Crossfit!!?

Ironman8, I did a search on him and I kinda feel like an idiot!! Lol. I had no idea who he was. Truthfully, running with a little gym thrown in for good measure has always been my "bag" but the more I look into this c-fit the more I'm interested. Big muscles and how much a guy can bench has never made two sh!ts to me, but real world endurance is right up my alley! But I've just not done much outside of hiking for the past two years so I'm thinking I need to maybe give it a month or two at a regular gym to nock some of the dust off. What do y'all think?

PJG said:

Have you checked here:

http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Weightlifting/Clubs-LWC/Find-a-club

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I looked it up and was surprised by the amount listed for my state, however, note that of the 2 listed for my city, 1 was a Crossfit box that offers Oly only classes. I suspect that others on the list are Crossfit boxes as well.

Haha no need to feel dumb at all man. I just thought it was funny that of all of the thousands of CF gyms across the country, you will be going to CF Mayhem. And just so you know, the prices at Mayem are actually cheaper than the gym I go to...which is also owned by a CF Games competitor. Programming at mine is very good just as it will be at Mayhem. Sometimes you pay for what you get, but the prices at Mayhem, I would consider a bargain.

And yes that's totally ok if you want to spend a couple months in a regular gym to knock the rust off...as a matter of fact it's what I did before I joined. But it's not necessary because they will scale workouts to you and/or probably have an "on-ramp" class that starts you off slowly and teaches you all the movements in a progressive fashion.

Fear is the biggest part of Crossfit. I've been doing it for about 9 or 10 months and it only gets better. All the positives that have been previously mentioned are there for the taking. Ultimately, you need to know your limitations and expectations and how much of the "competition" you should be participating in. A good coach makes all the difference. I am very fortunate to have excellent staff in a very cost effective gym. Would be a good idea to not go in cold, but rather to have done some prep work first. Might want to talk to the staff at the gym/box that you are interested in for suggestions.

Excellent idea!

Crossfit is not really anything new, its just a blended form of all types of lifting and exercise into a group competitive envirnment. It is fun and effective when done correct and with anything really damaging and dangerous when not. The difficult part is that since it has a little of everything it can be challenging for the new "athlete" to be a master at so many exercise when they might lack mobility, stability, and overal strength. Crossfit is best easied into for that reason, many boxes offer different programing for newer less advanced member to kind of dip their toes into circuit training and learn so of the more advance moves.

In application to hunting, crossfit can be great at building mental toughness that ability to push the body through a comfortable level of fatigue.

While a good friend of mine owns and runs a pretty quality box 20min away from me I opt for working out inside of my own home. With work, family and hobbies inculing an intense fitness routine it just suits me better to have 24/7 access. I've been able to build what is basically my own "box" for under $1000. Seems like a lot but really thats less than 1yrs membership most places and I will have my equipment forever. A garage/basement gym for the self motivated is always a good option and then theres no excuses for not getting a workout in when its right there.

Here's my .02. I'm a Level 1 Crossfit coach, but I also have a degree in Exercise Physiology, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Crossfit is a brand. They are very good at marketing. They didn't invent any form of exercise. That said it is a very effective way to gain the level and form of strength and fitness most of us on Rokslide desire. There are good boxes and probably more bad boxes. The most important thing to consider is the coaches. Anyone can go to the two day cert and become a Crossfit "coach". Do your homework to find out who is going to be coaching you through some very complicated lifts. They may know how to clean and jerk but that doesn't mean they know how to teach you how to.
A good coach usually has some kind of Olympic lift background and has a degree or other serious certifications than just their level 1. Watch them coach, do they seem to care? Are they paying attention to obvious flaws in form? In my opinion, every coach should have a CSCS and or go to a USA Olympic lifting seminar.

There is a lot more to it than just throwing exercises together to make a work out, as well as which workouts are done over the course of a week. It is very efficient and promotes real life practical strength and conditioning. Big muscles and a huge bench dont do a damn thing for you in the mountains other tax your heart and lungs with more muscle to feed.

Warren1726 said:

Here's my .02. I'm a Level 1 Crossfit coach, but I also have a degree in Exercise Physiology, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Crossfit is a brand. They are very good at marketing. They didn't invent any form of exercise. That said it is a very effective way to gain the level and form of strength and fitness most of us on Rokslide desire. There are good boxes and probably more bad boxes. The most important thing to consider is the coaches. Anyone can go to the two day cert and become a Crossfit "coach". Do your homework to find out who is going to be coaching you through some very complicated lifts. They may know how to clean and jerk but that doesn't mean they know how to teach you how to.
A good coach usually has some kind of Olympic lift background and has a degree or other serious certifications than just their level 1. Watch them coach, do they seem to care? Are they paying attention to obvious flaws in form? In my opinion, every coach should have a CSCS and or go to a USA Olympic lifting seminar.

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You absolutely nailed it. I've always told people the same thing. I personally can never endorse "Crossfit" because defining Crossfit in any other way besides being a company is impossible. And since Crossfit is a company, with over 10,000 gyms (I think) I can't send someone off to go train with some dude that received a certification in two days. Plus crossfit.com's programming stinks in my opinion. So find a good coach/trainer that will prepare you for what you want to do and have some fun......crossfit or not.

djsmith46 said:

You absolutely nailed it. I've always told people the same thing. I personally can never endorse "Crossfit" because defining Crossfit in any other way besides being a company is impossible. And since Crossfit is a company, with over 10,000 gyms (I think) I can't send someone off to go train with some dude that received a certification in two days. Plus crossfit.com's programming stinks in my opinion. So find a good coach/trainer that will prepare you for what you want to do and have some fun......crossfit or not.

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Finding a good coach is a must for anything you do that requires a skill to be taught. Second, I'm not aware of anyone that follows CF.com's "programming" but I do agree that it sucks. In the early days, gyms probably did follow it, but CF has evolved and much more emphasis is put on programming and form, to name a couple, than most people give credit for....at least the smart coaches have moved this direction. I also don't understand why people get so bent out of shape about Crossfit being a brand and really good at marketing. It is what it is. If you'd rather buy $1000 of equipment and DIY, then great, but I know that I get way more motivation when I have someone to my right and left that I'm "competing" against. Motivation and distractions are the main reasons why home gyms fail. That's why the majority of people have some kind of membership to a club/gym/box. Pick your poison and stop worrying about what the next guy does.

(Last part not aimed at anyone in particular)

Yeah, I suck at doing home workouts. I just can't get into it. I need a place to go that I associate with training. Having a dedicated group of training partners really helps with the motivation and accountability during the workouts. I'd like to think that I could do these workouts at home with the same intensity and accountability, but I don't think could. Kudos to those that can.

That's true most ppl don't enjoy working out and lack self motivation. It's as much a hobby as hunting for me and I know my goals and how to achieve them on my own. I enjoy a little competition here and there things like Murphy or a spartan race can be a ton of fun in a group environment. But I'm not dead lifting or performing high rep snatches against anyone but myself.

Most of my workout come when my daughter naps or goes to bed so I can't just leave and drive to a local box at a set time for a WOD. Only way I could garentee workout time was to bring the gym home with me.

Poser said:

Yeah, I suck at doing home workouts. I just can't get into it. I need a place to go that I associate with training. Having a dedicated group of training partners really helps with the motivation and accountability during the workouts. I'd like to think that I could do these workouts at home with the same intensity and accountability, but I don't think could. Kudos to those that can.

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I am with you.. I've tried the home work out thing and there is always something else that demands my time or energy. Having a dedicated place / time of day set aside that I am paying money for helps keep me WAY more regular in my workouts..

matt1glenn said:

sorry fad lol . Good luck . There is nothing wrong with old school workouts with machines and weights along with some t-mill incline walking!

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"Old school" workouts with machines, eh? By old school, you must mean the C&C Music Factory workout era?

matt1glenn said:

IMO Crossfit is not all that ! I get more clients ( rehab ) from cross fit then any sport. Unless you don't have any issues you are looking to get hurt! Just a fade that will trash your body !

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I hear a lot of comments like these... though studies have boon done that show that nationwide the incidence of injuries in crossfit is not statistically different from that or running, body building, or any other work out program. I think that Crossfit is a popular buzzword so it sticks in peoples minds when they hear of an injury from it.

Just like I feel like I have a TON of patients with a birthday on 9/11. I don't think that there are any more than any other day, I just remember them more.

Joe

From Pub Med:

J Strength Cond Res. 2013 Nov 22. [Epub ahead of print]
The nature and prevalence of injury during CrossFit training.
Hak PT1, Hodzovic E, Hickey B.
Author information
Abstract
CrossFit is a constantly varied, high intensity, functional movement strength and conditioning program which has seen a huge growth in popularity around the world since its inception twelve years ago. There has been much criticism as to the potential injuries associated with CrossFit training including rhabdomyolysis and musculoskeletal injuries. However to date no evidence exists in the literature to the injures and rates sustained. The purpose of this study was to determine the injury rates and profiles of CrossFit athletes sustained during routine CrossFit training. An online questionnaire was distributed amongst international CrossFit online forums. Data collected included general demographics, training programs, injury profiles and supplement use. A total of 132 responses were collected with 97 (73.5%) having sustained an injury during CrossFit training. A total of 186 injuries were reported with 9 (7.0%) requiring surgical intervention. An injury rate of 3.1 per 1000 hours trained was calculated. No incidences of rhabdomyolysis were reported. Injury rates with CrossFit training are similar to that reported in the literature for sports such as Olympic weight-lifting, power-lifting and gymnastics and lower than competitive contact sports such as rugby union and rugby league. Shoulder and spine injuries predominate with no incidences of rhabdomyolysis obtained. To our knowledge this is the first paper in the literature detailing the injury rates and profiles with CrossFit participation.
PMID: 24276294 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]



US Army Med Dep J. 2013 Oct-Dec:36-47.
Extreme conditioning programs and injury risk in a US Army Brigade Combat Team.
Grier T1, Canham-Chervak M, McNulty V, Jones BH.
Author information
Abstract
CONTEXT:
Brigades and battalions throughout the US Army are currently implementing a variety of exercise and conditioning programs with greater focus on preparation for mission-specific tasks. An Army physical therapy clinic working with a light infantry brigade developed the Advanced Tactical Athlete Conditioning (ATAC) program. The ATAC program is a unique physical training program consisting of high-intensity aquatic exercises, tactical agility circuits, combat core conditioning, and interval speed training. Along with ATAC, battalions have also incorporated components of fitness programs such as the Ranger Athlete Warrior program and CrossFit (Crossfit, Inc, Santa Monica, CA) an extreme conditioning program (ECP).
OBJECTIVE:
To determine if these new programs (ATAC, ECP) had an effect on injury rates and physical fitness.
DESIGN:
Surveys were administered to collect personal characteristics, tobacco use, personal physical fitness training, Army physical fitness test results, and self-reported injuries. Medical record injury data were obtained 6 months before and 6 months after the implementation of the new program. Predictors of injury risk were assessed using multivariate logistic regression. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported.
RESULTS:
Injury incidence among Soldiers increased 12% for overall injuries and 16% for overuse injuries after the implementation of the ATAC/ECPs. However, injury incidence among Soldiers not participating in ATAC/ECPs also increased 14% for overall injuries and 10% for overuse injuries. Risk factors associated with higher injury risk for Soldiers participating in ATAC/ECPs included: greater mileage run per week during unit physical training (OR (>16 miles per week÷≤7 miles per week)=2.24, 95% CI, 1.33-3.80); higher body mass index (BMI) (OR (BMI 25-29.9÷BMI<25)=1.77, 95% CI, 1.29-2.44), (OR (BMI =30÷BMI<25)=2.72, 95% CI, 1.67-4.43); cigarette use (OR (smoker÷nonsmoker)=1.80, 95% CI, 1.34-2.42); poor performance on the 2-mile run during the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) (OR (=15.51 minutes÷≤13.52 minutes)=1.76, 95% CI, 1.13-2.74); Injury risk was lower for those reporting resistance training, (OR (<1 time per week÷none)=0.53, 95% CI, 0.31-0.92), (OR (1-2 times per week÷none)=0.50, 95% CI, 0.29-0.84), (OR (≥3 times per week÷none)=0.45, 95% CI, 0.24-0.85).
CONCLUSIONS:
Given that Soldiers participating in ATAC/ECPs showed similar changes in injury rates compared to Soldiers not participating in ATAC/ECPs, no recommendation can be made for or against implementation of ATAC/ECPs.

I deleted a few comments. Let's keep it constructive please.

If interested in building strength and endurance you might want to look at getting a RTS trainer. I think you could find one on there webpage RTS123.com, I'm sure there is some near you. They know the human body like no one else ! Good luck

Check out strongswiftdurable.com

It is a gym out of Jackson WY that trains mountain athletes, skiers, mountain guides. The workouts are hard but if focuses on everything a hunter would want.

LJ Buck said:

Check out strongswiftdurable.com

It is a gym out of Jackson WY that trains mountain athletes, skiers, mountain guides. The workouts are hard but if focuses on everything a hunter would want.

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I've checked out a lot of their stuff on youtube and try to incorporate some it into my workouts - very legit! Some of their military athlete stuff is also very interesting; a lot of it leaves my knees aching after just watching it though.