YOU ARE NOT AN ELITE CROSSFITTER | Health vs. Performance

[@Fikowski]

If you say so..

[@robschilke]

Got em

[@brettsnyder5858]

lololol

[@rh.m6660]

Rekttt

[@Lucas190293]

loooollll

[@sebastiendrouin2]

I need an interview of fikowski and Zach so Fikowski can back up his thougt!! Make it happen Zack

[@Lucas190293]

This realization was so important to me as a CrossFitter. I love the sport, but I'll simply get hurt being a guy who drinks on weekends and tries to push all the limits when training, for example. I'm an amateur, who likes to be kinda fit and have fun training. That's healthy.

[@alexwilliams5587]

bro is self aware

[@treasurewuji8740]

Aka your fav way to get moving.

[@siddharthbirdi]

Too much logic and self-awareness, reported for ableism.

[@clayton97330]

You're probably not on the juice, either. Healthier in the long run.

[@Shvabicu]

Pro athletes are all enhanced so health goes out the window once you start sipping on the sauce

[@JackgarPrime]

I think this just further emphasized a point I've seen Jordan Feigenbaum and Austin Baraki make about the Crossfit Games. Nobody who performs at the top level in the Games actually trains "Crossfit". They tend to be people who have more strict and defined resistance training regimens than you get out of the Crossfit program. The reason why that matters is because branding the Games with the same brush as the classes people get together in groups for creates what in my mind is a misleading expectation in the client. "Sign up for our Crossfit programs, train hard in your WoD everyday and someday you could be like these super-ripped folks!" But...you won't. Not with the typical crossfit methodology. You need to do a more traditional strength and athletic training program to train like these folks do. And you won't reach their level without obsession, genetic lottery, and, let's be real here, probably some chemical assistance, as well.

[@nathanwong9927]

Boom. Hit the nail on the head. I personally do CrossFit, but I train pretty much the way the Games athletes train in terms of the methods of programming with the caveat that I dial the volume WAY back. I've found this much more enjoyable than just doing the traditional WOD everyday. I like doing strength cycles, bike/row intervals, long zone 2 cardio, gymnastic pieces, etc. and then towards the middle/end of my program I add in more traditional WOD's.

[@jasonm456]

I wouldn’t say they don’t train “CrossFit” as much as they don’t just train “CrossFit.” All of the competition WODs are standard workouts at every CrossFit gym. The elites all train to perform optimally in these workouts and get better scores on competition WODs, which requires a lot more than the 1 hour/5 days a week routine a “normal” CrossFitter would do. I would argue even to do RX/L3 takes more than that for most people. The additional work they do for strength, mobility, explosiveness, endurance, nutrition, recovery, etc., goes well beyond 5 hours a week. Regular people just don’t have time to train that way. No one going to a one hour class 5 days a week thinks they can be the next Justin Medeiros. And I think that’s the point you are making, rightly so, and the point of this video. What elite CrossFit competitors can achieve is not a realistic example of what regular people can achieve, because they’re doing a whole lot more. But I’d argue it’s more of the same, not something completely different.

[@Velstadt-qi1ch]

I dont think many people have a goal to be the next fraser or vellner when they start crossfit. Most people just want to be reasonably in shape, do some challenging but fun workouts together with likeminded people in a nice community.

[@Rizzerio1]

Well it’s quite silly to me that they promote competitions doing things that you can never accomplish in a normal CrossFit gym. Like wtf, swimming!? No box has a pool and not everyone has something available to them yet they make it a super relevant thing at competitions. Elite CrossFit is entirely detached from the normal CrossFit box gym these days. I don’t blame most places for wanting to leave the brand. Capitalism smothered CrossFit to sell every nonsensical excercise product and gear known to mankind.

[@amorfati4927]

@@Velstadt-qi1ch The problem is the that a lot of it before (some still now but not at as bad) is/was built on do what you see on TV/online and you’ll be in shape and healthy. True is those people it is literally their job. There is rampant PED use. They use a lot more traditional hypertrophy style training. They reload. Yada yada yada. Not that it is anything new. It’s no different than “just eat chicken, rice and broccoli bruh” or any celebrities that gain crazy muscle and get crazy lean in a very short time for a role and just say it’s because they worked out and had a good diet that they put on 30 pounds of muscle and lose 20 pounds of fat in 2 months. Part of the problem most definitely lies on the population being very gullible but that is all by design as well so it makes it more complicated.

[@atlaspowershrugged]

Crossfit claims to be about health and fitness but Zercher lifts have yet to make an appearance in the games. Curious...

[@zacktelander]

This seems like one of the more obvious claims.

[@Tee468]

I'd rather be dead than not doing zerchers

[@atlaspowershrugged]

@@Tee468 there's no reason to be alive if you can't do Zercher!

[@FitnessSheriff]

I was doing behind the back zercher grip squats. It's the new low low bar back squat. Try it out.

[@atlaspowershrugged]

@@FitnessSheriff Piper squats are ridiculously mobility intensive. I can't even hit parallel that way.

[@JDearborn91]

This video is important for the average gym goer. I’m in my 6th year of regularly doing CrossFit. It was about 3 years ago that I took a serious look at what I was doing and changed my mindset. Those first few years I was so worried about my placement on the leaderboard and my numbers on the bar that I didn’t realize I was hurting myself in the long run. Sometimes literally with injuries caused by trying to do too much. So by dialing it back and focusing on doing everything the right way, I’m way better off today than I would have been by continuing to always try and be the best.

[@h3Xh3Xh3X]

I think the competitive and constantly varied nature of the WOD format prevents directed adaptation. What is the right way to train for crossfit/functional fitness?

[@jater10]

Most CrossFitters just want to be healthy, those who are highly competitive should consider they can not do that forever. Folks need to know their abilities and not try to push more their limits. Those who go to the Games are elite for a very good reason.

[@eisernfront8549]

Theres already a study that says walking with a set amount of miles/kilometers will make you lose weight. You don't need crossfit to get fit. Reg gym reps are fine and much safer just some cardio by walking. It doesn't have to be intense. Too much into intensity is not good for your body. That's why athletes gets paid millions of dollars coz they are basically destroying their bodies for entertainment. They are more prone to injuries and disabilities.

[@ZidaneSteiner]

@@jater10 sounds like a cope

[@JoRoWi83]

As I found out.. there is a few people at my CrossFit gym that are just ungodly good. In conversation with the owner I asked how far away are they from being elite ( in contention at the games etc ) His analogy hit home He said “ you know the distance you had between them when you first started… “ That’s the distance between them and the elite of the elite That’s saying alot as the shit these locals can do is amazing

[@eisernfront8549]

Just like any sports. That's why pro athletes gets paid more coz they do it much better and their are risks like injuries and disabilities just to entertain people.

[@Skiddins]

As a few of the coaches at different CrossFit boxes have said to us ‘You are NOT going to the CrossFit games’ so use the games to inspire you, but keep your goals realistic

[@knowledge_driven]

Why not?? You can go if you work your ass off

[@benpoortenga8917]

@@knowledge_driven I agree! I hate hearing this at boxes. Maybe you aren't going to win the top mens/womens division like Fraser or Toomey, but you can certainly work hard enough to podium in a different age group/category.

[@mariahslittlelamb8049]

@@benpoortenga8917 But what is the purpose? Many people who live a 9-5 and have a family really have no benefit in going to the games. That type of lifestyle is not compatible with making it to the games for the majority of people who live it. It is a huge risk and a lot is to be lost if you do it. Not to mention the clear abuse of PEDs. It is a big commitment to work towards the games.

[@benpoortenga8917]

@@mariahslittlelamb8049 I've changed my tune in the last month haha. I am now convinced that nearly all the athletes at the games are on PED's. I still think there is a good way for coaches to choose how they talk to or inspire athletes, but games isn't happening without doping at this point.

[@nottheone582]

you can be honest and manage expectations without being a dick. usually its the coach who's bitter that THEY never made the games so they put that on everyone else.

[@frontier556]

I think what got lost was the struggle. I was taught that Crossfit was never the end goal, but was there simply to show you something new. Something to be learned, and perfected. The process was the goal. And in doing so, it kept your mind fresh and body adaptive. The time cap was just there as an added stressor only after you'd perfected the movement. I've held on to that teaching for over ten years across five different "boxes." I will never go to regionals, or even win a local competition, but I'm a better husband, father, and employee because of it. I can also say this. You try to be as inclusive as possible. Because hell, anyone showing up trying to better themselves is worth supporting. But those guys and girls that show up every hour, the ones pushing themselves beyond their limits so shave a second off their DT time. They get ostracized the quickest. Because for a lot of us, lifting weights isn't the most important thing we'll do that day. Edit: I don't know if that adds anything to the discussion. Just my 2 cents.

[@RodrigoGarciactg]

Love it 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@ronnieplumper6047]

I couldn’t agree with you more about the process being the focus. If you can love the process more than the goal you’re bound to succeed.

[@theperfectbeing]

The discussion of PEDs is another reason I always found crossfit to be complete BS and decided to just stick to my own training of powerlifting, olympic lifting and track work. You read up on the workloads of the athletes even in the early days of their competing and you realize in a hurry you absolutely zero chance of hitting those workloads for prep unless you are taking a huge amount of PEDs. You have crossfitters hitting the lift numbers of natural specialized powerlifters/olympic lifters, doing an insane amount of GPP, running, swimming, etc. Trying to keep strength at an elite level while doing that volume of extra work is a recipe for serious injury and burnout, it completely throws the rules of specificity out the window which is why many of the lifters hit a brickwall on their 1RM. Then to compound it they advertise a paleo styled diet with only moderate level of calories, which is ridiculous. These concepts delude natural athletes wanting to improve their health into thinking they are somehow failing. Trying to train 5 to 6hrs a day with with high RPE lifting days and then 2hrs of conditioning on only 4000 calories and doing so 6 days a week all year long, with no burnout and walking around at a shredded 195lbs while only being 5ft9, yeahhhh okay. A proper designed crossfit workout system is fantastic, the crossfit industry is not.

[@AleksandarDinkov]

This has to be the best, brightest and well explained comment I've seen so far! Noice!

[@klintwitha-k]

They train 5 to 6 hours a day, but they also most likely spent 3 hours getting massage, chiro, mobility, etc. To your point, they a lot of stuff that we regular gym goers don't see

[@theperfectbeing]

@@klintwitha-k Exactly. I've done competitive powerlifting and run through some of the more intensive training regimes like Sheiko or Smolov while being fully natural and that shit is BRUTAL, especially after like 8 weeks of it. To the point that you need to boost your calories to an insane degree just to get through the training phase without injury or burnout. On top of that I was regularly getting deep tissue work done, readjustments, self applied myofascial work, ice baths, etc. Nutrition was structured accordinglym timed and usually in the 6000+ calorie range. Even with all of that I would never do that type of volume more than twice a year. Adding any other kind of training beyond mild cardio is completely out of the question unless you want to ruin your strength gains. Then you see people in crossfit with similar volume amounts for their lift training but then follow it up with another 2 to 3 hours of hardcore GPP. Then they state they don't even eat sugar or run a purely Keto/Paleo dietary approach. You look at their body composition and they're sitting at like 7 to 8% bodyfat. I've been to 6% bodyfat and I can tell you first hand that your strength plummets. Sure you'd good for anything involving steady state cardio if you carb loaded enough but your work capacity for prolonged resistance training falls off a cliff. I got to that level by a combination of gradual dieting plus high volume track work and lifting 6 days a week. I was 5ft11 and 181lbs at 6%bf and these athletes think someone is going to walk around at 5f9 and 195lb with the same bodyfat levels but ridiculous strength/endurance and want people believe you can achieve that through a basic diet and WODS. Get the fack out of here with that nonsense. It's a huge amount of PEDs plain and simple

[@intermediate212]

I'm screenshotting your comments because they perfectly summarize my feelings about CrossFit athletes lol.

[@johnconner4695]

Who advertises a paleo diet? Most athletes I follow including Matt always talked about how they just ate and tried to eat enough to keep up with the workload they where doing.

[@frankb5728]

Exercise racing. I think that really puts my gripes with crossfit in a simple phrase.

[@lad9732]

I mean the distance between the sport of fitness and the fittest competitor has been growing for a while. It’s not a negative thing except crossfit as a brand has been struggling with the image of the elite athlete vs the healthy gymgoer for a while. We arent all showing up to become Froning, Fraser, Vellner or Fikowski the same way every time i hit the pool Im not doing it to become Michael Phelps. This struggle is probably due to how young the sport is as well as its ties to a super-megaahealthy philosophy of life where every gummy bear you eat may kill you. It’s time for compromise if the business is to expand.

[@ann5028]

Well said.

[@nicky_hashtag4264]

No definitely not super Uber healthy lifestyle all of the top pros and at least 25 percent of the average CrossFit men AND women are on a ton of gear.

[@MaxGalofre]

Training is healthy, training to compete isn't. Most people train to get fitter, primarily to improve health. Athletes train to win, and whether that's healthy or not is secondary.

[@Cutter_Number_30]

As someone interested in strongman I always love to have the health vs performance chat with people, either other competitors or just people interested, and most people can figure out that being a pro strongman is dangerous, even if they knew nothing about the peds and so on. The best example which people pick up on is Eddie Hall when he said he'd rather die than not make a lift (the 500kg deadlift). Even if they know everything there is to know about Eddie Hall very few can justify that mentality and thus they are likely to not engage with it. The rest of the video was eye opening but the health vs performance is always interesting to me.

[@ariconsul]

We are witnessing a totally unprecedented evolution of a competition sport from strictly amateur into separate amateur and professional sports. Never seen in history. Except for baseball. Correction: except for baseball and football. No actually, baseball football and basketball. And hockey. And soccer. And rugby. And tennis. And....

[@brandonwilson8115]

This is a phenomenon I'm starting to see all over the place: standardized testing in schools, economic/business metrics, machine learning models, etc. A particular way of measuring something may yield good results when offered blind, but once it becomes known, and becomes "the standard," people start gaming the measurement tool instead of improving the actual underlying goal.

[@oskarkroghmajgard4885]

good analysis! but cant you say this about any elite level sport? At the elite level in any sport you se a shift towards winning and not fitness or health. thats why people dope in sports, regardless the effects down the line, they do it to win. this is not just in crossfit. young track and field athleats dont necessary have the goal to become the best but when you progress towards the top level you have to make winning a priority. i think this is obvious to most people. not a diss, great video, but you could do the same video about weightlifting :)

[@TheSwayzeTrain]

I suppose the key difference is that Crossfit was originally self described as being supposedly health focused. And it's still being sold that way today. All competitive sports on the other began solely focused on competition and the act of winning.

[@getfitwithmike9462]

Theres a big difference gear or not, crossfit is rep focused which makes technique go to hell, thats both in training and competition. In the other hand oly lifters train low reps and compete with one rep of each competition lift so good technique is key in weightlifting.

[@toomuch9762]

So tell me when was boxing or mma ever “fitness focused”? How about football? Or rugby? Maybe formula 1? When was any of their competition based of health and finding out who the fittest was?

[@Second247]

@@getfitwithmike9462 It's not the reps but judging. They should just make judging much better what it is. That would then bleed out into boxes and how new people are taught to do the reps. I did kettlebells sports where weightlifting movements are being done for reps and against timelimit. When i came in technique used in comps and in clubs was horrible and people had seemingly big numbers but lacking lockouts and so on. Then national organization began it's job at improving technique and in couple years it worked, everybody was taught to do things properly right from get-go because they will get no-lifts in comps with sloppy form. But i doubt that will happen in Crossfit. Probably would cause huge amount of issues with judging. Look at weightlifting with it's no press and powerlifting with it's squat depth. Now multiply it by 10, at least. Maybe there is spectator element to it as well, now when you see athlete make a rep you don't need to guess if it's no-lift. Easier to follow multiple athletes at time.

[@alexyoung755]

@@Second247 strongman and crossfit are better spectator sports because the judges dont interfere on technique as much as weightlifting or powerlifting, yeah

[@dondasher58]

I love staying fit and regardless of what it’s called I like to workout and sweat. Bootcamp, crossFit, functional fitness or any other name matters not to me. I don’t compete with elites or younger men and women in my box. I scale the workouts and concentrate on doing any new movement correctly. The CrossFit brand is def at a crossroads but I think it will just get bigger and bigger. Eating right and staying active works. It’s that simple so if CrossFit works for you then do it. Let the corporate folks deal with the other stuff.

[@BrennanCh06]

It's also important to remember that Glassman largely stumbled into success because of a network of enthusiastic professionals and semi professionals that helped to promote his brand and ideas even when he couldn't clearly explain them through his gin soaked ramblings.

[@neversaw]

I've never seen it explained so well

[@TacticallyFitOfficial]

Glassman explained things beautifully…but it takes someone who is educated in exercise science to understand it.

[@dubisays]

Haha, in years past, he’d have his social media goons passive aggressively respond to you with threats of litigation! He also ripped off Gym Jones

[@TacticallyFitOfficial]

@@dubisays he didn’t rip off gym Jones 🤦🏾‍♂️. Their program isn’t even the same as CrossFit. Go pick up the L1 packets, read through it, and understand what you’re saying.

[@greuju]

@@TacticallyFitOfficial lol...he just came up with a near identical system? The big diff between the two is one builds strength consistently and is safe, and one doesn't and can be unsafe.

[@Woohoochan]

wait until these guys figure out Mcdonalds was a sponsor for the Olympics

[@dexxis9562]

Great essay, Zack. I did CrossFit for a year and what got me away from it was exactly that idea of racing to beat the clock or beat yours fellows for bragging rights, at the expense of maintaining good form, not cheating reps, and getting a proper training stimulus. I think CrossFit is very valid, but the distinctions you made in the video are fundamental.

[@matiascalles8009]

If from your experience you got that competing involves not having a good form and cheating reps, you got it completely wrong. The competitive part needs to come AFTER you nail all the excercises you are planning to do during a competition.

[@ruibraga1705]

@@matiascalles8009 I agree, I've been doing CrossFit for 4 years + now and only after 3 years and being a proper Rx athlete have I started competing. I know that a lot of box's are not like this and promote a full send mentality without the fundamentals, but in my opinion that's the wrong way to go about it

[@dexxis9562]

@@matiascalles8009 Exactly, I agree with y'all. That's why I was bothered by what I was seeing around me. I move away from CrossFit because of other circumstances, but I would probably still be doing it, with full understanding of that what you are saying 👍🏼💪🏼🔥

[@dexxis9562]

@@ruibraga1705 Exactly, I agree with y'all. That's why I was bothered by what I was seeing around me. I move away from CrossFit because of other circumstances, but I would probably still be doing it, with full understanding of that what you are saying 👍🏼💪🏼🔥

[@ClockCutter]

You're missing his point. He never cast doubt on adding the quantitative measures to healthy physical training. He's describing the increasing separation between the professional sport and the conventional Crossfit methodology, which includes the quantitative measures. He seems to be happy about that separation. So am I. You're saying something completely different. You're just whining about the competitiveness that the quantitative measures have brought to the practice of the conventional methodology. The thing is, why it is you're so obnoxious, is that you can't just say to yourself that it's not for you and go do something else. No, you're offended by the competitiveness of the methodology and you want to do your very small little part to undermine it by speaking out publicly against it. The competitiveness that arises out of the quantitative measures have motivated ordinary people who aren't sissies to strive for and achieve levels of fitness they'd never achieve otherwise. It has worked, and it still works, for many, many people. You're pretty shameless to try to undermine it publicly.

[@landlocked_lifts332]

Important to note the gear usage as well...

[@luisornelas6490]

In the world of fitness… never compare yourself to any of these guys. They aren’t natural and in doing so could cause you to hurt you physically and mentally. You can always practice workouts they do, but never feel less of an athlete if you don’t have the same figure or endurance. Hearing this as a newbie could literally destroy someone’s feelings but it’s the truth.

[@jater10]

Taking the added chemicals out of the equation, most average CrossFitters will not even be able to handle the training regimen most Games athletes do. It goes beyond a 1 hr class. They eat, sleep, train, repeat. The elite athletes of any sport are outliers in an ocean of average.

[@tomhardwick6479]

This is a great video and I completely agree, I’m just more astounding that an American has discovered drum and bass

[@lukeyg1559]

This felt like a mini documentary and I loved it!

[@Cat-Washing-ton]

There is a saying among PT/chiropractors who work with athletes in Poland - "sport to mord". "Mord" can be translated as "murder", "torment" or even "genocide" - which is what they have observed happens to their clients' bodies and what they do to them.

[@rutatutut]

5:53 Are u telling me I’m not a Panzer Tank like this chick?

[@DicksonMaimouth]

CrossFit has mastered the ability to perform exercises incorrectly while also contributing to maximum injury.

[@christopherclark279]

💯. We’re talking about a company that celebrates its members pushing themselves to the point of rhabdomyalysis (sp?)

[@DicksonMaimouth]

@@christopherclark279 I know a few people who have had that from attending CrossFit.

[@brianbrett7966]

“excercise racing” gives me so much perspective it’s funny

[@todo9633]

I would argue that the issue is less people doing kipping pullups with bad form and more people doing kipping pullups at all.

[@ferna2294]

5:53 USADA where u at?

[@theclinchmma4126]

they should really think about adding climbing to the mix! thats truly one of the best all around functional workouts there are, and fantastic test of endurance and p4p strength!

[@TheRichardson711]

That has always been my biggest gripe about CrossFit. No where do we see the numbers about high intensity fitness equalling health and longevity. I imagine there is a bell curve where a certain level of consistent intensity is required to maximize health, but I'm certain intensity has very quickly diminishing returns.

[@celdur4635]

We do know, in the calisthenics world, is like 20 to 30 min max of high intensity a day, that's it. With bodyweigth exercises, which are easier to recover biomechanically. In Weightlifting its literally a few reps at near max and then rest up for 5 minutes, but like 4 or 5 reps max per set. What people don't know is that you not only tax your muscles when you work out, you also push your nervous system, and it needs to recover. Recovery is everything for health.

[@CaptainCowboy476]

If you like crossfit do it. It doesn't matter if you are not elite. Just do crossfit or any other health and fitness activity. We should all know most of the population is not going to reach the elite level in any sport. Who cares have fun. A lot of people complain so much about what Crossfit is, or what it's become. It continues to be watched by many people so ....

[@b_ryc]

Cool video bro. I know way too many people training like they're getting paid to when they're so unbelievably far from even competitive. Crossfit is making seriously weird moves right now, but the impact Glassman had on the health and fitness industry will continue to ripple for a looong time.

[@TheSwayzeTrain]

You articulated your points very well.

[@RichardJohnson_dydx]

I stepped away from the crossfit gyms and carried over their best aspects. I wanted my own structured programming but I still liked the AMRAPS, for time workouts, ect. I am more careful with the volume and training I do now.

[@NBA_Dunk]

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze."

[@Manifest_o_CF]

I'm not sure how people were unaware of the difference between the athletes in the sport of crossfit and people at the local gym using that sport to get more healthy.

[@dn7227]

I agree. It’s the same with any sport. If you play pickup basketball or in a local league with the goal of staying healthy is different that the goals of a member of the nba. I think intuitively we know that those of us in a box have different goals than those going to the games.

[@MrHyjac]

Sometimes I wonder if CrossFit is a haven for people with an unhealthy mentality toward exercise. And then I remember it’ll probably be a while before people actually accept that because it can produce a very aesthetic and beautiful body which is hard to demonize because the thing that’s deteriorating is on the inside and it’s hard to pitch the idea that exercise (even too much of it) as being a addiction, or a problem. I remember in several interviews people said Rich and Matt would sometimes be at friends houses and disappear and when they found them they were doing a quick wod, working up to a 4rm back squat, 5 mile run, etc…

[@beansofhorrorshalashaska6987]

It’s lifting weights and doing circuits. Exercise in general can be unhealthy

[@Historybluff1986]

I g 2X/week. I enjoy the ability to go at my own intensity and pace while still pushing myself doing the workouts. It’s had a positive impact on my body and that’s all I need. A year ago I was dead set against CrossFit.

[@Cenot4ph]

I'd prefer to do squats, deadlifts etc. well rather than fast. That to me is the issue with CrossFit. I don't need a timer in my weightlifting exercises.

[@sportybeth]

I agree, and then I thought the “no excuses just improve” bit at the end was weird 😂 because I’m not an elite CrossFitter, nor do I want to be one. I’m not even that fussed about improving, I just want to be healthy and fit for life… if I get a pb here and there then I’m super happy. But we can’t improve for ever.. life changes, circumstances change, priorities change. We all have to be ok with that. So yeah… my excuse for not improving is the entire point of this video. My focus in CrossFit is health.

[@arjungowda5190]

thank you much truth is out I stopped CrossFit to full time farmer now , much healthier in mind and body

[@jkgoet01]

New people to crossfit or people from the outside looking in don't realize multiple aspects of the path elite crossfitters took to get to the top. 1- Most had years/decades of training prior to ever getting into crossfit (middle, high school, and college sports usually). 2- After getting into crossfit they again worked years to get to the top. 3- The few hours of work they put into the gym almost everyday is a small part of everything they are doing for their performance. Eating, stretching, body work, SLEEPING 8 to 10+ hours every night, getting regular blood work to change their diet/supplement regime appropriately. DO ALL OF THIS, EVERYDAY, FOR YEARS. And then maybe you'll make it to the games. 4- Probably most importantly, you have to have the mental fortitude to do all of this day in and day out for years, with every training session being focused and with purpose. The careers of most elite crossfitters these days is not limited as much by their body giving out, it's limited by their mental capacity to continue doing everything necessary for their body to perform, and perform correctly. If you start skipping/short cutting warm-ups or your diet, start skipping body work and stretching, start skipping the accessory work, all of which allows you to achieve proper form, your body WILL wear out, specifically in the knees, shoulders and elbows, and limit your career. That's why I would argue that most elite crossfitters mentally can't handle the training anymore and if they continued, that's where the physical wear and tear would propagate if they don't "retire".

[@Drendronix]

Greg said something insensitive about our angel, that had unborn baby at gunpoint, whose death sparked fiery but mostly peaceful protests? How horrible, and he also said something about world famous celebrity virus, that destroyed basic human rights in all countries? My blood is literally boiling

[@paulomoreno7761]

I think you're right, but you'll have to say this for all sports at Elite Level. When your goal is being the best at something you'll have to ready your bodie to endure crazy amounts of atriction and for that your have to sufer it in order to adapt. In my opinion, the problem is not what crossfit sells, but what people aim, and if you live in a culture where you are preached to be always the best, you're bound to get injured or degrade your general health at some point if you are not coached properly. The problem is with a non informed society that wants to be the next insta model or influencer...It is cultural and educacional.

[@HUVideoer]

The crossfit games is about as far from training as a regular crossfitter, as Tour de France is from a day of bike training,

[@ItssFootball]

This is a very important aspect....one can associate it with doing other sports where you risk your health in it...to get elite at it you need to be in top shape but performing it competitively has it's risks

[@NeonMikey]

I would watch a 30 min video from you on this subject

[@TIO540S1]

Yeah, I’ve heard there’s a sport where you throw a ball through a hoop for points against another team and the elite in that sport make decent money and the sport is subsidized by corporations, and yet there are people who play that same game at local gyms for fun, community, and fitness. There’s some other sport where you compete by hitting a ball across a net to your opponent and a similar situation exists.

[@dragonowned]

subscribed due to consistent content

[@einerjeti]

girl abs in the thumbnail, I think this one's gonna do numbers fellas

[@zacktelander]

Stonks 📈

[@erica9563]

I do think that some of the elites are doing a better job with their health and encouraging people to scale and rest ...great video

[@nicorepetto5781]

What actually is CrossFit? I like how it seems that they train every aspect of fitness and incorporate aspects of all strength sport, not to mention I think the physiques pro CrossFit athletes have are incredible (partly due to some pharmaceutical aid I’m sure) but what even is it? How is the sport structured? What is its ideology? Pros and cons? I’d love to see a clear definition or know where to find a good in depth video on it.

[@tigo01]

Zack mentioned it @1:57 "exercise racing"

[@loganandblake]

"Constantly varied functional movement performed at high intensity"

[@coghlanfisher6475]

Type in what is CrossFit on KZbin. Watch the old videos with Greg, that’s what it was supposed to be all about

[@beansofhorrorshalashaska6987]

@@coghlanfisher6475 shhh! He wants to be spoon-fed

[@helloiamlost]

More than anything there needs to be more recognition of the influence of PEDs in CrossFit.

[@harrison6632]

I may not be able to train like a professional crossfitter but I can certainly pin like one!

[@gnperdue]

It’s a story as old as time. When something pure becomes successful, the money comes, and the purity goes. As you say in the vid - don’t worry about pro CrossFit. Instead, focus on your health and enjoy the good parts of CrossFit while avoiding the bad. Knowledge and perspective are key (to all things, really).

[@nothnutg8665]

As you end, the elite top and the mass of people doing this for health and enjoyment can exist side by side. The upper echelon needs to be seen as a professional sport so that the concept of CrossFit benefits. Haven’t met a fellow cross fitter who doesn’t get that the top elite few exist, like some but not all other sports, only by a volume of work, support and resources not available or even desired by the majority. But it is still inspiring and enjoyable to watch these athletes show what is humanly possible.

[@buhat783]

the great point about this video is that is separates Professional Sports and Everyday People. Well done. Loved the vid! It's a new turn for a sport that i like to watch for Entertainment. the Original Crossfit training methodology is great if you're scaling appropriately and not killing yourself everyday. Training with the volume and intensity of an Elite athlete is not sustainable, though doing crossfit till your 90 is (in most cases). Most gyms don't promote that you can be like the Elite athletes. And just like walking into any other gym, you have to be accountable for knowing how hard you should go and what weights you should be throwing around.

[@trevtkd]

“Elite crossfitter” like being the best at tiddly winks.

[@kyleinwisc]

My criticism of crossfit, is in line with what you said but slightly different. Most crossfit gyms should be modifying their programming to move slightly away from games competition exercises. For the majority of the participants of the crossfit gym I attended, they should not be focusing their limited time they have for fitness on fringe fitness skills that are only applicable if they want to do a competition. Pistol squats, kipping anything, handstand anything were some I think could be dropped for the casual folks.

[@jater10]

To start, everyone needs to put in levels and they do workouts based on that so we do not have some 40 yr old trying to clean a barbell for the first time doing so in a WOD. Another issue is to teach strict pullups to beginners before doing any kipping.

[@djsusiequ2422]

So what do you suggest we do? Lay on the couch and be house bound like my 600 lbs life? Maybe doing the same shit at the gym everyday gets boring, maybe running or cycling the same route also gets boring.

[@lazur1]

Fitness & health; correlation, not causation, and often the opposite of what's assumed: One has the potential to get fit *because* they're healthy. The average person who wants to get fit, usually makes an effort to get healthier, thru diet, sleep, stress management, stopping bad habits... Preoccupation's the name of the game. Sometimes, it seems, a subject doesn't even realize all the 'other' improvements they've been making, when crediting their primary interest.

[@chronometa]

First I'm not lou, then I'm not an elite crossfitter. Stop crushing my dreams

[@tylerhohs]

Well said man, couldn't agree more. Hope all is well down in TX, miss our Foundry barbell Saturday crew.

[@diearly09]

One thing I disagree with, the methodology of Crossfit was originally against periodization. The express intend of the games was to punish those who periodized. The “elite crossfit athlete” is exactly that one who periodizes. I additionally see “elite athletes” as specialized. Also a dig against the original methodology. Crossfit events are almost always the same thing with a variation in “common” crossfit exercises. There are small deviations where you’ll see the top athletes suffer, but those tend not to be exciting to watch. Without fail, crossfit events will have a strength element WOD (typically Olympic lifting), and a few metcons with gymnastics and barbell work. And that’s about it. Gone are the softball throw, medicine ball throw, 10x50m swim bar muscle up, something you probably didn’t train for games…

[@hornetluca]

5:54 those arms...damn

[@Cenot4ph]

it's all natural I'm sure

[@hornetluca]

@@Cenot4ph sure _he_ is

[@theparadisesnare]

Great video as usual ZT

[@FidelKaastra]

Brent Fikowski reading this title: *sad giraffe noises*

[@seancotlier9059]

"I don't believe in anything that doesn't involve bench press." -Dom Mazzetti, Wisest man on Earth

[@ivanchiko100]

Lyu Xiaojun doesn't bench press tho

[@JesseBFournier]

i'm a simple (athletic) man. I wanted to become more flexible and strong -) Oly weightlifting requires flexibility and strength in every joint of the body. I just didn't forget to run a couple times a week. Et voila: perfect fitness and if ever have to do anything strength related i can and i hardly ever injured myself. Thanks to the few like yourself who give technical cues about WL i sometimes do accessory lifts addressing minor stuff and it's always fun to me.

[@jackchen8490]

I mean like: playing any sport at a very competitive level is not really healthy either. Working out is healthy, drug use in pro bodybuilders isn’t. Swimming is healthy, doping in Olympics swimmers isn’t. Competitive sports is about winning not being healthier.

[@greuju]

Bro this is exactly what I was trying to articulate but I couldn't. Thanks. I love some of what CrossFit is, but I hate the extreme aspects and the pro side of it altogether. If it was only amateurs from gyms it'd be better but there's no way to do that with the money that's in it now. They broke it by growing it too fast.

[@loopeydloop]

Our boy done did it again

[@JiggidyJives]

As a former competitive gymnastic coach, circus acrobat, and current circus acrobatics instructor I have a really hard time looking at the horrible injury inducing form of most CF practitioners. That said, no competitive physical activity or sport is about health or longevity. The win must come at any cost with no thought to life after the years of competition are over. The light that burns twice as bright . . .

[@ashkeeoh]

i have to learn this the hard way. It’s just not worth chasing to be like the elite games athletes. I jeopardized my work and social life, ate crap, and instead of feeling good, I am always sore and tired. I just want to be that cool senior citizen who can do a pull up in some random park someday.

[@Anya.1339]

It took me a couple yeas to realize this, I enjoy the process much more now and actually can stay in the moment of training without the anxiety of not making progress at times, more rational decisions are taken in training and much more.

[@PeterSdrolias]

I think I will just stick to my consistent, and structured periodized program that prescribes sufficient overload and recovery.

[@Fergushow]

Most balance commentary I have seen yet. The OGs will leave CrossFit and start their own new fitness trend much like Glassman left Gold’s Gym to start CrossFit. Sign of the times.

[@benanderson4639]

Trying to be an established athlete is one of the most unhealthy things a person can do.

[@swilda123]

To be fair, non of the athletes in any kind of sport cares about their health all they care is perfomance. Make fun of crossfit all you want but crossfitters most likely out run you in both strength and endurance.

[@scubasteve387]

Me and Coach Zach Telander used to shot gun monster energy drinks before baseball 6am workouts summer of 2016. On fridays i would stop at the BP station on my walk to my car in the parking deck and get us 2.

[@Mattmfu10]

I love the concept of crossfit (constantly varied/HITT/multiple domains), but some workouts are just designed to test your joints/tendons/ligaments past where they should be going. Weighted kipping pull ups are so bad for your shoulders. Whatever benefit you are getting in terms of muscular endurance, cardiovascular fitness etc are not worth injury risk. And the programming is not just a few rogue gyms. I remember in 2015 there was an open workout that combined chest to bar kipping pull ups immediately followed by OH squats. That is just asking for a torn labrum. I met an orthopedist once who said Crossfit put his kids through college.

[@NorthsideChamps16]

The Monster affiliation is odd but note that the only Monster products that CrossFit touts is actually Monster WATER. Not their energy drinks.

[@kickblake]

One of my lingering problems with the way crossfit is practiced vs the theory is your comment on "gotten fitter since the last time they performed that workout." Too many gyms either never, or VERY infrequently repeat workouts so that their members can actually track progress. It's like they took that "constantly varied" bit a little too much to heart.

[@BDGKruger]

Does this go for triathlon athletes, body builders, strong man athletes just to mention a few sports.

[@rahulrage]

I have joined CrossFit recently after being on the fence for some time. I am still very very confused and I would say unconvinced about the methods. Mainly, as rightly said that most of us would not be elite per se then why is the need to do certain exercises for fitness or even aesthetics which require high skill set and thus have higher risks. I know and agree with the argument that it's not the exercise which is bad but the form of the person doing it which leads to injuries, but more complex a movement more chances of getting it wrong, and if the same can be done using a simpler easier exercise then what's the point? Like for argument's sake if we say that pole vaulting or gymnastics are good for health and would make you lean and strong do you want every person to use those advance techniques to stay fit? Can't we have benefit of a rope climb with a towel grip pull up? Due to the complexity of the movements so much is dependent on getting lucky in getting a good coach and also what their mindset is in terms of teaching crossfit. competitive

[@ivansevo427]

CrossFit is great if every modality is used properly. Olympic lifts one to three reps, deadlifts and squats for maximum strength not for cardio and proper technique on calisthenics. Conditioning work done with pushups, wallballs or some kettlebels or cardio machine. If done like that CrossFit is awesome in my opinion.

[@govgan2797]

It's basically about being better than everyone else at whatever cost, nowadays, as far as I can tell. The ones with the best chemical enhancements will win out, and another industry that was originally based around good health has or will be bastardized for profit and ego.Hence, big corporate sponsorship from companies that don't give a s*** about your health.

[@stanleykubik9823]

Thank you for another great video :)

[@matjr5999]

GLAS MAN HIS ANOTHER GEEK .

[@thor4164]

Top marks. Great video.

[@matheuslanzetta]

Great analysis!

[@freakied0550]

2018 Crossfat World Champ checking in.

[@riverphanco243]

I recignize the firing social media heads articles. I trained BJJ with Russell Berger, he was a good guy excellent grappler and everything else. However I don't think that his firing was part of a broader thing.

[@crazycjk]

Good video ZT. At the end of the day, it all becomes about the Ws+$s for the top layer. Can that co-exist with the everyday athlete under the same brand? It's a good question.

[@trentalexander2413]

This type of transformation or mutation of a novelty occurs often times. You have to get in where you fit in. Powerlifting, bodybuilding, wrestling and others have been altered from their origin. Money 💰 is the Motivation for the mutation

[@shmu_el]

It's a good thing you didn't mention PEDs because the video would've been 20 minutes long 😁

[@kierahall8665]

@@soarinpenguinlive6372 I mean it really is true. People look down on bodybuilders as being “juice heads” and are in such denial about the fact that PEDs are rampant in probably all major sports. I knew a guy who got into CrossFit at the beginning and was genuinely a lifetime natural. He said after a couple of years that there wasn’t even a point in him competing any longer because by the way people were progressing it was clear they were using drugs. Wasn’t even bitter about it really just is what it is. I find that bodybuilding actually has the most integrity of any sport because at least the don’t deny the use of drugs. People who think all these sports are clean don’t understand the competitive mindset at all. I know what people take to win a $5 trophy at an amateur bodybuilding show so I feel confident in making some safe assumptions about any sport where millions of dollars and fame are on the line.

[@MrRkaperak]

Dr Pepper sponsors football. Red Bull sponsors motor sports and such. Monster sponsors UFC fighters. The average spectator in most sports don’t care about total health, they care about being 80% healthy and having chest days while seeing some progress in the gym. My job makes me test fitness twice a year, and I’ll still drink an energy drink every now and again and im fit enough to live my life. People need to stop gatekeeping. The same way people still do bicep curls even when they aren’t a competitive bodybuilder (which is usually super unhealthy), we can do WODs and just enjoy it. Find a sports modality that’s fun for you and do it, And let the business be the business.