Comments on: 5 Reasons Why CrossFit is Crap

By: Paul

Paul — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 15:24:30 +0000

YESS. CROSS FIT IS LAME AND DANGEROUS…GREAT PULL UPS TO..ALSO IF YOU WANT A BODY WITH NO ARM MUSCLES THEN GO FOR IT.

By: Craig H

Craig H — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 20:34:40 +0000

While your points are valid on the surface they show a clear lack of depth and understanding of the purpose of crossfit. The very purpose of crossfit is to be as fit as possible in as many aspects of physical capacity as possible without maximizing any of them. In order to mazimize any physical attribute or sport you have th specialize so much that other aspects suffer. All of your comments allude to not doing a certain movement to the maximum potential as possible in order to generate a certain result. I have been a Crossfitter(that sounds do cheesey) for over 2 years now since i was 29. I’m pretty small(5′4 127lbs). I have never been as physically strong and as fit overall in my entire life. Now I have been in better cardio shape, I was a nationally ranked speedskater for 15 years. But that just goes to prove my point that crossfit is not meant to take any one specific area of “fitness/athletics” to its maximum potential. Doing crossfit as a part of an entire sport’s regimen will undoubtedly make you better at that sport. It will not make you the best as that requires a tremendous amount of specialization that only the select few that choose to be the best at that sport will follow anyway.

I will now address your points specifically:

1. Crossfit is not for athletes: Completely false. The crossfit I attend has high school football and lacrosse players coming. Those that have chosen not to come have now been superceded by those who do.(see my comments from above too). I do agree that is not for endurance athletes. The 2 types of training are not conducive to optimal combination.

2. Crossfit teaches pull up wrong: Crossfit doesn’t teach them wrong, we have many variations. Each workout specifies what type of pull ups are allowed. There are some that require strict pull ups, L pull ups, chest to bar, etc. This is recurring trend in Crossfit. The emphasis is on completing the exercise as quickly and efficiently as possible while maintaining a safe physiological movement. I can actually kip push ups as well. I can do 41 butterfly pullups and probably around 20 strict. Who’s to say which is correct? I will agree that the amount of training and education variance between crossfits can lead to people getting injuries though.

3. Crossfit is not based on science. Again, you misunderstand the purpose of crossfit. In science you have variables and inputs in order to achieve a certain quantitative result. Crossfit really has no quantifiable goal other than to constantly become stronger and fitter. Its up to the owners to lead their members in instruction and training on lifting and specific movements in order to really increase in strenght. Our members often only come in and work on Oly lifts so we can perform better at those exercises at lower weights during the workout.

4. See point 3.

5. I guess you could say that.

Craig

By: Alan

Alan — Mon, 30 May 2011 02:29:34 +0000

Although I would stop short of calling all the Crossfit points you mentioned crap, you raise some very good points everyone should be aware of before they begin Crossfit.

Crossfit is extremely beneficial for individuals with superior genetics who live a lifestyle that require superior functional strength and conditioning; and I’m not talking about athletes. People who are involved in the military, special forces, elite emergency service units, and other fields that require a high degree of mental discipline, functional strength, and advanced cross-functional aerobic conditioning; are the ideal candidates for the Crossfit curriculum. There is an inherent amount of risk when you train for such demanding cross-functional environments, but that is the risk these elite individuals are willing to take. Lets keep in mind that a Navy Seal started this program which took elements of their training and applied it to the masses. Not everyone is genetically fit to participate in such extreme physcial programming and the average “Joe” is rolling the dice when taking on CrossFit.

I’m glad you brought up these points regarding Crossfit because countless individuals are getting injured and discouraged for attempting their routines.

By: Ande

Ande — Sat, 28 May 2011 11:25:58 +0000

As a personal trainer,I try to keep an open mind. I don’t knock something down until I try it. That being said, I have to say that viewing these workouts and then partaking of them screamed DANGER!!! I am a stickler on form and spotting. Yes it’s cool that I can Box jump a few feet in the air and alternate that with some lifts and burpees, but who is paying attention to my well being? I see people stroking they’re own egos because they can out do the next guy;that’s fine I suppose but where is the concern for genuine athletic ability? I have also asked many people,including trainers, what the purpose of crossfit is and what the goals of that particular workout is, and I have yet to get a direct answer. How do you work crossfit into a structured exercise routine? If you want to do crossfit for the sake of bragging rights and competitions, by all means have at it. However I am not convinced that this is a healthy long lasting routine. I feel this crossfit will fade when injuries escelate and athletic results decline. Time will tell. So be safe you crossfitters! I’m going to continue to train the old school way. I would rather have my clients walking at 80 years old rather than hobbling around because of careless training that temporarily got they’re blood pumping. To each they’re own. God bless!

By: Travis Webb

Travis Webb — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 14:28:45 +0000

I am on the DISLIKE, list for crossfit. I will agree, it adds great variation and uses some very unique exercises. In concept, crossfit is also great. Very physically demanding, burns tons of calories.
HOWEVER, crossfit has many problems. 1. FORM. If your form is not good, your results will be diminished. I have yet to see a crossfitter squat or clean properly. They literally throw weights around. Which is great way to get hurt, and has proven so throughout crossfit’s history.

2. LACK OF EDUCATION. All it takes to be an oh-so-elite crossfit trainer is $1000 and a CPR certification and pass their exam. Which is a joke by my standards. THAT IS IT. You have those credentials and you are an elite crossfit trainer. WOW. Few of the crossfit trainers have the knowledge of understanding what they are doing to their client’s bodies with these rigorous exercises. Which in turn, IS DANGEROUS.

3. ANYBODY CAN DO CROSSFIT. No they can’t. I seriously doubt you can take a 45yr old woman that is morbidly obese and have her do cleans. Much more keep up with the intensity of crossfit’s workouts.

Overall, I would respect crossfit more if their certification standards were a bit more stringent and if they would clean up their workouts a bit.

By: john mcevoy

john mcevoy — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 13:02:16 +0000

First off I can’t believe I’m even responding to a post which was written in 2009 and I am sure one of my fellow CrossFitters has brought up these points in the comments section but I have better things to be doing than to read through all 64 of them.

It really boils my blood reading posts like this as it is 100% clear that the author has no idea what CrossFit is or what he is talking about.

Our goal is not to be as explosive as possible or to build the most muscle possible. It is to be fit meaning we have balance between cardiovascular endurance, bodyweight strength as well as being able to move external loads (weightlifting).

I could go on and on but I’m already pissed off enough at your ignorance so I’m going to cut this short.

Your statements on the below topics are proof that you really have no idea what your talking a bout.

We only teach people kipping pullups.
The programming is random.
That power cannot be extended into high rep movements.

You guys are idiots to be blunt. Stick to your bicep curls in front of the mirror.

My guess is that when you all check your egos at the door and actually do a little research you will all end up doing CrossFit.

By: bethanie

bethanie — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 18:32:36 +0000

When u get off your lazy bum and do crossfit for a couple of months then ill listen and see if you have any complaints.

By: Gonzalo miranda

Gonzalo miranda — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 17:05:06 +0000

you guys can talk and talk over and over again but the reality of the situation is that mr Glassman is one of the most intelligent characters in the fitness industry, by not discovering, but implementing a new system that would encourage people to be fit and change their lives! there is no argument on this!

By: Grant

Grant — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 13:11:45 +0000

Hi man, takes a lot of balls to put up a post like this so I take my hate off to you.

I agree with you brother. Especially with the power cleans. Notice how the name of the exercise is called POWER clean. Power isn’t performed for 30 reps.

By: Billy Doody

Billy Doody — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 13:49:15 +0000

Does Greg Glassman even work out? I bet Tony Horton could destroy him at any workout.