THE PROBLEM WITH CROSSFIT

AND A SOLUTION!

Group Outdoor Personal Training, Civilian Bootcamps and Crossfit® are general physical prepared-ness programs (GPP). In other words, the outcome of the training is to prepare the participants for the gen-eral physical demands of modern life.

This ‘everyday fitness’ often requires us to carry out such diverse tasks as:

Run for a bus

Lift children

Push a car that won’t start

Carry shopping bags upstairs when the lift is out

Participate in a community charity fun run

Haul bags of garden mulch into the trunk of a car

Climb trees to rescue stray footballs, cats or children

Place bags in overhead lockers on planes

Participate in an impromptu ball game at a family picnic

www.kaizenoutdoorfitness.com

By Garry Robinson

www.kaizenoutdoorfitness.com

www.kaizenoutdoorfitness.com

It is notable that the side effects of such training programs include fat loss, better mobility, strong and healthy bones, a ‘toned’ body and a more focused mind. It is these benefits that are drawing more and more people to GPP programs such as Crossfit® and civilian bootcamps.

The problem with gyms The facilities and services provided by big box gyms and health clubs are simply irrelevant to 95% of the general population. Most of the machines in these places actually involve sitting down, an exercise that most of us get plenty of training in already! Group exercise classes are slightly better from a fun and func-tional point of view but they always neglect to train the lactate and phosphate energy systems and they omit power and fast-twitch strength completely.

GPP programs based on functional movements, teamwork, and led by professional fitness coaches are becoming popular because they are actually relevant to our everyday lives.

Why? Because the movements and drills replicate real life situations. Under stress, we revert to our train-ing. If this training is practical and functional then we become better equipped at dealing with the unpre-dictable demands that life throws at us.

Crossfit® is an excellent example of a GPP exercise prescription. Its philosophy of constantly varied, func-tional exercises that are often done at high intensity closely resembles real life tasks. It has become the training method of choice for military and emergency services because of the extreme physical challenges that those professions face on a daily basis.

The problem with Crossfit® However, the drawback of Crossfit® for the general public is the Olympic and powerlifting components. Olympic weight lifting is a fringe sport that requires skill. While it is no doubt effective at building strength, the movements are complicated and require access to a knowledgeable coach if they are to be learned safely.

Because barbell lifting is a sport, it does not truly reflect real world loads. Many people struggle with the wrist and thoracic mobility required to make these lifts safely. In particular, supporting a loaded bar in the ‘rack’ position is extremely uncomfortable for most people and is often impossible for untrained athletes.

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Sandbags: A safe and practical alternative for outdoor

trainers

Commercial sandbag products have started to emerge as a viable alternative to barbells for bootcamp op-erators and outdoor personal trainers.

They are generally constructed from durable, military-grade materials and are virtually indestructible. Un-like metal bars, they will not corrode if they get wet and can be transported to and from the park or beach easily.

The shifting weight and awkward size means that sandbags resemble real life loads too. They can be lifted, dragged, thrown, slammed, passed, caught and grappled with safety. Imagine the damage caused by throwing or slamming a loaded barbell and you will see why sandbags are actually far more versatile for the outdoor trainer.

There is a further benefit for bootcamp business owners too – because the weight comes from sand, they are extremely cost effective. Good bumper plates cost upwards of $5 per kilogram and a single Olympic bar will set you back several hundred dollars. The whole Olympic lifting setfor one person could easily cost $1000 whereas a good quality, purpose-made sandbag can be purchased for a tenth of that price.

If you invested in only one piece of resistance training equipment for your bootcamps, sandbags should be the preferred choice. In terms of a viable substitute for barbells, nothing comes close.

SUMMARY

1. Everyday fitness can be gained by following a structured, general physical preparedness pro-

gram such as those featured in my e-book Popular Programs.

2. Health clubs and gyms don’t work because the facilities and services are irrelevant to 95% of the

population.

3. Olympic lifting is impractical and inappropriate for untrained athletes.

4. Sandbags offer an extremely viable alternative to barbell training in an outdoor environment.

www.kaizenoutdoorfitness.com

http://www.kaizenoutdoorfitness.com/the-problem-with-crossfit-and-a-solution/

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