Crossfit is a program of randomness. There is no plan, just throw a bunch exercises together in no particular order that would even come close to making sense that fry's your CNS that leads to injuries. This particular conditioning was put at the end of our regular training (Saturdays are strongman days). One of my main beefs with crossfit (and to their credit, seems like it's changing) is doing high rep O-lifts then combining it with some other high-rep exercise (box jumps for example) or sprint. If you take the O-lifts out or at least do them at the beginning as a power exercise (as it was intended) then you're making an improvment to the program. Pull ups with a kip, so many injuries. "muscle-ups"...what does this prove if you're not a gymnast?
The day that we do this particular training, there is no o-lifts and no other compound exercises. Keg walks, farmers walks, sandbags, prowler or truck push, tire flips, sled drags, hand over hand pulls with loaded sled, etc.
You should look up outlaw crossfit...you may be surprised. Lots of WSB influence. They do things to train for the games just like anything else. I can point out so many sports that use various training techniques to become better at their chosen sport/activity. I am sure there are a shit load of things MMA guys do that most people would say "What the fuck does that have to do with punching someone in the face?" What does a hand over hand rope pull have to do with, say, football?
Are you assuming things are thrown together with no sense or have you spoken to people who designed programs? My CNS has not been fried. How is it your most intense workout doesn't fry the CNS, but a crossfit routine does?
I understand your beef with the high rep olympic lift combination thing, but they aren't doing maximal loads with that stuff. Yesterdays workout for me was :
135# Power Clean x 5
(at 5th rep of power clean, keep bar up and do the following)
135# front squat x 5
8mins AMRAP
Was does you climbing a set of tires do? Am I monkey? No, its functional for SOMETHING. Yes? A muscle up uses muscles in a different way. They aren't asking people to put together a floor routine. If so, then I would say they are trying to make people into gymnasts. Using the rings makes you use balance and proprioception to complete a move. Thats it.
As far as someone trainign 8-mos pregnant...you want to use that as an example? How many examples of programs from any of the shitty bodybuilding magazines can I list that are garbage. How many kids can I find youtube videos on that are doing things wrong? With all due respect, are you a pediatrician? Whats wrong with her doing pullups, situps, double unders, or even squats? Seriously. If she had any issues with her cervix, I would say that you would have a valid point. If she was working out before her pregnancy, she should continue exercising now. Now, if she was doing tons of olympic movements, I WOULD agree that it would be of concern>
trust me Joe...I see where you are coming from. You hate the cult-koolaid part of cross fit. I hate it too. But when you take a step back and look and see what some of what they are doing...you would have to agree that its not as bad as you think.
Why can't someone do a 50-rep squat? How many times have we seen people with programs where they do 100-rep sets. John Meadows (moutain dog) talks about doing rear lateral stuff with 30 - 35 reps. You run with a sand bag over one shoulder. To me that creates an imbalance on one side altering the normal gate of the individual performing the movement. When will someone have to run with a sandbag over their shoulder? What sport is that for? Again, NOT a flame...but you can't criticize in one direction.
