CrossFit

[Pete]

I searched and saw where CrossFit is mentioned in a number of threads on the board.

This week's Army Times

"The hidden danger of CrossFit"

"Military doctors sound the alarm over 'rhabdo' " pg 4 in the Off Duty section.

I think the concern in the story is over "Intense regimens" and rhabdomyolsis.

[MILON]

I haven't posted for a while, but this story intrigued me and there is more information out there regarding Crossfit and Rhabdo. Just google it. Crossfit has a couple articles in their journal as well, so even they have recognized it as a possibility. After reading their articles I didnt get the sense it was a significant problem, which I found odd, but not surprising. Frankly, when I read about this I was a little shocked. I have been strength coaching at the college level for around 5 years (volunteer, grad assistant, head) and I've NEVER heard of this being discussed in that area of work. Its simply never happened within the strength and conditioning circle I am involved in or outside of it that I know of. It made sense to me, however, in relation to crossfit. I think SF718 is right and crossfit's effectiveness cannot be disputed. Injuries do happen in the weight room and/or PT field, but there is a huge difference between strains, sprains, bumps and bruises and a conditioning that is potentially lethal! Personally, I believe proper oversight is the key here and we cannot completely blame crossfit OR its costumers. Its not hard to get a personal training certificate these days even though you dont really know what you are doing. How many guys/gals have you spoke to who read muscle magazine think they are qualified to give you training advice? I've also seen strength coaches out there who have high levels of education make some pretty stupid errors. We can also say that the client should be smarter (like driving to work in the morning), but the fact remains that the "smart" approach to training isnt always promoted. A puking clown comes to mind here... Crossfit is a highly intense and driven routine with questionable oversite that promotes a never quit attitude, from what I have seen. I believe there would likely be fewer cases of rhabdo from crossfit had proper coaching/supervision been present during their sessions.

[Anevolution]

Originally Posted by SF718

As far as there certification goes, I think that they are attempting to tighten up there certification process by implementing written tests and certifications that expire after a certain period.
Maybe they can put a disclaimer explaining the risks higher on the webpage?

Correct sir. They are starting to do tests and have in the past few months failed a few people. I just did a Crossfit endurance cert and it was instructed a lot better than my level 1. I believe they are trending in a better direction then in the past. Everyone should just keep in mind people who do Crossfit type work outs, don’t DO Crossfit. Formal training in the Olympic lifts is a must.The bodyweight wods are fine, but when you start putting 175 over head the game changes.

V/r
Anevolution

[Hammock]

I began doing Crossfit about a month ago to help recover from a leg fracture. Alarmed by the article, I did a bit of research to try to find out what kind of horrible workout gave the sailor rhabdo.

Here is the workout that led to the lawsuit that is mentioned in the article:

“Makimba”
Three rounds, one each of 15-10-5 reps, for time, of:
Dumbbell Thrusters with 10 lbs
Air Squats
Burpees

http://media.crossfit.com/cf-video/MakimbaPkg.pdf

If that workout nearly killed a man, the circumstances are an aberration so far outside normal experience--like a freak accident--that it is nearly irrelevant to my training.

Hammock

[kawaishi]

I've been working out at a gym since January that does some CF and I've enjoyed it. The gym is run by a former 1st Force Recon Marine who left the Corps, became a pro triathlete, and had been coaching athletes for over a decade before opening the gym. I only mention that because his background in Recon and his own athletic/coaching experience gives him a good knowledge of applying athletic training to a military based goal. Alot of my opinions reflect knowledge that he (and my college judo coach) shared with me. He holds SF Soldiers in very high regard so he's got some grey matter, right?.

I've experienced some great benefits from CF but many of the CF'ers that I know don't do any other kind of resistance training. I think that's wrong.

First, there is no periodization to the training and, while CF produces results, periodization of training programs has been proven to be the best way to develop a solid, all-around athlete. The arguement I've heard by CF'ers is that jobs like firefighting, law enforcement, and military service have "general" and "random" requirements that don't stress max strength or max speed like athletes. What I'm missing is how CF is random. Everything is for time which means that your heart rate is elevated as you race through at your best pace. That's great conditioning but it produces a certain kind of adaptation even if the exercises are varied. Also, your body will adapt and respond to training so why waste that adaptation by doing random programs that don't build on your success with structure?

Second, the circuit training format doesn't allow for true strength training that is so beneficial to athletic performance. While CF will make you somewhat stronger there is no substitute for lifting near max weight. I use CF but in my endurance-conditioning phase after I've focused on Strength and Power. Guess what? Now I'm using heavier weights for the same CF routines....oh, and I'm running alot faster after all those heavy squats!

Some of the best info that I've seen about periodization is by Tudor Bompa. I recommend his books to everyone.

CF is a great conditioning tool and but its one tool in the toolbox. I will continue to use a CF style workout but as a compliment to a progressive and balanced routine.

[BigJimCalhoun]

I was doing crossfit but did not fit with "the culture of the local training facility". Aside from being cliquey, which I could deal with, they repeatedly played loud rap music with lyrics about raping women. I know other facilities most likely do not play that sort of music but given I was spending $150/month for myself and my son, I thought I could spend my money more wisely.

Though I like crossfit exercises, I like mtnathlete.com and militaryathlete.com better and used to visit them when Rob posted the workouts for free.

[PRB]

Originally Posted by Broadsword2004

Are you sure that is Crossfit? From the basic fitness article they offer at their website for free, they talk about how for total fitness, an athlete should learn the basics of gymnastics (pushups, dips, pullups, rope climb), then muscle-up, for abdominal work, the L-sit and situps, and handstands, walking on the hands, and handstand pushups.

They also recommend exercises on the gymnastic rings if you have access to them.

In addition to gymnastics, they recommend learning the Olympic lifts (snatch and clean and jerk) and powerlifting (benchpress, barbell squat, and deadlift). These exercises build real strength and power.

They also emphasize that learning the Olympic lifts in particular takes time because of the techniques and strength required. For example, a good clean and jerk requires first a good barbell squat, a good deadlift, a good jerk, then you learn the clean, then you combine the clean with the jerk.

They talk about flexibility as well and stretching.

They say to "regularly learn and play new sports," as sport is the application of fitness. Playing sports develops all the physical qualities at the same time, but only in small amounts. Whereas training will develop specific qualities, but with repetition.

Just a note about handstands...have ayounger cousin, extremely physically fit that can walk on his hands like Payton. After doing this he had, basically, a stroke. The surgeon that worked with him stated that when hand standing the neck hyper extends fwd and that can restrict your arteries severely (did in his case)similar to a blockage.
He recovered after some serious complications but still has issues. Had the classic stroke signs too, blurring vision, face slackness, disoreintation etc.