Crossfit, a word that will send many a fitpro and a lot of normally sane people into many a heated 'discussion' over its merits and downfalls.
There are plenty who love it, as many hate it, some have no idea what the hell it is.
I like many others have never got involved in any crossfit WoD's (Workout of the Day). Although like a lot of people I have watched many a youtube video of them.
This is where a lot of the opinions are generated, as with anything, in this day and age, good or bad, if people are doing something, someone will be video it.
I have watched a lot of really bad 'crossfit' tagged videos, bad technique, crazy exercises, injuries, people attempting weights, that their definitely not ready for.
On the same note, I have also watched a lot of very very fit, athletic 'crossfitters, training and competing at an extremely high level, with brilliant technique and tremendous, conditioning and endurance.
This is probably why, you get a lot of debate over the advantages or disadvantages of doing Crossfit.
So, where do I sit on this debate ?
Well, I've always been of the belief, if you don't know much about something, you can't really have that good an opinion on it.
I would say however, I do admire the strength and conditioning of the top athletes and I have seen enough bad exercise videos, of most exercises to realise everything you see on youtube, may not be all it appears,
like any product, it will become bastardised and copied, by those not willing to pay, to learn how to do it properly.
For instance, if I watched a bad deadlift or squat, it would not stop me deadlifting or squatting, it's not the exercise that causes the injuries etc, its the bad execution of them. Normally through lack of education.
I have, for maybe the last 4-5 years wanted to try Crossfit, but as there were no Crossfit gyms (or boxes, as they're known in the crossfit world) near me it wasn't possible.
Since the start of this year, I have been living in Glasgow, which allowed me to train in Crossfit Glasgow 'box' although I was doing my own training and not taking part in any WoD's.
I have watched and spoken to the two main coaches in Crossfit Glasgow, Iain Barbour and Gavin Heselton, who both have a great deal of coaching skills and knowledge, with each weeks WoD's being carefully programmed, to generate the maximum results, without over using any one bodypart or training pattern.
With a mix, of strength, endurance, power and Met Con sessions, which can be scaled to suit any participant.
Anyone who joins Crossfit Glasgow, must also go through a fundamentals course, where they will be coached proper technique for the most commonly used exercises- Squat, Deadlift, Pull ups, Strict shoulder press, wall balls, to name a few.
Its not until members have shown the coaches, a good standard of technique, that they are allowed to join in with the general WoD's.
Having witnessed all these positive elements and spoken to both Iain and Gavin, we decided it would be a great 'introduction' not only for me, but for those with a mixed view on Crossfit.
If I undertook, a crossfit journey, although not new to exercise, I am new to Crossfit, so we set out a bit of a plan.
Starting this week, we (well me) will be doing a serious of strength, conditioning, endurance tests.
Then over the next 8-12 weeks, I will follow a Crossfit style training plan.
As with most things, it takes a bit of time, to start seeing true results, doing it for two weeks, isn't going to prove anything, 8-12 weeks will (should) show some changes, for better or for worse is yet to be decided.
I will post my results as I go through this week, along with my weight, body measurements etc, just to try and cover as many changes as possible.
Nothing to it, but to do it !!
Craig
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