[DoctorsAdvocate]

my brother recently showed me the crossfit website, and i've been browsing the website for a couple of days now. I also took the research to another level by looking up Crossfit circuit trainings on youtube. So what do you guys think about it? It seems to me that its just a buncha of different circuit exercises comprised together. I train MMA, and it seems to be my benefit training 'crossfit' two days a week as opposed to 2 days a week of strength training for muscle endurance, and it seems to build some strength with the right circuit routine. What are your guys thoughts on this crossfit training style?

[oxcart]

High rep o-lifting is not a good idea. I've flicked through a few of their vids and it's a recurring theme.

[Urban]

I don't like crossfit. they're a bunch of directionless GPP nazis and don't develop much of anything in my opinion. However, SOME of their conditioning drills constitute some of the most grueling sessions I've gone through, so I've begun incorporating some of their dogma into my own regimen. but I feel they over rotate their drills. they CONSTANTLY change and you don't get to determine whether you're progressing on a drill until over a month later when you get to do it again. So when I use routines similar to theirs, I'll repeat the session on a weekly basis until I quit progressing in it, then rotate it out.

For example, I've been doing 50 reps in 20 minutes with 1 clean + 1 front squat + 1 push press once a week. When i started, I used 95, I hit my 50 rep mark, so the next week I bumped it up to 115. Hit my 50 rep mark again, and bumped up to 135 the following week. I hit 40 reps, so I kept the weight and strived for more reps next time. This week I hit 50 reps, so next week I'll be destroying myself with 155. You dig?

With a typical crossfit session you can progress in a similar manner. for example:

Originally Posted by sunday's workout

21, 15, and 9 rep rounds for time of:
95 pound Squat clean
L Pull-ups
95 pound Thruster
Handstand Push-ups

Next week you can strive to do it in less time, add weight to the squat clean and thrusters, do more reps on the pullups and handstand pushups, and/or us more difficult pullup or handstand pushup exercises.

[re-animator]

I think a lot of them take the 'work out of the day' as their sport of choice, as they arnt training towards anything but training it self.

But do what urban says, incorporate some elements and see how it goes.

[Al Chai]

Tuesday 071023

"Lynne"

Five rounds for max reps of:
Body weight bench press
Pull-ups

Post reps for both exercises in all rounds.




maybe i'll post this daily

[Travis Trayer]

It seems like it would be really hard to follow their WOD to a tee also. They have you do circuits of back extensions with things like 800m runs. There are also rope climbing things. I don't have access to a lot of this stuff.

[ntf]

Crosfit is a cult, and I find glassman's political views prety abhorrant, plus whats with all that paeleo/zone crap, but I have exteam respect for anyone doing some of the "metcon" WODs they kick your ass and as a programe it's better than what 99% of people do when they go to the gym.

Anouther sit worth checking out for wods is http://www.performancemenu.com/

[immovablestone]

First real post, woo...

Anyway, I train with some guys that incorporate a host of crossfit-type circuits into things, it's some of the most brutal stuff I've ever encountered, and I haven't looked back since.

[MikeMartial]

I'll echo what Urban said. Directionless GPP nazis is a pretty accurate description, but for some, it's exactly what they are looking for. And yes, their workouts are some of the hardest I've done, and the most puke-worthy; if you're looking to increase your anerobic threshold, these work.

Some criticism is deserved, though; because what they do is relatively random from an adaptation point of view, one can never really get out the the "alarm stage". To essentially get better at something, the body needs to adapt in 3 ways: neuromuscular, physiological, and technique, or skill level. Oddly enough, this is the basis that proponents of Crossfit stand on. It's also one of the best ways to overtrain. The body can only be in alarm for so long, and a lot of beginners either get injured or lose motivation.

Crossfit-type workouts have their value, but I wouldn't put all my eggs into their basket.

[Dan's Knuckles]

Crossfit is good GPP. Beyond that, their training is very much random and directionless. I recommend GPP that is functional and purposeful and well thought out. Diversity is not a bad idea however, it pays to mix it up to avoid plateaus and overtraining and injury, just not as mixed up as crossfit.