Constantly Varied Functional Movement Performed at High Intensity
2010 March 24
The phrase above embodies what CrossFit is all about. We use Gymnastics, Weightlifting, Sprinting and Rowing to create athletes that are strong, balanced and well rounded. We are not Gymnasts, Weightlifters, Powerlifters, Sprinters or Rowers. While we strive for proficiency in all of those areas, we do not limit ourselves to any one domain.
When the WODs were announced for the Ontario Sectionals, opinions on the difficulty varied and many said the WODs were not hard enough, not heavy enough and not a test of who the best CrossFitter in Ontario is. I think that at the end of the weekend, everyone was satisfied that the best of the best in Ontario were in fact going to Calgary for the regionals. The reason why the best are going is because the best CrossFitters always post the best times, regardless of the WODs. Could some of the places be moved around if different WODs were chosen, sure. But while you may have moved up a spot or down a spot with different WODs, the top fifteen would still have been the top fifteen.
Watching the competition was quite fascinating. I saw athletes that struggled with weight, athletes that struggled with skills and athletes that struggled with both. There were very few athletes that didn’t struggle with something. Surprisingly enough it was the technical movements that proved the most troublesome to all of the competitors. In the final WOD it seemed to be either the Snatch or the Muscle-up that put an end to peoples’ days. Both of the movements take a great deal of strength (although different types of strength) and both require a lot of skill, which can only be gained through practice.
The point of this article is that strength is not the only thing that matters in CrossFit; it is only one of 10 general physical skills. If you want to be the strongest person, be a powerlifter. If you want to be the most powerful, be an Olympic lifter. If you want to have the best muscle-up, be a gymnast. If you want to be the fastest, be a sprinter. If you want to be good at everything, be a Crossfitter. If you want to be a competitive CrossFitter, minimize your weaknesses (because we all have them). The athlete that wins the games this year will most likely not be just the strongest, or the most powerful, or the best gymnast. The athlete that wins will be the most well rounded athlete.
When the WODs were announced for the Ontario Sectionals, opinions on the difficulty varied and many said the WODs were not hard enough, not heavy enough and not a test of who the best CrossFitter in Ontario is. I think that at the end of the weekend, everyone was satisfied that the best of the best in Ontario were in fact going to Calgary for the regionals. The reason why the best are going is because the best CrossFitters always post the best times, regardless of the WODs. Could some of the places be moved around if different WODs were chosen, sure. But while you may have moved up a spot or down a spot with different WODs, the top fifteen would still have been the top fifteen.
Watching the competition was quite fascinating. I saw athletes that struggled with weight, athletes that struggled with skills and athletes that struggled with both. There were very few athletes that didn’t struggle with something. Surprisingly enough it was the technical movements that proved the most troublesome to all of the competitors. In the final WOD it seemed to be either the Snatch or the Muscle-up that put an end to peoples’ days. Both of the movements take a great deal of strength (although different types of strength) and both require a lot of skill, which can only be gained through practice.
The point of this article is that strength is not the only thing that matters in CrossFit; it is only one of 10 general physical skills. If you want to be the strongest person, be a powerlifter. If you want to be the most powerful, be an Olympic lifter. If you want to have the best muscle-up, be a gymnast. If you want to be the fastest, be a sprinter. If you want to be good at everything, be a Crossfitter. If you want to be a competitive CrossFitter, minimize your weaknesses (because we all have them). The athlete that wins the games this year will most likely not be just the strongest, or the most powerful, or the best gymnast. The athlete that wins will be the most well rounded athlete.
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