Any Cross Fitters on here?

[airrailey]

Just curious? I'm a little 6 months in and it's become more of a lifestyle than a workout group. just did my second round of totals and increased 75 pounds, most of the progression on my deadlifts which went from 305 to 355. Squats and Presses will scale over time I'm sure.

[BossaGator]

I do crossfit workouts, but most crossfitters would probably say I'm not a crossfitter because I don't follow it to a T. But I do about 3-5 metcons a week in addition to strength work.

I haven't done a crossfit total since early March, but last time it was 1100. I'm a firm believer in supplementing crossfit with extra strength work.

[StrangeGator]

I believe in it, but could never afford it. I don't know how much money I'd have to make before I could justify it. My wife and I both just got new jobs, adding over $100k to annual income and it's still not enough. In the mean time, I'll emulate the Crossfitters as much as I can.

[gatorbronco]

I did it for 4 months in McCall, Idaho. More reasonably priced there. Too expensive here in Jax, so I look at their website and try to do their workout of the day (WOD). I thought I was in fair shape when I started but the first workout had me gasping.

[BossaGator]

It is really expensive, especially where I live (in Arlington VA, just outside DC). That's one reason why I usually do my WODs on my own or at my globo gym ($25 per month vs. almost $200 for 12 classes at my CF gym) if at all possible. I love Crossfit's ideas of fitness and its hardcore nature, but the price and the "cult" aspect turn me off. It's also becoming really commercialized for what began as a fairly grassroots fitness movement. That has benefits and drawbacks I guess.

[jaxbeachgator]

We do modified cross fit work-outs at the Training Yard in Atlantic Beach. Great work-out. As the Training Yard is primarily for MMA folks we will normally integrate stand-up striking with the work-out. Like BossaGator, I also supplement this with strength work at the gym.
A buddy of mine who is an ER doc says that Cross Fit is sending many a poor soul to seek medical help these days. Could be from lack of instruction, lack of technique or losing technique for the sake of a good time in their workout.

[LeafUF]

Originally Posted by jaxbeachgator

A buddy of mine who is an ER doc says that Cross Fit is sending many a poor soul to seek medical help these days. Could be from lack of instruction, lack of technique or losing technique for the sake of a good time in their workout.

This does not surprise me at all. With its growing popularity the numbers were bound to increase. Having only watched some videos on it I see a lot of movements that could lead to injury. Often times the technique seems to be part of the problem as the movements are not easy themselves and speed is valued.

[Dreamliner]

And also the question has been raised as to whether Oly lifts lend themselves to high reps. I certainly don't see Oly lifters training like that. Seems to me that kettlebell swings, wall throws, etc., would be better bets for metabolic training. Most or all of the benefits but without the high risk of injury.

[your_perfect_enemy]

I saw they started showing it on espn2 (mildly interesting for about 2 minutes, then you realize its just people running and doing squats, but I digress...) and they showed the pull up portion and everyone of them were doing them using essentially a butterfly swimming kick as momentum to pull themselves up. Now I may very well be wrong, but that seems like it lessens the point of the excercise right? Don't get me wrong 50 pullups that way is still impressive and far more than what I can do, but it seems like cheating.

[Dreamliner]

*ducks*

[BossaGator]

Originally Posted by your_perfect_enemy

I saw they started showing it on espn2 (mildly interesting for about 2 minutes, then you realize its just people running and doing squats, but I digress...) and they showed the pull up portion and everyone of them were doing them using essentially a butterfly swimming kick as momentum to pull themselves up. Now I may very well be wrong, but that seems like it lessens the point of the excercise right? Don't get me wrong 50 pullups that way is still impressive and far more than what I can do, but it seems like cheating.

IMO the kipping pull up is useful but best viewed as a different exercise entirely from a strict pullup. Opinions differ widely on this point and it has been highly debated in the fitness community. If you google kipping pullup vs regular (or strict) pullup you'll probably find some of that debate online.

[Dreamliner]

My problems with the kipping pullup in a nutshell: indeed, kipping is a useful skill. For example, you need to kip to initiate some of the more challenging strength skills, such as the muscle-up. On the other hand, quite aside from the potential risk to the shoulders, I see no utility in employing a cheating technique just so you can do more pullups. From a strength/hypertrophy standpoint, 50 reps is 50 reps, whether you do them all at one time or in as many sets as it takes. Finally, I find it annoying that, due to the advent of the kipping pullup, we now have to refer to a pullup as a 'strict pullup.'

Crossfit is subject to the same criticisms that are directed towards P90X, such as disguising plyometrics/Oly lifts/gymnastic skills as cardio. Why not do strength movements for strength and cardio for cardio ?

[your_perfect_enemy]

I probably should have guessed there was some debate over this. I have to agree with Dream on this one, other than to knock them out faster in a competition like this (or maybe if I were haning over a cliff and trying to do everything in my power to save myself) I don't see why you lessen the effectiveness of an excercise.

[Dreamliner]

Although it's not like you'd have to be able to perform 50 kips to be able to kip the one time your life depended on it.

[GuyWhiteyCorngood]

My biggest gripe against kipping pullups is when kipping is taught as the primary pullup movement when there isn't enough shoulder strength to prevent injuries. But that's not what Crossfit is all about. The proper approach any good coach should take is go through the right progressions of ring rows, band assisted pullups, etc.

Kipping is good for a number of reasons:

- grip strength improvement
- coordination/hip drive
- speed/aerobics

The kip is in line with part of the core development of many crossfit movements. It all starts with the hip drive and posterior chain. It doesn't matter if you are rowing, squatting, deadlifting, doing kettlebell swings, etc. You are using your hips to maximize your power. That can also translate well to punching, throwing, and fornication. So it's a very functional, full body movement.

A lot of folks criticize Crossfit based on people doing it wrong. I work out in a gym with group from the SWAT team, ex Army Rangers, and the morbidly obese. There's too much emphasis on the extreme nature of the workouts that make Crossfit seem unapproachable. This overshadows one very important aspect of Crossfit: it's scalable.