So recently I have become interested in the whole Crossfit movement, an I was wondering if it would be something worth switching too after I was finished building up my strength on a heavy lifting program. Does anyone know wether it would be worth switching over to Crossfit? Would I be better off on Starting Strength? Some basic info On Cross Fit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CrossFit http://www.crossfit.com/cf-info/what-crossfit.html Thanks
Don't really have time to go into detail im sure others will but pretty much avoid it like the plague, stick to starting strength.
Crossfit is fantastic. Its helped me gain strength and lose a ton of weight. however, most of the monsters you see at the games etc, didnt get that way from just doing crossfit. They do Olympic lifting/strength training as well. Most of the bigger affiliates will offer Olympic/strength classes as well as Kettlebell training. I guess it depends on whats available in your area.
If you just want to exercise for the sake of staying in shape, Crossfit does deliver. If you want to use it to better your training for a specific sport though, you can do much better. And let's not mention that most of the form displayed in their training videos makes me visibly cringe.
First you have to decide what skill that you want to "enhance". You then pick up the right equipments for that skill. You have to map it backward.
Some of my early gym workouts were inspired by Crossfit. It is great for increasing your base fitness level, where it falls down is the 'sport' aspect and competition, some WODs are accidents waiting to happen, what's the point of that. There are only two things that will happen when you try lifting for time when fatigued, technique falters and at some point you fail the lift or injure yourself. Even some CF certified instructors hold the view that the way it has gone into competition is all wrong.
Well currently I am looking to increase strength, but, in the near future once I have completed my strength goals I'm going to turn to volume training or something in that line to increase my endurance at my peak. But Crossfit is good, and bad? What if I was to take the WOD and do it on my own away from the groups and competition?
There's a crossfit gym not far from me and I did toy with joining, but I seem to remember it's £60 a month which is far from cheap. Mitch
i have two main problems with crossfit: 1- inconsistent focus on safe technique. everyone gets sloppy at limit weights and limit reps, but you still AIM to do it right, so as not to injure yourself. a lot of people in crossfit, as has been mentioned, don't, and that's stupid, because it gets them hurt. 2- timed workouts. SCREW TIMED WORKOUTS. just take your time and exercise properly, however long it takes you to get all sets and reps in, in order to avoid point number 1. rushing through your reps is an excellent way to end up several months in a cast or having to do rehab because you killed your knees or blew a disk.
ok back from training and ready to play devils advocate, here is some evidence from the prosecution. http://www.powering-through.com/2012/02/nonsense-that-is-crossfit.html http://scottabel.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/nonsense-that-is-crossfit.html http://www.powering-through.com/2011/12/not-fan-of-crossfit-you-like-this.html and an excellent article (and video) on what's wrong with the crossfit attitude to conditioning that is running rampant in the combat sport and fitness world at large. http://www.powering-through.com/2012/05/death-circuits-and-why-every-wants-on.html [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn6lqqJfs2M&feature=player_embedded"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn6lqqJfs2M&feature=player_embedded[/ame] the guy in the video really knows what he's talking about.
I must agree that Martin Rooney most certainly does know his stuff, I do however think that the TFW programs are designed for people who already have high strength and commitment.
Did you watch the hole video ? he isn't saying his own programme is the only other alternative to the "train till your puking out your eyeballs as an answer to everything, swing a Barbell between your legs as many times as you can in under a minute" training methology, he's simply saying thats not a very good methology.
Why crossfit doesn't fit your goAls - cross fit is too general, it works technical power moves well Into exhaustion (cleans and jumps are supposed to be done for 100 reps uses you really want injury), it has it's own competitive aspect that isn't specific to your goals. Crossfit concepts are good. Body weight, pylometrics, weight training, o lifts and cardio should be done in some combination but not at the same time and altogether. Check my workouts. Or steves or fish. Not crossfit but mixed methodology.
At that point I had not watched the whole video. I was not intending to imply that I thought he was trying to press his program on people, although it does look like it is a very good one. Thank you for the articals on why not to do CrossFit, I am now better informed and have a better understanding on strength training
I want be fit for grappling, and I know that at first entails strength, and then later entails endurance, so those are my goals, Strength first, and then once I have satisfactory strength, endurance shall be the focus.