Crossfit

[Iceman82]

Apologies if this has been discussed before, I did a quick search but with the usual PH search down I got zero results!

I would imagine that a number of you in this forum take part in Crossfit but I was wondering if you could, as ever, share your advice.

Do you find it works well? Is it better than the "usual" training? From what I hear it really does bring positive results and has a far more functional system of training.

Also, do you really have to do it at a Crossfit gym or can you follow the system in a more mainstream gym?

Finally, more of a long shot, I am leaving my David Lloyd gym and am considering one of the following:

http://www.nmaperformance.co.uk/

http://www.britanniacrossfit.com/venue.html

If anyone has any experience regards them I would appreciate your review or even if those who currently do crossfit can give any pointers as to which might be better.

Thanks for your help all!

[GranderTransit]

Funnily you bring this up, I was browsing the Crossfit forum and then changed tab and saw this thread.

Iceman82 said:

Do you find it works well? Is it better than the "usual" training? From what I hear it really does bring positive results and has a far more functional system of training.

The first thing to say is that Crossfit is Crossfit. If you check out the mainsite it sets out to achieve some fairly specific targets.

Crossfit.com said:

Our program delivers a fitness that is, by design, broad, general, and inclusive. Our speciality is not specializing. Combat, survival, many sports, and life reward this kind of fitness and, on average, punish the specialist.

So the only way to say if it works or not is to critique it against these goals. I love some aspects, like others, some are too American for my taste and I hate other aspects.

One of the aspects I like is the high intensity that the work is done at. Each METCON is against the clock in some way so there is no escaping with being lazy. One caveat to this is that if you performed any programme at this same intensity you may get the same results (or better)

Iceman82 said:

Also, do you really have to do it at a Crossfit gym or can you follow the system in a more mainstream gym?

Not really. I would guess there are more people doing Crossfit alone than there are doing it in a box (Crossfit gym). How proficient are you in the movements that Crossfit uses? If you aren't proficient, I would recommend finding either an expert in each field to teach you, or go to a box, even just for 6 months

Iceman82 said:

Finally, more of a long shot, I am leaving my David Lloyd gym and am considering one of the following:

http://www.nmaperformance.co.uk/

http://www.britanniacrossfit.com/venue.html

No experience of either of these sites. Each should give you a trial session. Go and chat to the trainers and see what the level of experience they have outside of Crossfit. The Crossfit L1 is only a weekend course so you are looking for a trainer with more than just this.

[balders118]

Crossfit is a way of life for all of the people I know that do it. I'm persoanlly not a fan - a lot of the stuff they do is rushed, cheating and uses bad form. It seems to me that people aren't always given good advice or proper coaching on lifting technique but are just encouraged to lift as much, and as fast as they can.

That said the people I know that do it, love it. If you get into it I'm sure it'll work for you.

[r1ch]

balders118 said:

Crossfit is a way of life for all of the people I know that do it. I'm persoanlly not a fan - a lot of the stuff they do is rushed, cheating and uses bad form. It seems to me that people aren't always given good advice or proper coaching on lifting technique but are just encouraged to lift as much, and as fast as they can.

That said the people I know that do it, love it. If you get into it I'm sure it'll work for you.

I'd tend to agree with you. Imo some of it is asking for an injury with the bad form they use.

[Hoofy]

Jack of all trades, master of none!

If I want to train for multiple sports, then I'd participate in multiple sports (I do!), and I'd get expert advice from "masters" of each sport. I am not surprised to hear that form is questionable.

It is like those BodyXYZ classes. If you know any one item that Les Mills takes his "inspiration" from, then you will wince when you watch any of his classes. Fortunately, one can become easily distracted by breasts.

Edited by Hoofy on Monday 12th March 13:02

[B3njamin]

r1ch said:

balders118 said:

Crossfit is a way of life for all of the people I know that do it. I'm persoanlly not a fan - a lot of the stuff they do is rushed, cheating and uses bad form. It seems to me that people aren't always given good advice or proper coaching on lifting technique but are just encouraged to lift as much, and as fast as they can.

That said the people I know that do it, love it. If you get into it I'm sure it'll work for you.

I'd tend to agree with you. Imo some of it is asking for an injury with the bad form they use.

In fairness, from what I understand, gyms featuring Crossfit programmes vary in the quality and standards of teaching they provide; much in the same way that you find some very good personal trainers, as well as plenty who are absolute yoghurt pots and couldn't train a dog to lick its own balls.

Given enough consistent hard work with ample volume and intensity, as well as proper nutrition, almost any retarded exercise routine can work to a greater or lesser extent. Try Crossfit and see if you like the sorts of things they do - many people like the emphasis on bodyweight exercises, others find it doesn't suit what they're trying to achieve.

[balders118]

B3njamin said:

In fairness, from what I understand, gyms featuring Crossfit programmes vary in the quality and standards of teaching they provide; much in the same way that you find some very good personal trainers, as well as plenty who are absolute yoghurt pots and couldn't train a dog to lick its own balls.

True. But it is just one of those things that had become assosiate with crossfit I'm afraid, and from what I've seen it does hold true. Even in a promo vid there was a lad deadlifting with a dangerously arched backing using a jerking movement to complete the lift.

[Ordinary_Chap]

balders118 said:

B3njamin said:

In fairness, from what I understand, gyms featuring Crossfit programmes vary in the quality and standards of teaching they provide; much in the same way that you find some very good personal trainers, as well as plenty who are absolute yoghurt pots and couldn't train a dog to lick its own balls.

True. But it is just one of those things that had become assosiate with crossfit I'm afraid, and from what I've seen it does hold true. Even in a promo vid there was a lad deadlifting with a dangerously arched backing using a jerking movement to complete the lift.

I agree Balder's seen some crazy crossfit technique in the many videos on the net about it.

[GranderTransit]

These and a few other are all the reasons I decided against Crossfit 2 years ago. I think as a concept, it could have been almost unbeatable. It appears that some big names were kicked out some years back and that they haven't been replaced. I think it has helped a lot of people change how they live which is never a bad thing.

I think they have been very much let down by the coach education structure. All you need is a Crossfit L1 course to open a box. This is the downfall. L1 is fine for assisting a coach with more knowledge, but a weekend course to cover all the things that need covering is impossible. A weekend per specific subject would hardly cut it.

This seems to have resulted in some crap coaches opening affiliates, which are more often than not the ones which get highlighted. The normal middle of the road ones won't get videos going viral like the girls using a continental lift.

It all comes down to how good the coaching is. But Crossfit won't change the quality of the coach. It is simply a name

[B3njamin]

balders118 said:

B3njamin said:

In fairness, from what I understand, gyms featuring Crossfit programmes vary in the quality and standards of teaching they provide; much in the same way that you find some very good personal trainers, as well as plenty who are absolute yoghurt pots and couldn't train a dog to lick its own balls.

True. But it is just one of those things that had become assosiate with crossfit I'm afraid, and from what I've seen it does hold true. Even in a promo vid there was a lad deadlifting with a dangerously arched backing using a jerking movement to complete the lift.

That's not an invalid point - some of the videos that I've seen, likely similar or the same to those you mention, would have me wary about Crossfit training myself. I don't have much personal experience of Crossfit so I wouldn't want to judge it too harshly, the exercises themselves aren't inherently dangerous and there's no reason that Crossfit could not be taught to a very high standard. Obviously, you may know more than me so I don't want my reply to sound like I'm arguing - I'm just not sure that it's entirely fair to condemn the whole training programme based upon some cringe-worthy videos.

I'd really love to know what 'functional' training means, I see it mentioned a fair amount but I've never really understood it.

[Halb]

I like the crossfit routines. It's the sort of stuff that keeps it interesting and hits all areas.

[balders118]

B3njamin said:

That's not an invalid point - some of the videos that I've seen, likely similar or the same to those you mention, would have me wary about Crossfit training myself. I don't have much personal experience of Crossfit so I wouldn't want to judge it too harshly, the exercises themselves aren't inherently dangerous and there's no reason that Crossfit could not be taught to a very high standard. Obviously, you may know more than me so I don't want my reply to sound like I'm arguing - I'm just not sure that it's entirely fair to condemn the whole training programme based upon some cringe-worthy videos.

I'd really love to know what 'functional' training means, I see it mentioned a fair amount but I've never really understood it.

Ironically "functional" training is often not very functional!

I know quite a few "cross-fitters" and I know a chap that opened and owns the Leeds branch. TO be fair, he's a good coach but a fair chucnk of the stuff I've seen come out of the gym isn't great.

[996 sps]

I love it used to compete in the original Ultra Fit Competition in the late 90's and then in 2004 onwards I started competing in the world gym challenge www.worldgymchallenge.com.

As for form there should be officials on each station to check for form and from what i've seen lads who deadlift/squat heavy weight pick up injuries along their route of training.

Never checked You Tube for videos but I have organised and competed in a number of events along my way.

Even today we done 8 sets of 20 seconds of 2 heaves 2 press ups, 8 sets of 20 seconds jump squats, 8 sets of 20 seconds med ball sits, 8 sets of bench jumps cut a long story short its all cross fit type training, I like to come out the gym f e cked and cross fit does that for me for me, however I do weights, mountain biking, running alongside but horses for courses.

As for gyms to join in my opinion as long as you've got basic equipment i.e. med ball, mats, benches or box top you can do cross fit, i'm just looking at buying some Beaver Fit cages for my gym but they are not overly important. Oh and functional is now "vogue" I went on a cardiac rehab course on Sat and the physio loved using it. For me one of the lads I train with benches 150-160kilos mega impressive but the minute the ropes come out he is blowing, function for me is shifting my body weight up that rope not my bench press.

[Hoofy]

I always thought "functional training" would mean training that is specific to a task. So if the only thing you do apart from exercise classes is sit on your arse watching TV, then functional training would involve sitting on your arse in various positions for an hour a day.

And if you are a BJJer you might do this stuff: http://youtu.be/iydZKc_mnn8

[B3njamin]

996 sps said:

Oh and functional is now "vogue" I went on a cardiac rehab course on Sat and the physio loved using it. For me one of the lads I train with benches 150-160kilos mega impressive but the minute the ropes come out he is blowing, function for me is shifting my body weight up that rope not my bench press.

They're both equally irrelevant though, surely? I mean unless you have to shimmy up and down a rope in every day life or routinely press things off your chest; perhaps I am missing something obvious?

[Hoofy]

B3njamin said:

They're both equally irrelevant though, surely? I mean unless you have to shimmy up and down a rope in every day life or routinely press things off your chest; perhaps I am missing something obvious?

That's what I thought. Maybe bench press should be taught in anti-rape class.

[996 sps]

B3njamin said:

They're both equally irrelevant though, surely? I mean unless you have to shimmy up and down a rope in every day life or routinely press things off your chest; perhaps I am missing something obvious?

Well yes I do have to shimmy up ropes and have to teach rope climbing techniques, I've also cut a number ot news paper articles out were people have been in situations in which they have had to hold onto their body weight or climb for safety the last one being a guy who held onto the edge of a cliff for 90 minutes before being rescued, extreme I know but hey any excuse to train.

With fitness I have had the pleasure in being able bodied enough to give everything a go, the guys and girls I train have great results with cross fit type circuits alongside everything else so to me its great training.

Edited to add remember the days before health and safety when rope climbing and basic gymnastics was taught at schools, gave the kids space/body awareness, confidence by overcoming the fear of heights, performing ground moves, ability to deal with falls and overall an introduction to fitness rather than an increase of obesity.

Edited by 996 sps on Monday 12th March 19:28

[996 sps]

[quote=Hoofy]I always thought "functional training" would mean training that is specific to a task. /quote]

I agree.

[B3njamin]

I don't mean to sound mean but you haven't really explained why it is more 'functional' than say, traditional weight lifting by anything objective.

Don't get me wrong, having done gymnastics for a few years now I've used a lot of the bodyweight exercises used in Crossfit; I just don't think they're in any way more relevant to my, or a majority of participant's every day lives than weightlifting is. Sure I could do a variety of cool acrobatics, tumbling, I can lift heavy things including people as well as rock climb fairly well - but almost none of this has transitioned to my day-to-day life.

[GranderTransit]

Functional training is training so that you are able to perform the task that are required of you for your day to day life. So jumping in the car, sitting at a desk, sitting on the couch.

Perhaps it isn't the training that is causing us to have so many problems.

My take on functional training is training that enables us to perform better than we would have previously done so. For the 50ish YO lady I had in this evening that was some work on her hips as she's been sat all day, front squats, supine rows and press ups. But for a professional or full time athlete the tolerances are reduced, so functional may have been adding size to specific muscle to prevent a future injury or it may have been producing higher forces at a speed to match the game they play.

Unfortunately what started out as a good idea was picked up on by marketeers who do not understand what it is about and now applying it to anything and everything.