Whats wrong with crossfit?

[zendefone]

I see that lots of people here dislike crossfit style of training.

But why? I can see that they have pretty good exercises lined up for overall fitness and their idea doesn't seems any wrong, ''short, intense, timed workouts''. They also have some strength workouts sometimes. If i'm not wrong, i think rip also recommends doing crossfit for metabolic conditioning once you've gain a certain level of strength?

Note: I'm not a crossfitter or have done any of their workouts, but i'm just curious why the hate around here about crossfit when i think their program is pretty good for someone aiming for overall fitness.

[gzt]

There are a lot of great things about Crossfit. They've had a lot of great people associated with them over the years, like Mark Rippetoe, Dan John, Mark Twight, Greg Everett, etc. Oddly enough, though, for some reason, they just seem to not be able to hang on to these people. Frankly, in a choice between Dan John and some organization that questions Dan John's integrity and squatting ability, I would have to have very good reasons to choose against Dan John.

And a lot of @Fitters are douchebags.

Anyway. This isn't an @Fit board, nor is it an @Fit hate board. I don't see why this subject keeps coming up. @Fit isn't notable or novel, it's well-marketed. There are plenty of online fitness communities based on the virtual community model, a quick google search turns up several similar to @Fit with names such as "fitlink", "traineo" and "navyseals". It also isn't the only "functional fitness" program, since that's the latest craze. All that leaves is slick marketing.

[El Viejo]

I don't see anything 'wrong' with crossfit training or any other kind of training (O.K., there are some exceptions, like barbell squats while standing on a swiss ball). I think it really boils down to what one's goals are. If you visit the Xfit forums you'll see that many Xfitters alter the program (or lack of program) to have a greater emphasis on strength training or endurance sports.

What I don't like about Xfit is the cult-like attitude that many Xfitters develop and I really don't like Xfit's meglomaniacal founder, Greg Glassman. The guy can't handle even the slightest criticism or misunderstanding of Xfit. Instead of explaining his position and clearing up misconceptions, he immediately resorts to childish insults and name calling. That and the fact that he doesn't look like he ever did any kind of exercise in his life. Granted, he obviously has some sort of physical disablity, but there must be some form of exericise he could do to at least look the part a little.

Anyway, that's my 2 cents.

[gzt]

Misunderstanding of Xfit: it's kind of hard to understand when he keeps making up nonsense and calling it a mathematical reality.

But, yes, I mean, he called Jack Reape a weak underperformer who is morbidly obese. He made up nonsense about Mel Siff. He insulted Dan John's character and said he has "no squat". Etc etc. The list goes on.

[matclone]

Note: I'm not a crossfitter or have done any of their workouts, but i'm just curious why the hate around here about crossfit when i think their program is pretty good for someone aiming for overall fitness.

I've been wondering too. There just seems to be a lot of jeering, mocking, and despising going around this board, and not just on crossfit. Never underestimate the influence of talk radio or trash TV I guess.

I'm in my second week at a crossfit facility and I like it. Everyone is supportive and it's really damn hard work (for me anyway), that involves strength training. Constrast to what 95% of people in gyms are doing: machines, and balls, and personal trainers that put you on a bodybuilding routine.

I've not heard anyone there mention Glassman, nor do I know him or any of the other names thrown around here (except as noted). I'm not sure why I should care about the purported shortcomings of someone I don't even know. This, and that other thread about some alleged censorship on an internet site sounds like a Peyton Place. Maybe when they show me the indoctrination video, I'll see the light. Until then, call me ignorant (but fit).

Some of the attitudes I've seen here remind me of USAW sort of, and how for years they've shunned weightlifters who were not with their program--as if their otherness was more important than the fact they were lifting weights.

Rippetoe is still doing seminars at crossfit facilities (e.g., the one I'm at), even if he has apparently severed his ties to HQ. Justin Lascek is doing a crossfit-type program at WFAC. Mike Burgener is still posting WODs on his website Mike's Gym, and doing crossift seminars on Olympic lifting. Sounds like an endorsement to me.

[Briks42]

I think that most of the anti-crossfit mentality is simply a "my program is better than your program!" mentality.

That being said, my own personal problems with crossfit are:
1.) Not enough strength programming to fit my own personal goals. But I am skinny and very weak in my lower body, so Starting Strength is obviously better for me. If you are already 70's big, you might not care about the lack of strength programming.

2.) The marketing of "randomness" and being ready for the "unknown and unknowable". They act like the randomness of the program is what makes it work, but i tend to think that any program should have some sort of specific goals in mind. Even for a Navy Seal or firefighter, people who have to complete an array of different tasks, there are certain workout plans that would seem to apply better than the completely weird and random crossfit workouts.

3.) The emphasis on muscular endurance. Again, this is personal, but I really have no interest in being able to do 300 weightless squats or 100 pushups. At some point when I weigh 240 pounds, I might want to include metcons into my workouts, but they'd be more along the lines of sprint work with short breaks or "Fran" type workouts. Something that can build up my heart strength and keep me in good shape, but also build a little muscle and not worry about doing hundreds of reps.

4.) Another marketing issue, which is the idea of functionality. If you train for strength, you will get better at functional movements than someone who trains for functional movements.

5.) The idea among the crossfitters that they are the world's fittest athletes. If Adrian Peterson (or any other nfl RB or LB) wanted to do crossfit, he would win the games after 1 month of training, if not immediately. What they really have is the fittest athletes who are not good enough to play any sport. Olympic weightlifters, sprinters, football players, and any other pro athletes are much more fit.

[rhymer]

Here's the skinny on Xfit, as I understand it:

They wanted to avoid a franchise model, for lots of reasons, many of them financial and insurance related. This committed them to a model where they encourage "affiliates" and take their profits by getting people to pay money for use of their brand and access to consulting experts.

There's a built in tension, though. The more successful they've become, the harder it becomes to control the brand, which is important for them -- after all, it's the only thing they're really selling.

None of that should necessarily concern any of us, but I think it helps a lot to explain what's happened and the various controversies that have arisen.

As far as what's wrong with the fitness model, other people can maybe comment on their commitment to paleo-Zone on the diet front. I think the general consensus on the training front is that scaled Xfit is suboptimal for novices because there isn't enough strength component. For people who aren't novices, whether it is attractive will depend on what your goals and needs are.

[Shaf]

Start here:

http://www.irongarmx.net/phpBB2/view...php?f=2&t=5075

Contained within this thread is every single thing you might want, or not want, to know about Crossfit.

[Skuhr]

Moderator, is it possible to close this thread as being off topic? Please? With sugar on top?

[Shaf]

Is this too tough an environment for you, Skuhr?