Article: Christian Thibaudeau Goes Crossfit

Dunno, I know a lot of CF guys and recently took on some challenges from the trainers and owners at my wife's CF box just to prove their constant blabbing about "globo gym" guys being out of shape was a generalization. I beat everyone in the place other than the owner- twice. There is nothing special about what is done in a CF WOD or challenges and I still feel that looking at guys in the CG Games is not a reality comparison because they are not just doing CF. You need to have some dedicated weight training in addition to move weight like that, so saying that CF makes you stronger is not necessarily true and more likely to make you weaker if that is what you dedicate yourself to.

CF is not bad, but it is not the end all fitness answer as it's followers believe.
 
This is a pretty fair article. I agree with a lot of things he's saying. CF is definitely under-rated and over-criticized by a lot of bodybuilders. A lot of people focus on what noobs are doing in CF (and thus criticize it unfairly) and kind of ignore what's possible if you are already a top-level trainer and/or go in with a serious mindset and are on point with everything that is being taught. The same could go for any sport including bodybuilding.

I also agree that a lot of the top level female CF athletes have better physiques than a lot of female fitness models / physique competitors.
 
kisaj said:
CF is not bad, but it is not the end all fitness answer as it's followers believe.
Click to expand...

I don't think that was the point of the article or that people are saying it's the end all be all though.

Crossfit is just another form of fitness, if not a sport now. Just like any sport, people do it because they enjoy it.

If CF boxes (gyms) preached that their classes are the end all be all, then they would not offer strict Powerlifting and strict Olympic lifting classes as well at their gyms, on top of the Crossfit classes. They also offer Gymnastic training, which is pretty brutal. I think there are a lot of misconceptions out there about Crossfit and attitudes about it.
 
I do agree with that and think that it has improved quite a bit since it first started catching on because, well, it had to. People were getting hurt left and right and the reputation was suffering. For anyone that trains with HIIT and oly lifts, it isn't that far out from what you are already doing.
 
kisaj said:
I do agree with that and think that it has improved quite a bit since it first started catching on because, well, it had to. People were getting hurt left and right and the reputation was suffering. For anyone that trains with HIIT and oly lifts, it isn't that far out from what you are already doing.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I tried it out for 2 years. I was doing the powerlifting classes and occasional crossfit class, as well as the mobility classes. Most of the time I'd do some sort of metabolic conditioning work myself after a powerlifting session though, like barbell complexes, prowler, etc. I love the setup at most large CF boxes.... everything I could ask for under one roof... serious gear that most gyms do not have. I'd love to join up again now just for the atmosphere itself. Some really serious athletes training in there and a lot of motivation / knowledge under one roof.
 
LOL, we are destined to agree and disagree because I could not disagree more with that assessment about the atmosphere. I think it is horrid and very unwelcoming unless you enjoy a group atmosphere and rah rah for everything. I have been to several and they are all the same. If you have one that is operating like you mention, then you have hit the jack pot!
 
kisaj said:
LOL, we are destined to agree and disagree because I could not disagree more with that assessment about the atmosphere. I think it is horrid and very unwelcoming unless you enjoy a group atmosphere and rah rah for everything. I have been to several and they are all the same. If you have one that is operating like you mention, then you have hit the jack pot!
Click to expand...


Haha yeah I was starting to read your post and was about to say that I'm spoiled where I am. The one I used to go to that's close to me is considered one of the best in the country. The founder of this one is constantly on the road as a guest trainer/speaker doing workshops all over the place. Many CF boxes (owners I've spoken to) respect them so highly, they gear a lot of their WODs around what mine posts on their website.

I like to create my own workouts when I'm there though and I rarely do the classes. The powerlifting sessions simply have a coach, but you train on your own. The coach is there to help (he's a top end competitive PL'er). I then do my metcon's using their equipment and space, but on my own, and I use the coaches for input, etc. But yeah, we have amazing coaches at mine, and the space is massive, with tons of serious gear to train with. There are quite a few serious athletes at mine as well, their team also made it to the CF Games, which is a pretty tough thing to do.
 
Yeah man, you are not being exposed to the "boxes" that 95% of everyone else is. That sounds pretty bad ass.

My wife's gym is moving and the owner is trying to offer training along the lines of American Ninja Warrior stuff, along with traditional CF. I am working with him on the layout and thisclose to getting him to agree on a PL/oly specific area. I told him the only way I am stepping foot in there is if I can train with guys pushing big weight and if I get to run up the warped wall everytime I go. LOL
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top