Often, People who ask about CrossFit, get an explanation, and then respond with- “Well I work out pretty hard- I ( fill in the blank ) for 45 minutes and then ( fill in the blank ) at the gym three times a week for
( up to three hours)
“It’s hard, I know it is a good workout”

The disconnect is that most people who are involved in the traditional fitness model ( I was for at least 20 years) believe that tough or difficult physical work always, inately , has a carryover to anything else or has increased their level of fitness, simply because it was hard physical exertion.
I would say it may have had some effect on the overall level of fitness,
but does not necessarily carry over or transfer to other pursuits, it may moderately increase your ability to repeat that particular workout. Not necessarily affecting your ability to do anything else, but possibly moderately affecting it.

CrossFit by contrast is consistantly increasing your ability to do everything else, except specialize. Everything is transferrable. Everything carries over. 

( If on Mars at the Fitness Centers, they tickle each other for an hour, and the person who endured the tickling feels physically exhausted, has he increased his level of fitness ? Did he have a good workout ? )

I find it difficult to explain the difference between a “hard” workout and a CrossFit workout.

I basically say that in a short CrossFit workout (<30 for “big dogs” 30-40 for me) you get a disproportionate benefit to, say, a 30-40 minute bout on the treadmill and 3 “workouts” in the gym.

I try to explain the neuroendrocrine response, the instensity, variety, functionality, multijoint thing but their eyes glaze over. I think getting that explanation is a lot more effective AFTER you get them to try one.

So far I have had the most interest after explaining Helen and Fran and a couple of others and then they start to see what a “real” workout is. I have thrown down the gauntlet of these two workouts to a couple of guys and told them I KNOW you will get a better time than I do right off the bat, but you’ll be sucking wind for half an hour or more and I’ll recover in about 10 minutes. I’ll let you know what happens.

The carryover into other things…that is the REAL benefit. That is hard to explain without folks actually trying this stuff.

Mikki,

So when Arlene and I tickle each other we’re not getting a good work-out?

Well, I may have lost a client this week, but a 18-20 year old came in.  He was wanting to learn to fight.  I mentioned CrossFit.  He said he was in shape.  I snorted, yes actually snorted and said “I doubt it.  Come to the class you’ll get buried.”  We exchanged some pleasantries and he repeated that he was in shape.  I said “Come to CrossFit.  I’m 46 and I’ll bury you”.  He said “Sounds like you are throwing down the gauntlet”  I said “Yes I am”. 

I regret the exchange. 

Hope he shows up.

Sifu Dan
Do you and Arlene integrate functional movements into your tickling? What about cardio?

I really did want to get people talking about how traditional fitness views workouts in relation to increasing overall GPP…..

TMI, TMI !!!

A “good workout” is not inherently good fitness.  People have different definitions of fitness.  Fitness is not being in shape; being in shape is a consequence of fitness.  This is to say that one can be aesthetically in great shape, and not be fit. 

In the realm of commercial gyms, from my experience the general population gravitates toward 3 or 4 of the ten general physical skills   , with very rarely one person incorporating more than 2:  Strength, cardiovascular/ respiratory endurance, and stamina and flexibility to a lesser extent.  There are several reasons for this, in my opinion. One, is that the results of these skills are visible.  If you are strong, there is a good chance that you develop muscles that you can see.  Likewise, if you have good cardiovascular endurance, developed through running, biking, etc., the odds are that you are thin.  Another reason is that these skills are relatively easy to develop- you dont have to sepend time to learn how to run from point a to point b.  Balance, agility, accuracy, and coordination, however, are not easy to develop.  They are developed through practice, and as a double whammy, developing them has no immediate impact on physical appearance. 

I dont believe that people undertake this quest to remain “unfit”( as defined by the 10 general physical skills) consciously.  “Fitness” is merely being strong or being able to run for a long distance to most people.  There fault lies more in the realm of ignorance than stupidity.  I used to think that spending everyday after high school at the gym for 2 hours, alternating between chest and triceps day, and back and bicep day was making me fit.  Did I see results? yes.  was I getting fitter?  if anything very marginally.  was I stupid? no.  I was, however, ignorant to the fact that I was only developing one or 2 of the 10 general physical skills.  I was not aware of the others role in fitness, because I was never exposed to them.  It took very few Crossfit workouts to expose me to these, and the ignorance subsided.  (If I would have clung to my old workout regimen, that would have indicated my stupidity). 

I think the issue of how to remove the fog of ignorance from people is a difficult problem.  Crossfit is not for everyone.  It is, however, the best and only way I know to develop the 10 skills, in my opinion. 

sorry for the long post.

HH your long post is exactly what I wanted to see- discussion about how to explain the differences to people, which is helped by thinking out how you would explain it, writing it out helps to clarify and condense your thoughts. It has taken Jeff and I both about a year to stop being tongue tied and communicate what CrossFit is all about to people. People want to know what they are doing before they try it- so the “just try it” doesn’t work for many, and the nueroendocrine response science angle will put people to sleep. I absolutely think it is just a matter of exposure for many people, you don’t know until someone shows you.

One good quote from Coach Glassman which reflects the need to train fitness in totality, not in a segmented fashion is the following

Cardio-Respiratory endurance, Coordination, Agility, Power, Strength, Balance, Flexibility, Accuracy ,Speed and stamina.

Which one do you want to sacrifice ?

NO MIKKI
we do not sacrafice any of those items which you had mentioned. Maybe I should continue this with you on the crazy talk form.

SIFU I think that was a perfect response to the situation. He’ll be back, and if not then he’s not a good fit. or should I say Crossfit….