seeing people accomplish things they never thought they would be able to do is the coolest thing in the world and to be a small part of it is even cooler
What is your favorite thing to coach or specialty or type of client you enjoy working with: gymnastics and weightlifting
Anything else people should know about you: I used to cherry-pick pull-ups in my early days because I sucked at them but now they're one of my favorite movements
Certifications: CF-L1
Athletic background: Soccer for 10 years, a little bit of everything else sprinkled in between from gymnastics and even flag football.
How you got into coaching: Finding fitness as a young adult I initially got into coaching to help me afford my gym membership (LOL). I wouldn't say I necessarily saw myself getting into coaching if you would've asked me before, but I knew I'd be doing something to help people in some way and I've found a really rewarding way to do that
What it means to you to coach or what you love about it: seeing people accomplish things they never thought they would be able to do is the coolest thing in the world and to be a small part of it is even cooler
What is your favorite thing to coach or specialty or type of client you enjoy working with: gymnastics and weightlifting
Anything else people should know about you: I used to cherry-pick pull-ups in my early days because I sucked at them but now they're one of my favorite movements
Certifications: CF-L1
Taryn
COACH
How you found fitness: In 2016 I discovered Friction beginning as a "new you" client and brand new to the sport of CrossFit!
Athletic background: I had been looking for some different training after retiring from competitive cheerleading at Davenport University in 2013.
How you got into coaching: As for cheerleading now, I've coached nearly 10 years at a high school Varsity level and have taken many teams to the State level of competition.
What it means to you to coach or what you love about it: I really enjoy helping the girls grow in both sport and life within Cheerleading. I want to help those like me in fitness as well. As a Type 1 Diabetic, I was struggling to find something that would help maintain my blood sugars and weight...that is until I was introduced to macro counting and this type of interval training.
What is your favorite thing to coach or specialty or type of client you enjoy working with: I enjoy working with beginners as well as teaching rowing.
Anything else people should know about you: When I'm not working out, I like to travel with my husband and two kids, spending time in warm, sunny places!
Certifications: CF-L1
Athletic background: I had been looking for some different training after retiring from competitive cheerleading at Davenport University in 2013.
How you got into coaching: As for cheerleading now, I've coached nearly 10 years at a high school Varsity level and have taken many teams to the State level of competition.
What it means to you to coach or what you love about it: I really enjoy helping the girls grow in both sport and life within Cheerleading. I want to help those like me in fitness as well. As a Type 1 Diabetic, I was struggling to find something that would help maintain my blood sugars and weight...that is until I was introduced to macro counting and this type of interval training.
What is your favorite thing to coach or specialty or type of client you enjoy working with: I enjoy working with beginners as well as teaching rowing.
Anything else people should know about you: When I'm not working out, I like to travel with my husband and two kids, spending time in warm, sunny places!
Certifications: CF-L1
jake
COACH
How you found fitness: Started right before I got to college when my friend's dad had built a small home gym and they taught us to lift over a few months!
Athletic background: I played soccer and ran track through high school and played on soccer club teams for 6-7 years. In college, I played intramural soccer and power lifting.
How you got into coaching: I got into coaching after internships through my exercise science program at GVSU, which led me to want to pursue coaching as a career.
What it means to you to coach: It means helping someone to workout safely and correctly and increase their fitness and quality of life!
Favorite thing to coach: My favorite thing to coach is powerlifting or functional fitness class, powerlifting is my specialty and I enjoy that most, but I love the positive environment of the functional fitness classes.
Certifications: Bachelors in exercise science & NASM CPT
Athletic background: I played soccer and ran track through high school and played on soccer club teams for 6-7 years. In college, I played intramural soccer and power lifting.
How you got into coaching: I got into coaching after internships through my exercise science program at GVSU, which led me to want to pursue coaching as a career.
What it means to you to coach: It means helping someone to workout safely and correctly and increase their fitness and quality of life!
Favorite thing to coach: My favorite thing to coach is powerlifting or functional fitness class, powerlifting is my specialty and I enjoy that most, but I love the positive environment of the functional fitness classes.
Certifications: Bachelors in exercise science & NASM CPT
EVAN
COACH
How you found fitness: My CrossFit journey started after a long stint with soccer around 2 years ago. I was looking for a new challenge after that and CrossFit filled that role. Before soccer, I had been a gymnast for 12 years and a wrestler throughout middle school and high school. Luckily for me, those two sports translated perfectly.
Athletic background: Played soccer at a collegiate (Alma/ Olivet College) and semi-professional level (Michigan Stars/Oakland County FC/Carpathia FC)
How you got into coaching: Once soccer was done, I wanted to coach to pass on my love of the sport to the next generation.
What it means to you to coach or what you love about it: My second passion is coaching soccer. I work with little kids ages 3-8 teaching fundamentals. I then move to the older kids with travel soccer ages 9-16 to teach interpersonal relationship skills as well as sports performance.
What is your favorite thing to coach or specialty or type of client you enjoy working with: Soccer, Gymnastics, and Weightlifting
Certifications: Bachelors in Psychology/ CrossFit L1/ Former College Soccer Olivet College/Former Professional Soccer Coach Lansing Ignite (USL League One)/Current staff coach for Cap City Soccer Club
Athletic background: Played soccer at a collegiate (Alma/ Olivet College) and semi-professional level (Michigan Stars/Oakland County FC/Carpathia FC)
How you got into coaching: Once soccer was done, I wanted to coach to pass on my love of the sport to the next generation.
What it means to you to coach or what you love about it: My second passion is coaching soccer. I work with little kids ages 3-8 teaching fundamentals. I then move to the older kids with travel soccer ages 9-16 to teach interpersonal relationship skills as well as sports performance.
What is your favorite thing to coach or specialty or type of client you enjoy working with: Soccer, Gymnastics, and Weightlifting
Certifications: Bachelors in Psychology/ CrossFit L1/ Former College Soccer Olivet College/Former Professional Soccer Coach Lansing Ignite (USL League One)/Current staff coach for Cap City Soccer Club
MIKE
COACH
How you found fitness: One of my high school teachers told me about CrossFit in the weight room during one our morning lifting sessions. He told me I'd be pretty good at it and that I would like it. I started and never looked back. During high school, I played basketball and ran track. Into college, I found GV Strength Club at Grand Valley State University. This club helped forge friendships within the fitness community and inspire a deep love for fitness and helping others within this field.
Athletic background: During high school, I played basketball and ran track. Into college, I found GV Strength Club at Grand Valley State University. This club helped forge friendships within the fitness community and inspire a deep love for fitness and helping others within this field.
How you got into coaching: During my freshman year of college, I signed up at a Globo gym because they were starting to offer CrossFit in one of their rooms. This is how I might Jeff (former owner) and Bobby. I was the first member of Friction. After a year or so, I came back to Friction during my sophomore year of college and got my CrossFit L1, and started coaching. I then acquired my USAW L1 and started Victory Kid Barbell Club. I have since progressed from coach to manager, to now Co-Owner.
What it means to you to coach or what you love about it: I want people to understand that they have the capacity for change and discipline. Helping others realize that is what truly makes coaching enjoyable for me. I love giving them the tools for those skills and having them come back because they enjoy going through that process with me.I also love knowing (or finding out) how to take people from where they are, to where they want to be. The journey is the best part.
What is your favorite thing to coach or specialty or type of client you enjoy working with: I really enjoy working with people who are brand new to exercise. Their minds are like sponges and I want to soak it with every ounce of knowledge I can squeeze out of myself. I also love coaching weightlifting. I think I have an eye for it and can simplify it so that everyone, at any skill level, can enjoy it and make progress.
Anything else people should know about you: When I'm not at Friction, I'm with my wife and little man Wilder. Anything outdoors is the best. Mountain Biking, Archery, or Hunting.
Certifications: USAW L1, Bachelor's Degree in Exercise Science (GVSU), (Former) CrossFit Level 1
Athletic background: During high school, I played basketball and ran track. Into college, I found GV Strength Club at Grand Valley State University. This club helped forge friendships within the fitness community and inspire a deep love for fitness and helping others within this field.
How you got into coaching: During my freshman year of college, I signed up at a Globo gym because they were starting to offer CrossFit in one of their rooms. This is how I might Jeff (former owner) and Bobby. I was the first member of Friction. After a year or so, I came back to Friction during my sophomore year of college and got my CrossFit L1, and started coaching. I then acquired my USAW L1 and started Victory Kid Barbell Club. I have since progressed from coach to manager, to now Co-Owner.
What it means to you to coach or what you love about it: I want people to understand that they have the capacity for change and discipline. Helping others realize that is what truly makes coaching enjoyable for me. I love giving them the tools for those skills and having them come back because they enjoy going through that process with me.I also love knowing (or finding out) how to take people from where they are, to where they want to be. The journey is the best part.
What is your favorite thing to coach or specialty or type of client you enjoy working with: I really enjoy working with people who are brand new to exercise. Their minds are like sponges and I want to soak it with every ounce of knowledge I can squeeze out of myself. I also love coaching weightlifting. I think I have an eye for it and can simplify it so that everyone, at any skill level, can enjoy it and make progress.
Anything else people should know about you: When I'm not at Friction, I'm with my wife and little man Wilder. Anything outdoors is the best. Mountain Biking, Archery, or Hunting.
Certifications: USAW L1, Bachelor's Degree in Exercise Science (GVSU), (Former) CrossFit Level 1
Bobby
COACH
How you found fitness: I grew up in a large family with a lot of older brothers and I started working out to keep from getting bullied.
Athletic background: As I got older and started getting into sports, fitness was something that I put a lot of effort and work into for a competitive edge and to avoid injury. When I finished playing competitive sports I had this leftover hobby that I had learned to really enjoy.
How you got into coaching: I pursued my love for fitness with education at Central Michigan University, majoring in exercise science and minoring in athletic coaching. Throughout college, I volunteered during my semester breaks training wrestlers and football players from my former high school. After school, I found a job as a personal trainer and eventually found an opportunity to help start Friction.
What it means to you to coach or what you love about it: I've learned that coaching others through fitness creates an opportunity for the individual to define themselves in their own unique way, to develop a better version of themselves with exercise and nutrition as the medium. The results will always speak for themselves and the failures will always show direction on what to work on next. Teaching others a healthy living that is required to excel in the gym is synonymous with bringing about a more balanced person that inevitably will allow them to succeed in life as well.
What is your favorite thing to coach or specialty or type of client you enjoy working with: My favorite clients and members to coach are those that are faced with a challenge and need some help with creative problem solving to elevate their fitness and health to yield a higher quality of life.
Anything else people should know about you: When I'm not at the gym I am spending time with my wife Michelle, daughter Millie and dog Clyde.
Certifications: CrossFit Level 2, Bachelors in Exercise Science
Athletic background: As I got older and started getting into sports, fitness was something that I put a lot of effort and work into for a competitive edge and to avoid injury. When I finished playing competitive sports I had this leftover hobby that I had learned to really enjoy.
How you got into coaching: I pursued my love for fitness with education at Central Michigan University, majoring in exercise science and minoring in athletic coaching. Throughout college, I volunteered during my semester breaks training wrestlers and football players from my former high school. After school, I found a job as a personal trainer and eventually found an opportunity to help start Friction.
What it means to you to coach or what you love about it: I've learned that coaching others through fitness creates an opportunity for the individual to define themselves in their own unique way, to develop a better version of themselves with exercise and nutrition as the medium. The results will always speak for themselves and the failures will always show direction on what to work on next. Teaching others a healthy living that is required to excel in the gym is synonymous with bringing about a more balanced person that inevitably will allow them to succeed in life as well.
What is your favorite thing to coach or specialty or type of client you enjoy working with: My favorite clients and members to coach are those that are faced with a challenge and need some help with creative problem solving to elevate their fitness and health to yield a higher quality of life.
Anything else people should know about you: When I'm not at the gym I am spending time with my wife Michelle, daughter Millie and dog Clyde.
Certifications: CrossFit Level 2, Bachelors in Exercise Science
