It may come as no surprise, but I do not like CrossFit, which is interesting because I do like the premise: “... fitness that is, by design, broad, general, and inclusive”, their specialty is in not specializing. CrossFit breaks down fitness into 10 general physical skills, and “...they are cardiovascular/respiratory endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance, and accuracy. You are as fit as you are competent in each of these ten skills.”
So, why do I criticize?
First and foremost: education. It has been this doctor’s experience that the level of education for CrossFit instructors leaves much to be desired. (Let me also say one thing, I KNOW!!! Everyone has an instructor or has a friend who’s instructor is well educated, but I have not met them. I understand that they are out there; I also understand that most CrossFit instructors that are well educated don’t actually do CrossFit, technically.) The education of your trainer/coach is extremely important. You can, and will, get hurt if your trainer/coach doesn’t understand why or how exercising is done. It may seem simple, and it can be, but coaching someone to do a workout correctly actually requires a well rounded education.
Second: People get hurt doing CrossFit. If you talk to a crossfitter that hasn’t been hurt yet, you’ll hear about how tough and extreme the workouts are, as well as how safe. However, I know a few dozen people who have participated in the “safe extreme exercises” and they have hurt themselves. The only argument from CrossFit that I have read is: “this is not for everyone, do it at your own risk.” I find this to be absurd, and a cop-out..
Third: No matter how crossfitters try and spin it, Crossfit is very random, there is very little, if any, periodization. (Periodization is in the design of a workout over the course of weeks even months, and it is usually done in phases (ie strength phase, agility phase, cardio phase, etc). Phases focus intensely on a specific areas of performance.) While it is good to use randomization every so often, using it as the mainstay of the workout scheme means that the fitness enthusiast will prematurely plateau and not achieve full gains.
And fourth: Combining strength training with cardio training in the same workout (the same 30, 45, 60, or 90 minute workout) slows the potential for muscle growth. Without getting into too much detail, there are 3 different types of muscle fibers : slow twitch (for posture and endurance), fast twitch (for strength and speed), and a newly found fiber that is both and neither (it actually acquires the properties of one fiber or the other based on the demand placed on the muscle over time). If both fibers are being worked, and most CrossFit workouts do both, then strength takes a backseat to endurance. This is an evolutionary trait that developed because you live longer running away from predators then trying to fight them.
I don’t recommend anyone do CrossFit. However, if you are looking for a workout that is different from the gym I strongly suggest looking to sport conditioning. Strength and Conditioning Coaches are usually very well educated and they make a living on building on people’s strengths while filling the gaps of their weaknesses.
