Articles have been written about why Crossfit isn't good or why Crossfit isn't the best way to train, etc. But let's face it, with everything in the world, there are going to be multiple opinions.
Point #1. It is group exercise.
Counter Point: Group exercise has benefits. How many times have you worked out alone and towards the end you've said, ehhhh I'm going to skip the last set because I'm tired/lazy? Chances are, you've done that. With group exercise, that is simply not an option and until you have reached your Rounds for time, or the clock reaches zero on a 20 minute AMRAP, people will be cheering you on and in your face.
Who cares if you are WODing next to somebody? Even if the person next to you is a beast and using 3x's the weight you are, there is SOME motivation to eventually be like that dude, and being able to gage your performance by other box mates is a competitive aspect that Crossfit provides.
Point #2. It is generalist. Do you want to be a power lifter? Don't do Crossfit. Do you want to be a distance runner? Don't do Crossfit. Do you want to simply add muscle bulk at all costs? Don't do Crossfit. Are you training for a specific sport which requires you to sharpen very specific physical skills? Don't do Crossfit
Counter Point: This "point" infuriates me. I started Crossfit not to be a runner, not to be muscly, and not training for a specific sport. I joined Crossfit to lose weight and become more athletically versatile.
When I decided I wanted to do long distance running, I added running to my Crossfit training. Crossfit alone will NOT make you a marathon runner, but practicing running in combination with Crossfit helped me PR on all the running distances I did in 2011. If you want to be a good swimmer, do Crossfit AND Swimming. See my earlier blog Swimming for Time. Crossfit didn't make me an instant swimmer, but the strength and other skills I've gained via Crossfit has certainly improved my performance. Hell, I give credit to Crossfit when I move furniture without effort, bring all my groceries into the house in one trip, and have great stamina during...well you know.
On the other hand, one of my Crossfit friends did NOTHING but Crossfit and won Overall Category for bench press and deadlift. No power lifting training at all. HMMMMMMMMM.....
So as for Point #2 I say, no shit Sherlock!!
Point #3. It is too expensive
Counter Point: Yes it is MORE expensive than a 10 dollar a month membership but it is WAY cheaper than having a personal trainer. BOOM!
Point #4. Their pull ups suck
Counter Point: Yes Crossfit uses kipping pull ups instead of strict. What's your point? Crossfit is big on doing movements quickly and efficiently and it just so happens that a kipping pull up is quicker and more efficient than strict. BFD. He then goes on to talk about how Crossfit promotes doing heavier weights with bad form quicker rather than lighter weights with perfect form slower. Dude, we are all trying to work on form, speed, and weights. I have not met one Trainer of Crossfit that would be like, awesome job on that heavy, fast, terrible form snatch. Any good trainer would be, drop the weights down until your form is good, and then lets work up to a heavier weight.
OK NOW I"M STARTING TO GET ANGRY!!
Point #5. You will get injured
Counter Point: You COULD get injured, sure. But you could also get injured running, driving, doing zumba, or basically doing anything that requires you to move.
IF you have a good trainer, injuries will be kept at a minimum and yes I agree that if you are trying to quickly do box jumps you may miss the box and bust your shin. IT HAPPENS. Jimmy Rollins pulled a hamstring while running down the crowd giving fans high fives. Does that mean that baseball is a horrifically dangerous sport? Seriously dude, you're pissing me off!!
Point #6. The whole "cult" thing
Counter Point: If by "cult" you mean super nice people who want to better improve their physical and mental shape by working out/spending time with other super healthy people then yeah...that really sucks!
Yes it takes a certain type of person to do Crossfit, but the community aspect is one of the coolest parts of Crossfit. I've done WODs with people that I wouldn't normally meet (Hell one of our members was a finalist on American Idol) but during the WODs we are all there to accomplish one thing, to be our best.
I agree that some cults are scary, but we don't do scary things. We work out and sometimes we have bbq's or do competitions or even things that help the community. God, that's just TERRIBLE!!
Point #7. You can't trademark working out, you fuckers
Counter Point: So would calling Zumba Dancing be the same thing? Because they have seemed to trademark "dancing." I could list other examples but I'm still confused as to why this is an issue?
In conclusion, I appreciate people having opinions and it seems that you can take ANYTHING in this world and put a negative spin on it. So do me a favor and do your homework and remember that there are two sides to every story.
Great poat Karen!
ReplyDeleteGreat post. People are always critical of what they don't understand.
ReplyDeleteThe best work out is the one that you actually do. I will never understand why people can't celebrate being active instead of being critical of anything foreign to them or their routine.