If you've heard of crossfit, you've probably heard of all the reasons why you shouldn't do it. As Crossfit grows so does the number of "crossfit bashing" articles on the Internet. The majority of these articles are written by pissed off "C" grade personal trainers who are seeing their clients become increasingly more interested in crossfit and its ways. I recently read (yet another) article attempting to bash crossfit. There was absolutely nothing special about this specific post, he tries to touch on the exact same topics that other, misinformed Internet troll would. In this post, I'm going to touch on every single point that this individual thought he made.
First let's talk about what crossfit is.. According to Crossfit HQ..CrossFit is a fitness regimen developed by Coach Greg Glassman over several decades. He was the first person in history to define fitness in a meaningful, measurable way (increased work capacity across broad time and modal domains). CrossFit itself is defined as that which optimizes fitness (constantly varied functional movements performed at relatively high intensity). CrossFit is also the community that spontaneously arises when people do these workouts together. In fact, the communal aspect of CrossFit is a key component of why it’s so effective (http://community.crossfit.com/what-is-crossfit). Crossfit allows for everyone, no matter what line of work or athletic back round they may come from, to push themselves physically and mentally. Crossfit has gathered various skill and strength related movements to give gym go-ers something to strive for. In what other community do you see 60 year old patrons concerned with the amount of weight they can lift, how fast they can run a 400m sprint and what gymnastic movement they can perform? Furthermore, these same people have bettered their diets as well as lifestyle and "out of gym" habits to attempt to achieve these athletic related goals. Bravo crossfit, way to do you're part in making our country (and world) a little more healthy.
"CrossFit is NOT Gymnastics."
Ok, thanks for that, asshole, I don't think anyone ever said it was. Crossfit has however added a few gymnastic related movements (i.e. Pullups, Handstands, Muscle Ups) to the program. These movement are great for building strength as well as motor skills. Just as the sport of gymnastics has individuals whom are more efficient in movements then others, so does crossfit. So to bash crossfit based on a percentage of the population whom are still developing the required strength and motor patterns once again shows your lack of knowledge and validity. Teaching individuals to properly recruit the muscles and body parts in order to complete these high skill movements can have a tremendous benefits not only in the gym, but also out of the gym in every day life.
"CrossFit is NOT for the elite"
Dumb ass says "There is a reason why the "elite" athletes of the world don’t do Crossfit… And the ones that have tried it, quickly looked at themselves in the mirror and bitch slapped themselves back to reality." And for what reason? When the best athletes in the world are in-season, general fitness is not a priority for them.. They are worried about sport specific movements and skills. What a tennis player does for conditioning is different then what a football player would do. This is "Sports Periodization 101." (it's OK, I wouldn't except a below average personal trainer to know anything about periodization anyway.) There are however, quite a few big name athletes that do crossfit in their off-season to stay in shape, as well as a few that have picked up on it after they've retired. (Kobe Bryant, Knowshon Mareno, and Gabby Douglas just to name a few.. The list goes on)
"CrossFit is NOT true Olympic lifting"
One of the best weightlifting coaches in the country, Coach Glenn Pendlay, has said on multiple occasions that individuals who started Olympic weightlifting through crossfit are now some of the best lifters in the country. Crossfitters as competitive weightlifters can no longer be shrugged off as irrelivant. So Fit Jerk, once again, you're a fucking idiot.
"The Blind Leading The Blind"
Our super intelligent Internet Friend's next argument is basically, why is the "head coach" (Greg Glassman) not in the best shape?.. I'd say good point, but it's not.. No matter what sport you mention, some of the best coaches in the sport were not the greatest competitors. Going back to Coach Pendlay, I've heard him refer to himself as a mediocre lifter, but no one will argue the fact that he's a great coach. Once again, point invalid. He then continues on to talk about injury in crossfit. The injury rate in crossfit is no higher then that of any other sport.T he majority of crossfitters who suffer severe injuries are those treating it like a sport, and adding volume to their daily routine, not those who are using it as means to get more fit. Furthermore, crossfit is not step aerobics. An individual following a crossfit program will see a better improvement in overall fitness and body composition that that of an individual attending aerobics class (I don't think anyone will argue that). With any higher intensity activity, comes the added need for precautionary measures.
Like we've already touched on, no matter what sport or fitness regiment you are following, there are good leaders, and there are bad. There is no doubt that there are bad crossfit coaches out there who program recklessly as well as throw caution in the wind when it comes to technique. However, The majority of coaches I've had the pleasure of being around take safety serious, and take the art of programming serious. Crossfit coaches all over the world are now learning from the best of the best in their respectable fields.
Fit Jerk, You're a fucking moron
Forging Elite Beards, Bar Paths and Exercisers
