Crossfit

[andygates]

In a nutshell, Crossfit is an approach to training that aggressively de-specialises for a goal of all-round strength and fitness.  Short intense frequent sessions that combine weights, bodyweight stuff, flexibility and movement drills, and there's lots of wacky asymmetric movements (one-handed barbell get-ups, kettlebell stuff, und so weiter.  It's a sort of demented circuits-from-hell approach.

Why am I thinking about this?  Well, I want to do something heavy after the half-iron, and this is one option.  Plus kettlebells look kinda cool and are all the rage right now.

Anyone tried it?  Any thoughts?

[Tiger]

Beware agressive weights-based circuit work with things like kettleweights.  I prolapsed discs in my back doing that - got carried away and overloaded, doing weighted squat thrusts. Result was I have not ridden an upright bike in 3 years and can't run/walk down stairs anymore.  At the time I thought I was superman - turns out I wasn't.

[andygates]

S'okay, I've done plenty of gurning and (1) know what feels wrong and (2) I'm not afraid to do stuff with teeny weights or empty bars so long as the form is good.

[andygates]

Threadcromancy!

Crossfit didn't make it out of my Fad Of  The Month tray... because, well, it was too damn hard. 

I hates me some fail.

So I spent the winter on a simple freeweights programme, and stuck to it for a change, and the final ping on that programme's stack was repping ten chins.  Because, you see, that programme was aimed at getting strong enough to do the Crossfit warmup.  (The official warmup's three rounds each of a stretch, then ten broomhandle overhead squats, situps, back extensions, chins and dips).  This winter has basically been the extinction of T.Rex, and the kitten-armed fecker is not mourned.  Whether it's the consistency, the creatine, or a combination is moot.

So, Crossfit is back in the house as the thing to do on weights days (or foul days).  Today's WOD: Squat clean singles.  Do a clean, and once the bar is on your collarbones, sink immediately into a front squat.  Squat up and reset with a bit more weight.  30-30-40-40-50-50-55 kilos on the bar.