Who Crossfits?

KAYNE · 06-12-2008, 01:33 PM

I started The Crossfit program about 4 weeks ago and have seen great strength increases. I also feel better doing my padwork as far as my cardio goes. I am wondering who else is following this and theyre ideas good or bad about the program?

takeahnase · 06-12-2008, 01:48 PM

Here are a two cons (I am assuming that by crossfit you mean that you are following the WODs):

- For long term strength increases, there is probably too little pure strength work in the WODs.

- There is little to no programming (program inherent progression) involved in the WODs.

Assuming that you have 3-5 days per week to train, my opinion is that most people would be better served by picking a basic strength routine (2 to 3 days per week, check out the S&P forum FAQ for this) and adding 2-3 days of conditioning on top of that, instead of doing crossfit. Your conditioning workouts could be cardio orientated WODs if you like.

Also check out rosstraining.com if you haven't done so yet.

KAYNE · 06-12-2008, 07:00 PM

I have Ross's book and I did follow a Strength routine for years. I put up a personal best deadlift the other day of 495. Strength wise It seems to be working. I understand what you are saying but the randomization and the functional lifting seems to be working for me at least right now. I hear of a lot of fighters who follow this and hear positive results. I have been doing the Wods as perscribed for about a month.

**ronin0352** · 06-12-2008, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KAYNE

I have Ross's book

Having it and putting it to use are two VERY different things. Oh, and which book? He has 3 currently and another that is out of date.

Quote:

and I did follow a Strength routine for years. I put up a personal best deadlift the other day of 495. Strength wise It seems to be working. I understand what you are saying but the randomization and the functional lifting seems to be working for me at least right now. I hear of a lot of fighters who follow this and hear positive results. I have been doing the Wods as perscribed for about a month.

I don't know shit about crossfit, so I won't comment one way or the other, but I hear a lot of bad things. Maybe your training was stagnated and you just needed to change it up a bit?? From what I've heard about them, I can't imagine that it would be a very good S&P builder for the long haul, but maybe your body needed a change.

Grey_Steel · 06-13-2008, 03:06 AM

I have heard many good things about Crossfit and looking over the site a few times it looks like a good all around fitness and conditioning program. However I never found it user friendly and so I don't use it. I don't have much spare time and I I don't have access to most of the things needed to complete the WOD's. Some of it requires equipment and special training areas a gym! I find Ross's (Ross training) home made stuff much easier and I am able to do that stuff even in the back of the warehouse at my job.

Still...for many Crossfit is great.

XTrainer · 06-13-2008, 06:07 AM

^By easier, I hope just mean more accessible?

Grey_Steel · 06-13-2008, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XTrainer

^By easier, I hope just mean more accessible?

Yes. What I mean is that if I don't have much time, which I never do, I can squeeze in 10 minutes here and 15 there throughout the day at high intensity each time. Other times I can get more time in but with less (or easier acquired or "made") equipment.

A lot of stuff out there is great for all around fitness and some of it may approach GPP, but not all. I try to work on keeping my training as close to representing what goes on in a fight as possible plus GPP.
Shorter bursts of anaerobic work (intervals, Tabata's etc.) rather than long endurance runs or "fitness." That stuff only supplies a base. Crossfit may fall into that category (all around fitness) I'm not sure. But IMO it isn't user friendly unless you have time and access to different equipment.

spirez · 06-13-2008, 07:45 AM

I like their workouts and some of them are tough as old boots. Not used them in a structured programme but it's good stuff to throw in.

Fair enough, you won't see strength gains like you would with a 5x5 or westside barbell programme but is that really necessary for a combat athlete? i've tried a strength routine and it does leave you tired. not good for skill sessions.

Ross's stuff is the best in my eyes and the dude can still deadlift almost 3x his bodyweight without even performing deadlifts in his routine.

I suppose it depends on how serious your sport-specific training is. if you're doing 5-6 days per week for skill sessions, a 5x5 or westside programme probably isn't the best. Especially if you train MMA where you have to learn so many different disciplines.

takeahnase · 06-13-2008, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spirez

I suppose it depends on how serious your sport-specific training is. if you're doing 5-6 days per week for skill sessions, a 5x5 or westside programme probably isn't the best. Especially if you train MMA where you have to learn so many different disciplines.

Of course, 5x5 is not feasible if you have skill training 6 days a week. But from that it does not follow that the time you do spend training for strength is best spent doing deadlifts and push press for singles whenever they turn up in WODs. What is good about crossfit it includes compound movements, high intensity training and gymnastic components. The individual WODs are also often interesting. But the programming is entirely random, which makes little sense. How do you peak for a competition, address weaknesses, etc. if your routine consists of prespecified WODs?

KAYNE · 06-13-2008, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by takeahnase

Of course, 5x5 is not feasible if you have skill training 6 days a week. But from that it does not follow that the time you do spend training for strength is best spent doing deadlifts and push press for singles whenever they turn up in WODs. What is good about crossfit it includes compound movements, high intensity training and gymnastic components. The individual WODs are also often interesting. But the programming is entirely random, which makes little sense. How do you peak for a competition, address weaknesses, etc. if your routine consists of prespecified WODs?

This I think is the biggest problem it would be hard to peak doing the randomized wods I think. The reading I have done is that most of these guys take the wods and put them into a program for themselves. Honestly I was at 320lbs at 6'6" tall and could bench 365 lbs for a set of 10. But I will be damned if I had the stamina to do 5 rounds of hard Thai Pad work. Now I am more concerned about my conditioning. I will always be strong but I need to be lean and have a higher endurance level. The wods when I started seemed impossible but now they are almost normal but I am still competing with myself for a better time/weight etc (oh and I am still doing jumping pullups after a few rounds I just cant get my big ass up after 21-15-9 pullups and thrusters) As for the equipment if you read the website it is a minimalistic set up I put the gym in my garage for about 700 bucks and love it! NO MORE GLOBO GYM!