Not too long ago, I received a comment that was held for moderation on my blogpost about CrossFit. Here is the comment word-for-word:
Quit hating on Crossfit!!!!…you are not objective and you’re followers are mis-informed. Honestly, I don’t want to take the time to educate you….
Let me paraphrase that for you…
Quit hating on CrossFit!!!! You’re an idiot and so is everyone that listens to you. I am enlightened, but won’t share my secrets with you because I don’t want you to beat me on today’s WOD, Fran!
All joking aside, and in my defense, I think I offered a well-balanced perspective on CrossFit. I mentioned the pros and cons of the system from a non-biased perspective, and even concluded with a suggestion to attend a CrossFit seminar (with some precautions in mind). I definitely wasn’t hating on the system at all.
I am a strong critic and an eternal skeptic, and some significant aspects of CrossFit concern me greatly. For instance, the founder Greg Glassman admits that “[CrossFit] can kill you” (NY Times article here) Things like that tend to raise a warning flag in my book, among many others.
Needless to say, I didn’t publish the comment because it offered nothing of value to the discussion, but it got me thinking…
Isn’t this the kind of blind following that CrossFit is renowned for (not every CrossFit trainee, but many of the ones I’ve encountered)? It’s this attitude of we-are-holier-than-thou. We are the enlightened ones, and all who oppose us are nonobjective and misinformed. It sounds like a cult-following to me!
Well, excuse me if I don’t bite the hook, line, and sinker on the CrossFit method. I’d rather sit back and make a thoughtful analysis of the system before I commit my entire training program over to it, no questions asked. I happen to see several things about CrossFit that worry me, and I have yet to receive any proof that my suspicions are unfounded.
For instance, I have yet to find proof that CrossFit is a safe, healthy, and sustainable activity. In fact, I’ve found plenty of anecdotal evidence to the contrary. Read some of the comments in the CrossFit Q+A to get started collecting some evidence of its risks and dangers. The more people I talk to about CrossFit, the more I realize that it does have a “dark side” – usually injury and pain, or worse.
You don’t even have to be a fitness professional to realize this. Just take a peek at any one of the CrossFit workout videos that they post regularly on CrossFit.com. One of the most common problems with CrossFit training is that most of the athletes compromise on technique to achieve higher intensity, and it’s very obvious. Sure, you can get away with this for a little while, but using poor technique in any exercise will condition you to repeat that activity poorly – leading to overuse and/or repetitive stress injuries down the road. The process usually goes like this: first diminishing returns, then a plateau in progress, regress, pain, injury, illness and eventually death. I guess that’s what Glassman was talking about.
Now, I’ve got nothing against the people who willingly and knowingly decide to go this route – free will is not the issue here. I just need to make sure that people know the costs of CrossFit before they choose to blindly participate without someone telling them that they WILL GET INJURED. I know too many people who have tried CrossFit on a whim, and gotten hurt, sometimes severely.
Conclusion
Now, hear me out on this. I want CrossFit to succeed. I want them to continue to do what they’re doing, and especially to focus on how to better serve their clientele. I think it’s safe to say that CrossFit is growing rapidly (maybe too fast!), and there are some people involved with it that legitimately want to help others rediscover vibrant health and natural athleticism, irregardless of private interests or potential for personal gain. I’ve met some very nice CrossFitters who are objective and smart about their training, and who are willing to talk about both the strengths and weaknesses of their system. Some of them have great ideas for how to improve the quality of their coaching.
However, I see some very strong dogmatic views being expressed and followed, and that worries me because it leaves little room for freethinking, questioning convention, and asking “is this really the best way to accomplish our goals?”
I would hope that CrossFit, fast becoming one of the worlds most popular fitness systems, would be open to change if it were presented logically. Instead, I see a business giant growing too fast for its own good, sacrificing quality control for profit.
And before the hate mail starts pouring, let me stress again that there are many things about CrossFit that I like, and I would encourage anyone to attend a seminar to evaluate for themselves if CrossFit is right for them. My goal is to be transparent, and to talk about the things that seem to be overlooked by others.
In case you haven’t read my brief analysis of the CrossFit system, check out this post:
http://johnsifferman.com/blog/what-about-crossfit-tuesday-qa-with-john-sifferman/
To your health and success,
.jpg "John Sifferman")
CST, CST-KS, NSCA-CPT
Fitness Professional
P.S. I think there are better alternatives out there for those whom are interested well-rounded fitness. I would recommend the TacFit program to anyone that recognizes the obvious risks involved with CrossFit and wants something that will pack as much punch in terms of effectiveness, but is rooted in health-first strength and conditioning practices. If you want all that CrossFit has to offer in terms of conditioning (and then some IMO), and you want to stay injury-free for life, then I highly recommend the TacFit program which has proven injury-prevention methods directly programmed into the sessions. Plus, each workout is comprised of 4 different levels of difficulty, meaning you have the option to customize the program to your needs and conditioning level (no general WOD’s). Check it out here:
TACFIT – TACTICAL-SPECIFIC PHYSICAL CONDITIONING
on Sep 30th, 2009 at 11:46 am
Personally, I thought your original article was balanced and written with an open mind. As someone who’s been doing CrossFit (among other things) for several years (I hold a Level 1 and various specialty certifications), I’ve seen a lot of good and bad in the approach.
I will say that many of the bad things stem from poor training, misconceptions or substandard affiliates. I’ve been to CF gyms where they turn a blind eye to form in the name of intensity, and others who are almost dictatorial when it comes to proper movements and achieving full range of motion. The latter examples use level assessments and scale workouts accordingly.
Unfortunately, correct form and technique doesn’t make for killer Youtube videos. Thus, you see a lot of stupidness…
on Sep 30th, 2009 at 11:49 am
Thanks for your comment, Greg. It’s great to have your experience here.
on Sep 30th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Hi John,
Good post. I encounter this in many areas of my life on a daily basis. Trainers are often just as (if not, at times, more) guilty of “cult-following” as any trainee. Trainers in the cults of Chek, Verstegen, Sonnon (no offense intended!), Pavel, etc., only look at training through the lens of their leader’s viewpoints.
I think the bottom line with these cults harkens back to the definition of the word. Cult means “religion,” in Latin, and, as such, a cult is a “community of like-minded individuals.”
By the very nature of this type of structure, it is exclusive, and exclusionary – it seeks to pit itself over/above/against any other group.
Does that make it right?
Not at all. But for the people in the cult, all they see is their cult-ure. Their fellow cultists are constantly there to back them up.
It’s kind of a useless battle to fight.
Instead, I’m always interested in the background for the cult’s beliefs. What is/are the need/s that is/are being fulfilled by/through the cult, through membership in it, and also through the exclusivity of the cult?
When I look at it from that perspective, I become more empathetic. I understand that the person is trying to feel connected to something, they want to achieve an image of themselves that they feel the cult offers, they want to belong to something that supports them, etc.
If I can offer them those feelings from my own heart, then we can have a meaningful dialogue about it. Till then, though, we just butt heads.
Josh
on Sep 30th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Josh,
No offense taken. Thanks for your comment.
You do have a point that many fitness groups and communities are exclusive, and sometimes quite snobby about it.
However, I disagree that all followers of popular fitness gurus only see training through the lens of their particular group. Sure, some coaches get blinded by the awe and “magic” behind their leaders system, but good coaches will be able to view a training system objectively.
Every system has pros and cons, benefits and dangers. What CrossFit cannot provide, CST does, what CST cannot provide, MovNat does, what MovNat cannot provide, Exuberant Animal does, and so on. This isn’t to say that one system is better than the other, rather that one system may be better suited to providing for very specific needs that people have.
An over-quoted line from Bruce Lee is “absorb what is useful, reject what is useless.” Now, a good coach knows that the various areas of specialty can be drawn on collectively to meet the needs of his clients. A poor coach will say “CrossFit (or whatever modality) will help you with ANY training goal.”
That’s why I use CST, but am vigilant in exploring alternative training methods. If I find a better solution for health-first fitness, you better believe I’ll adopt some new training practices. But until then, I’ll keep going with what I know is working best.
Also keep in mind, that even though there are some downfalls to exclusive fitness groups, there are also many advantages that shouldn’t be disregarded.
Thanks again for your well-thought out comment.
on Oct 1st, 2009 at 6:13 am
Mr. Sifferman,
I quite enjoyed this post because when taking on various WODs or just some of their preferred exercise regimes the load was quite tough. I couldn’t quite get my mind around how weak hours of physical labor and martial arts must have left me, I mean, I couldn’t muster the power for what seemed an average feat in their methodology. It’s been years now and I consult Tsatsouline, Sonnon, Mantak Chia, Yang, Jwing-Ming….all sorts because each does what they do extremely well. Crossfit….I just don’t look them up much anymore, I want to learn and have fun and I love practicing….but not to time and I just hate running. That is a style of training that is not for me…like Shotokan…not my bag, just to pick at random honestly, what works for people should make it fun. Enjoying living is health, so practice should have an enjoyable quality or else it is just…unhealthy.
Your initial web log was perfectly gentlemanly and fair, plus there seemed an obvious indication that you are prepared to offer specific examples from your experience on top of what you pointed out. ‘Fair play’ is my call.
on Oct 1st, 2009 at 7:52 am
Thanks for the kind words Donovan. You bring up a very important point about training. It shouldn’t leave us utterly exhausted all the time – or technically disabled due to muscle soreness the next day.
I’ve been there in my own training – working so hard for 1-2 hours that you’re just DONE by the end of it. Sometimes, you can barely walk after a grueling session, and the next day you’ll be in constant pain as shredded muscles can’t keep up with the repair process needed. And don’t stand up too fast, or those legs will light on fire!
What’s the point of training if you only perform well during your planned workouts, but don’t have the ability to perform well afterwards?
Training should leave you feeling fresh and prepared, not beaten and drained.
on Oct 6th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Hey.
I don’t do CrossFit, but I have absorbed some stuff of the kind that they do into my training. I have been toying with the Idea and have been reading a lot about CrossFit in general.
Personally I feel that some of the reservations here and in your original post are, maybe, a little generalist.
First off, the “randomisation” element. I regularly look at (rather pointless I suppose but I find it interesting) Crossfit.com and my local (i.e. closest) crossfit affiliate.
While the workouts do appear random, on the “Mainsite” they are programmed by the Glassmans, presumably, with some structure. I presume this because my local affiliate has a very strong element of programming involved. Often I see the WOD being based around either a skill, a lift or an approach to a lift. Followed by a conditioning session.
Also the “Mainsite WOD” seems to be a higher level pursuit, it should be pointed out that an affiliate is probably the best place to start and a good affiliate will not let you plunge into the mainsite WOD. Most of them will operate their own WOD. In my local crossfit, they help scale WOD’s for individuals.
Further more, many Affiliates have Beginner programmes, which will involve (precisely as you suggested above) training lifts with broomsticks or PVC pipes. Many giving totally seperate WOD’s to allow beginners to ramp up their intensity before hitting the affiliate WOD. My Local Affiliate has a programme such as this, and they (like many other affiliates) are very keen on strong form.
Also here I could point out the ever useful BrandX crossfit forum. Which supplies 4 grades of scaled versions of the Mainsite WOD every day. It also proposes substitutions in case a particular exercise is beyond a trainees capabilities.
In addition Crossfit puts out a huge amount of information and training guidance, using some very well qualified trainers and experts. The journal is an immense resource. With many articles which could as useful to trainer outside Crossfit as those within.
Many of these articles are about form and ensuring good form.
I suppose what it boils down to is crossfit is a system of training.
Any system, is only as good as the trainer that administers it.
On the cult thing, I see it. It seems silly to me.
However there are many users who do not buy into it.
Who use it Crossfit as a open source general fitness programme.
There are affiliates who do things differently.
A good example is a piece I read on Pullups. Much is made of the “Default Pullup” of crossfit being the kipping pullup. Some people doing crossfit do kipping pullups and couldnt do a strict pullup.
I have read of at least one affiliate who will not let trainees kip untill they can manage a certain number of dead hang strict pullups.
Finally I think specificity is great, if you have something specific to train for. But if you don’t (like me) Crossfit is a really attractive proposition.
By the way this is a really good conversation on Crossfit that you have here. It makes a pleasant change from the usual “GREG GLASSMAN IS TEH FATZ” malarky. I like your site.
on Oct 6th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Hi Moose,
Thanks for your comment – I’m glad you like the site.
You’re right, my analysis of CrossFit is a little generalized. By your own admission, the CrossFit method varies from coach to coach, affiliate to affiliate, and from HQ to the actual trainees performing the work. So, it’s naturally difficult to make sweeping conclusions about the CrossFit system, being that affiliates sometimes don’t even teach the same methods that CrossFit HQ officially endorses. Like I said in the article above, it’s an issue of quality control.
And I completely agree that the best thing to do is to meet with a local affiliate before attempting any of the WOD’s. My advice is to seek out only the highest level trainers, since all it takes is a weekend seminar to become a CrossFit level 1 trainer – everyone passes, even someone with no past training experience, poor conditioning, and zero coaching experience = a recipe for disaster. So, you have to be careful who you learn from.
No doubt, there are some excellent S&C coaches using the CrossFit system. I just wouldn’t use a CrossFit qualification to determine who is actually qualified to instruct.
Concerning the random nature of the WOD’s… I’m sure there is a method behind Glassman’s madness. I just don’t think the madness is what people really need, even if they don’t have laser-focused goals. And I have a hard time accepting the notion of general workouts for any goal. Everything we do is specifically conditioning us for something, whether we like it or not. This concerns me…