Crossfit?

[Matt Brouse]

Not sure if this is the correct forum.

I don't know anything about Crossfit and judging from some of the vids on AthletesArena youtube...you boys are down?

Care to give me the basics of this cult training?

[Bert Sorin]

Hey Matt,
Good question. CrossFit was started a few years back by Greg Glassman in California. He basically came up with a type of training that gets back to basics of large, athletic full body movments as a core of fitness. It uses oly lifting, some powerlifting, gymnastics, running, jumping, chinning, KB swinging, med ball throws as the meat and potatoes of the work. The thing is, the couple this with cardio by prescribing certain rest periods and rounds, many done for time. :eek: Example - 75lb. snatch for 75 reps for time. 75lb. is not much wt, but when you are banging it out for that many reps, different energy systems are used, and fitness effect is multiplied. Another is "Fran" - 21 thrusters (95lb. front squat to push press), 21 chin ups, 15 thrusters, 15 chins, 9 thrusters, 9 chins for time. Really tough. World record is 2:17 min :eek: In my opinion, this type of training would be great for a light day for strongmen, or instead of cardio.

CrossFit is being used A LOT by military, special teams, police, firemen, MMA fighters, rock climbers, surfers, and weekend warriors that want to be in sick shape. It gives you a central hub of cardio fitness, strength, power, agility, coordination and toughness to specialize into a sport if you later want to. Great for the weekend warrior, or someone who wants to surf this weekend, ski the next, do a "Mud Run" the next, Oly lift the next and so on. The idea is non specific training, that makes you ready for the unpredictable. Kinda like a ninja. :)

I have done CrossFit in the off season, because it keeps you in touch with many methods of training, and the folks that I have seen that do it alot, are in sick shape. Not exceptionally strong, but they have the technique and GPP to go into heavier lifting if they wanted to. Our clients REALLY love it, and most of them get in to the best shape of their lives. Bottom line, it is a exciting way to get people to love training hard. most people cannot "go there" unless you have something in place for them like CrossFit. Can you "get it done" without it? Sure. It is a good tool for many, and a way of life for some.

As for the "cult". Well, anything that is good, and revolutionary attracts people and starts a following. CrossFit, from my perspective, was started for the right reason, and if a cultish feel has grown, I think it if from the people themselves, I think Glassman and the gang are just giving people what they want in many cases. You will see similar situations with Pavel's KB'ers, Louie's Westsiders etc. Take it for what its worth. Be your own judge.

On a side note, I do not do as much CF right now (obviously see my journal) because I am in the beginning of my season, in a sport that is VERY specialized. Som my training all coorelates to throwing far and high. March thru Oct, I can care less how fast I can run a mile, or if I can rock climb, I wanna win highland games!!! I can see me CFing much more when I am not in a specific sport that needs VERY high rates of speed strength and size.

Hope this helps.

[Matt Brouse]

Cool, thanks Bert. I was just never really familiar with the basic principles they used. I am a big proponent of manipulating rest periods. Like you, I don't use those techniques much recently because I am approaching a comp. but afterwards I'm looking to address some body composition stuff so I might look into CF further.

Thanks again Bert.

[Summer]

Well said, Bert.

I was probably the most skeptical of us all, in regards to CrossFit and the effectiveness of it. I saw everyone banging out reps and falling over at the end of their 15 minute work-out, and thought to myself, "that's stupid!" But, I started to do it ONLY to get a better idea of what exactly CrossFit is because we became affiliates.

I did it inconsistently for about 2-3 months, but I still wasn't sold on it until I attended a CrossFit Level 1 certification. Keep in mind, you're talking about a girl who is a trained bodybuilder of about 7 years - so I was the LAST person to know how to do any of the work-outs (don't laugh - even though I'm around Bert & the gang all the time, I just wasn't interested in learning Oly lifts, or functional movements).

Now that I do the work-outs fairly religiously, I understand the concept of CrossFit, and how it is to be used in addition to your sport. It's meant to make you better at whatever it is that you do - it's not be done alone (although, some people have made CrossFit their sport - but those are typically the die-hards).

The goal each day (3 days on, 1 day off) is to put up the top 5 numbers on the board. If that's too far-fetched, then your goal is to beat your own previous time. So, it makes you better at what you do outside of CrossFit, and makes you try to PR each day. So, if you're constantly PRing, it's only natural for whatever it is you do outside of CrossFit to improve!

I don't know that much about throwing or strongman, but I know about seasons. And, another good thing about CrossFit is its scalability. So, you don't HAVE to do the balls to the wall work-out to benefit from it, if your focus is on strength & recovery in-season.

And they all lived happily everafter...
The End

[Matt Brouse]

Thanks for you input Summer.

[McDaniel031151]

Did my first quazi-CrossFit workout in a long time today. I thought I was going to puke and/or have a heart attack. I know this is the type of training I need... more than just lifting....I am in terrible cardio shape. It is a lot easier (for me anyway) to just go to the gym and lift. I have some young guys I train with now and they motivate me to do more....I am 42 and they are around 20 I guess...so it kicks my ass to train with them. They kick my ass outside, and I kick theirs in the gym, so we help each other....I am looking forward to and am excited to continue and develop in this type of training. See it is your Birthday Matt...Happy Birthday!

[Bert Sorin]

Good to hear about the CrossFit workout D. They are fun (and very hard).

Happy Birthday Matt!