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cross fit is really an infiritating thing. The people who do it are sometimes diehard fans with absolutely no knowledge of how to build strength or an "elite at

by theboss 12y ago

cross fit is really an infiritating thing. The people who do it are sometimes diehard fans with absolutely no knowledge of how to build strength or an "elite athlete". A lot of people just like the brand... But the diehard fans aren't the worst part. Cross fit the organization loves to shut people down who speak poorly of them. They also have made a lot of unsubstantiated claims about the type of results that can be expected by following cross fit programming (which is laughably bad). Its also thought that they run the cross fit games unfairly since there is a conflict of interest in sponsoring their top athletes and putting on the cross fit games where their sponsored athletes and no sponsored compete. The worst part is the bad programming and the dangers of having a coach who is instructing you to do things that are obviously bad ideas. Extremely high rep oly lifting is a reciepe for disaster since the lifts are very skill based. With all that said. One thing about cross fit is really good. They have got people training with barbells and started a lot of people down a path where they can start getting information they need to train better and smarter. But I'll be saving my 100 a month..

rm445 12y ago
As an outsider, a LOT of the backlash against crossfit seems to be snootiness from traditional weightlifters who seem confused that crossfit is not trying to be powerlifting or bodybuilding, although many of the same exercises are used. Crossfit looks to be a kind of sports conditioning training, and as such of course it's going to involve higher intensity, shorter rests and higher reps. Now I don't know how possible it is to design a safe weights workout in those circumstances. There are almost certainly exercises that shouldn't be done quickly, or shouldn't be done tired, or shouldn't be done without perfect form. And almost certainly people are doing those exercises in crossfit gyms quickly, or when tired, or without perfect form, and increasing their risk of injury as a result. But in a perfect world those people would __still be training that way__, albeit with better instructors and choice of exercises. Because it suits them to train for their sports or general fitness. They're not going to all change their minds one day and become powerlifters.
- theboss 12y ago
  Like I said, there are a lot of reasons for backlash. I didn't even touch on most of them. I disagree that their goal is "Sports conditioning training". Because this is not consistent with their who their clientele is. Their vast majority of their clientele is average people, with no prior lifting experience, who have heard of it.
- commandar 12y ago
  >Crossfit looks to be a kind of sports conditioning training, and as such of course it's going to involve higher intensity, shorter rests and higher reps. That's kind of the problem, though. Because Crossfit is somewhat randomized, your body never really gets adapted to actually become conditioned. Mark Rippetoe -- who was associated with Crossfit in its early years -- has a pretty decent rundown here: http://www.t-nation.com/training/crossfit-the-good-bad-and-the-ugly http://www.t-nation.com/training/crossfit-the-good-bad-and-t... >But in a perfect world those people would __still be training that way__, albeit with better instructors and choice of exercises. I think this is one of the things that bothers a lot of people - a lot of the people doing Crossfit would not be doing explosive barbell lifts otherwise, and they especially wouldn't have a trainer telling them to do them to high reps under time pressure. Like the article I linked says, it's great that Crossfit has gotten more people into barbell training. It's just the way it's gotten them into it that's worrisome.
- mkohlmyr 12y ago
  From my cursory run-ins with either community I would say the "snootiness" has very little to do with the fact they train differently and quite a lot with the fact they often train poorly. Additionally you are creating a ridiculous dichotomy between crossfit and powerlifting. There is such a thing as doing exercises with proper form without necessarily doing 500lbs deadlifts. That being said I'm sure there are many decent cross-fit gyms where injury and bad form are not a problem - and the exercises they do, particularly the gymnastics aspects are incredibly impressive. Of course you could get those benefits from - you know - doing gymnastics in combination with your workout. And you'd probably be safer off on average.
- jacques_chester 12y ago

by theboss 12y ago

rm445 12y ago

As an outsider, a LOT of the backlash against crossfit seems to be snootiness from traditional weightlifters who seem confused that crossfit is not trying to be powerlifting or bodybuilding, although many of the same exercises are used. Crossfit looks to be a kind of sports conditioning training, and as such of course it's going to involve higher intensity, shorter rests and higher reps. Now I don't know how possible it is to design a safe weights workout in those circumstances. There are almost certainly exercises that shouldn't be done quickly, or shouldn't be done tired, or shouldn't be done without perfect form. And almost certainly people are doing those exercises in crossfit gyms quickly, or when tired, or without perfect form, and increasing their risk of injury as a result. But in a perfect world those people would __still be training that way__, albeit with better instructors and choice of exercises. Because it suits them to train for their sports or general fitness. They're not going to all change their minds one day and become powerlifters.

theboss 12y ago
Like I said, there are a lot of reasons for backlash. I didn't even touch on most of them. I disagree that their goal is "Sports conditioning training". Because this is not consistent with their who their clientele is. Their vast majority of their clientele is average people, with no prior lifting experience, who have heard of it.
commandar 12y ago
>Crossfit looks to be a kind of sports conditioning training, and as such of course it's going to involve higher intensity, shorter rests and higher reps. That's kind of the problem, though. Because Crossfit is somewhat randomized, your body never really gets adapted to actually become conditioned. Mark Rippetoe -- who was associated with Crossfit in its early years -- has a pretty decent rundown here: http://www.t-nation.com/training/crossfit-the-good-bad-and-the-ugly http://www.t-nation.com/training/crossfit-the-good-bad-and-t... >But in a perfect world those people would __still be training that way__, albeit with better instructors and choice of exercises. I think this is one of the things that bothers a lot of people - a lot of the people doing Crossfit would not be doing explosive barbell lifts otherwise, and they especially wouldn't have a trainer telling them to do them to high reps under time pressure. Like the article I linked says, it's great that Crossfit has gotten more people into barbell training. It's just the way it's gotten them into it that's worrisome.
mkohlmyr 12y ago
From my cursory run-ins with either community I would say the "snootiness" has very little to do with the fact they train differently and quite a lot with the fact they often train poorly. Additionally you are creating a ridiculous dichotomy between crossfit and powerlifting. There is such a thing as doing exercises with proper form without necessarily doing 500lbs deadlifts. That being said I'm sure there are many decent cross-fit gyms where injury and bad form are not a problem - and the exercises they do, particularly the gymnastics aspects are incredibly impressive. Of course you could get those benefits from - you know - doing gymnastics in combination with your workout. And you'd probably be safer off on average.
jacques_chester 12y ago