Antifragility Is Everything Toxic Masculinity Pretends to Be

How Rugged CrossFit is quietly redefining what it means to be strong—without the mirrors or macho bullshit.

I recently spent an embarrassing amount of time designing my dream living room: a serene little sanctuary with a fluffy rug, a low coffee table and mounds of comfy floor cushions where I could breathe deep, sip something herbal, and feel smug about my inner peace. The idea was to ditch the basic couch-and-coffee-table setup and go full Boho dreamscape, drink adaptogenic lattes, sprawl like a tantric house cat, and float effortlessly between text pings and spiritual downloads. I imagined incense curling through sunbeams, a couple of sound bowls in the corner, and me, radiating peaceful productivity like some kind of enlightened goddess.

In reality? I made it to the floor once, couldn’t get back up, rolled sideways onto a dog bed like a broken beetle, and laid there wondering if this was how it all ends. That’s when it hit me: I didn’t need more throw pillows. I needed stronger legs, a tighter core and knees that didn’t scream in pain.

Because I’m only halfway through this ride—I’m 52 and I fully expect to live to 100—I’d like to make it through the next 50 years without requiring a forklift to get off the couch. I want strength that lasts. Not just ripped abs and bulging biceps. Real strength. The kind that lets you lift your carry-on into the overhead bin without popping a rib. The kind that keeps you sharp, steady, and upright through the chaos of life.

That’s what led me to Rugged CrossFit 702.

Now, before you assume I’ve gone full gym rat, let me clarify: I am not the kind of person who naturally gravitates toward burpees or box jumps. I don’t even like wearing shoes with laces. But this isn’t about chasing aesthetics or trying to relive my 20s. It’s about rebuilding the kind of strength that doesn’t flinch when life gets heavy. The kind that doesn’t just survive stress, but adapts and gets stronger. In other words: antifragility.

What Is Antifragility?

Where resilience is bouncing back to baseline, antifragility is leveling up because of the chaos. It’s what happens when stress doesn’t just not break you. It builds you. And not in that cheesy “whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” kind of way. More like: what challenges reshapes you. Refines you. Expands your capacity.

Your muscles? Pure antifragile magic. They don’t grow by avoiding effort. They grow because of it. You lift something heavy, they tear a little, and then they rebuild, stronger than before. The same goes for your nervous system, your immune system, and—if you’re paying attention—your emotional bandwidth.

Antifragility requires discomfort. Not masochism, not grind culture, but healthy friction. The kind that supports adaptation. It's hardwired into growth, but it doesn’t come with applause. No one’s handing you a gold star for eating protein and facing your emotional baggage, but those are the reps that matter.

Antifragility isn’t about being invincible. It’s about becoming someone who can bend without breaking. And if you do break, you get back up smarter, stronger, and with better stories.

And here’s the thing: being antifragile doesn’t mean you’re never fragile. It means you can be, and you don’t fear it. You break sometimes. You rest. You recalibrate. And then you get back up, not as the same version of yourself, but as someone a little stronger, a little wiser, and a whole lot harder to knock down.

Antifragility vs. Toxic Masculinity

Now let’s clear something up. Antifragile does not mean “tough guy energy.” In fact, it’s the opposite of that rigid, clenched-jaw, “never show weakness” nonsense that toxic masculinity pushes.

Toxic masculinity glorifies a brittle kind of strength. Performative. Inflexible. Terrified of softness. It’s the emotional equivalent of skipping leg day: looks fine on the surface until life knocks you sideways.

And it’s not just a guy thing. It’s a societal thing. We’ve all been trained, in one way or another, to equate vulnerability with failure. But antifragility invites softness where it serves, and strength where it counts. It says: You can rest. You can cry. You can ask for help. And then you can get back up and deadlift a metaphor—or an actual barbell—when you’re ready.

It’s the kind of strength that doesn’t have to prove itself. It just shows up.

Which brings us back to Rugged CrossFit 702.

Antifragility In Action: Rugged-Style

When I dropped in for a class, I expected to feel awkward and out of place. But from the jump (not the box kind), I was welcomed like I’d always been there. Coach Candi gave a full rundown of the workout and made sure we had beginner-friendly versions. She checked in often, not like a gym teacher with a whistle, but more like a friend who actually wants you to succeed.

The vibe was focused, welcoming, and refreshingly chill. One of the trainers, Jesus, wasn’t even coaching that day but still came over to chat. That’s when I realized: this wasn’t just a gym. It was a community.

After class, I sat down with owner Mike Miller, who told me the whole thing started with a broken hand. “I was prepping for American Ninja Warrior,” he said, grinning. “Then I broke my hand and realized, I’m too old to be jumping through obstacles.”

He and his girlfriend Mandi stumbled onto Rugged as members and immediately knew it felt like home. When the gym came up for sale, Mike jumped on the opportunity. Since then, they’ve upgraded the space with new mats, a 24-hour open gym, and “Shit Storm Sundays,” which are exactly as intense as they sound. But what really makes Rugged different isn’t the gear. It’s the people.

“No one here cares how much money you make or what you do. You’re all sweating together. It equalizes everyone.”

There are no cliques. No egos. Just real people doing real work—parents with kids in tow, beginners lifting beside veterans. It’s gritty, honest, and zero percent pretentious.

“For me, it’s about longevity,” Mike said. “It’s about making sure you can move well into your 60s and beyond. This isn’t just about lifting weights. It’s about making sure you can pick up your grandkids without throwing your back out.”

What struck me most was how this place embodies everything antifragility stands for. Not just physical strength, but emotional flexibility. Accountability without ego. People pushing themselves and checking in on each other. Not just in reps, but in recovery.

There are no mirrors. Nobody’s flexing for the ‘gram. Just presence. Real people. Showing up. Falling down. Getting stronger. Because true strength isn’t about how much you can carry. It’s about how well you rebuild, how often you rise, and how gracefully you stay in the game, even as you age.

Rugged reminded me that strength doesn’t have to be stoic and sharp-edged. It can be soft-spoken and sweaty. Collaborative. Compassionate. Even fun.

Do I still hate burpees? Of course. But I’ve come to respect what this kind of training builds, not just in the body, but in the psyche.

Turns out, the goal wasn’t to be tough after all. It was to become antifragile.

Visit Rugged CrossFit 702 at 6040 S Fort Apache Rd #101, Las Vegas, NV 89148 and find out what you’re really capable of.

Jaden Rae is a Las Vegas resident, best-selling author of the Microdosing Guide And Journal, and founder of American Farmacy, a modern apothecary that empowers people to take control of their own health using Earth’s original medicines. She is also a two-time best-selling cookbook author, television chef, and has been featured on the Today Show, The Early Show, Martha Stewart Radio, Fox Business News and more. You can find her on Instagram at @steamykitchen and @amfarmacy.