Crossfit is HUGE right now.

And let me just start by saying, for me personally, I actually think Crossfit gets a
bad rap in many ways and that it can offer significant benefits IF there is proper
supervision and instruction. "Fitness politics" aside, to me, anything that gets people
active, that they enjoy, and doesn't injure them, is a positive thing.

If that supervision, proper instruction and safety is lacking, however...that's when
the trouble starts.

So what I've got for you here another take on Crossfit...there's a man (he's
considered a legend among the top inner circles of fitness) who's written a VERY
controversial article about Crossfit, and that was his quote in the subject line of
this email.

Check it out below and see if you agree with what he's saying...

--------------------------------------------

From: Scott Abel, author of Metabolic Enhancement Training
The Nonsense That is Crossfit

First off, as the name implies Crossfit wants to blend various training modalities
to produce an effective workout. Certainly nothing wrong with that, as a general
idea. However, Crossfit wants to use various training methods without obeying
any of the principles behind these methods.

This makes it not only ill-conceived, but even dangerous, especially with the
choices it seems to make, over and over again. Crossfitters never deal with
questions or even basic principles of exercise physiology.

Let's look at the Overload and SAID principles of adaptive response. In a given
workout, which energy systems are you targeting and when and why within the
workout?

What are the recovery demands of employing this tactic - in the immediate, the
residual, and the cumulative realms of its implementation? As I say in every one
of my projects;

1) a collection of exercises does not equal a proper workout, and
2) a collection of workouts, does not equal a proper program design.

These two points alone are why 90% of people fail to make any fitness or cosmetic
progress long-term. Crossfit has no programming element, and follows no
methodology at all.

It considers neither residual or cumulative effects nor recovery demands from
workouts - neither as a system of tactical implementation, nor by the trainee
undergoing its application.

Those are two BIG factors that are forgotten.

Heck, some of these factors don't even get included in regular workout plans.

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end of excerpt
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So the author of this article, Scott Abel, is actually a guy I've been reading for quite
a few years. He's VERY knowledgeable and has personally trained more than 400
championship-level athletes. And while I don't know him personally, I DO know
the quality of his work...it's top notch.

The Sensible Solution to Real Functional Training

And even if you don't fully agree with his stand on Crossfit, I'd definitely recommend
you read more about his training modalities in his M.E.T programs. I've been digging
through the programs the past few days and they're excellent. Well worth having a look.

Metabolic Enhancement Training Programs -- click here for more info

Nick

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