I can understand that a lot of people answering to this post are not physically able to do a proper Crossfit session, that’s right HIITT is taught, but I don’t understand crap, fitness regression , unsafe, and so on….thoses words are not in the ” sports people ” dictionary. Crossfit training is the same as everything, good and bad instructors. As long as I can learn something new and safe folowing my SF goals , it’ s all good.
This is what I hear most often...critics are somehow not able to do Crossfit or that one has to do it in order to have valid thoughts on it.
I wrote out some responses below this, however, I have deleted them, as I do not intend to change anybody's mind, and I think this topic is boring. I will keep two points, which I think anybody should know:
* It prescribes exercises in high volume (for time or for a set number of high reps) which require proper form and which will degrade significantly with fatigue, greatly increasing the risk of injury and making one weaker, rather than stronger. High rep barbell deadlifts, snatches, clean and jerks, and the like are common, and frequently mixed into intervals or done for time. Citation:
http://www.crossfit.com/cf-info/faq.html#WOD0 Many of those Benchmarks are
dangerous for anybody. Not all WODs, facilities, or "Crossfit" workouts will necessarily include those elements, and of course, not all facilities will do these things. But if the first step to do Crossfit ethically is to scrap most of what is "Crossfit", that is telling.
* The official "What is Crossfit?" question is answered here:
http://www.crossfit.com/cf-info/what-crossfit.html
Our program delivers a fitness that is, by design, broad, general, and inclusive. Our specialty is not specializing. Combat, survival, many sports, and life reward this kind of fitness and, on average, punish the specialist.
And in this statement, it is admitting a program which is ineffective as designed, as it borrows from elites, but does so mindlessly. It is something which will (when scaled or applied suitably) have a big effect on people who are already untrained. Maybe that is the benefit...people who have done nothing their entire life will suddenly be working intensely. They will be tired out, worked to their limits, and generally exposed to a variety of paths. It is setting the grounds for future improvement. People who do it may want to "specialize", as that is the only way to train for anything. This sort of fundamental basis for a program will breed elitism, while not resulting in any actual elite abilities. They work hard, very hard. Unfortunately, they don't get anywhere. They are on a treadmill telling walkers they are falling behind. They are furiously running on the treadmill, but the walkers get further. Yes, I do not trash myself like they do. I am a "specialist". That is the only way to get anywhere.