Thursday, December 4, 2008

Charles Poliquin on Crossfit

Charles Poliquin is an internationally respected strength and conditioning coach, so his opinion carries some weight with me. In his latest column at T-Nation, he dissects the Crossfit method of training with some legitimate issues that we might take into account in ANY training model.

Crossfit has become a very popular approach to training, and one that I sometimes use. But I am pretty selective in that I don't use their more "risky" exercises, and I don't always follow their exercise order.

Since fitness is a part of being a healthy and integrated man, I thought I'd post Poliquin's objections here -- take what you can from his comments and look at your own training program to make sure you aren't making one of these mistakes.
CrossFit Analyzed

Q: Coach, in your last column you talked a little about CrossFit, saying that "no athlete has ever gotten any good training like that." Have you had a chance to look a little deeper into the method?

A:

1. Lack of sufficient testing protocols

2. Focus on a single training protocol

olympics

3. Insufficient instruction for teaching complex training methods

4. Inappropriate repetition brackets for complex exercises

5. Inappropriate exercise order

6. Endorsement of controversial exercises


4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think the coach articulated exactly what a number of other non-CrossFit trainers out there believe. As a trainer myself, with an actual college degree in the field, I can see exactly what he has pointed out at major issues with CrossFit. Especially where exercise order, safety, and education are concerned.

Anonymous said...

All of these criticisms of CrossFit really only apply to inexperienced, poorly educated coaches and not to CrossFit as a training protocol.
Anyone with a brain who has bothered to actually study CrossFit will quickly realise that it demands good technique and skill long before introducing any intensity and the overwhelming majority of successful CrossFit coaches and affiliates know their subject matter.
I suggest actually reading from the source (CrossFit Journal) to get your information about CrossFit.

Anonymous said...

Hi all. Before I express my opinions. I would like to introduce myself as a level 4 lower back specialist and a level 3 exercise referral practitioner (simple qualifications that many providers do).

With that in mind, Poliquin has some great concepts which work due to the evidence shown.

I would just like to say.... "OPINION".... There are many Opinions out there. But remember this, so many people, scientists, and professionals have them.... But without Scientific Proof, where does it stand with its VALUE?!!!!!!

Do what works with both yourself and your client. I have made many mistakes, and also pushed boundaries that certain norm charts strictly disagree with (I.e ACSM). They have worked for me.

Poliquin hasn't got where he has by staying within Guidelines, norm charts and Scientific results.

IF IT WORKS FOR YOU!!!!!! Great .... BUT IF IT DOESN'T!, EXPERIMENT.

What have you to lose.

Anonymous said...

Hi all. Before I express my opinions. I would like to introduce myself as a level 4 lower back specialist and a level 3 exercise referral practitioner (simple qualifications that many providers do).

With that in mind, Poliquin has some great concepts which work due to the evidence shown.

I would just like to say.... "OPINION".... There are many Opinions out there. But remember this, so many people, scientists, and professionals have them.... But without Scientific Proof, where does it stand with its VALUE?!!!!!!

Do what works with both yourself and your client. I have made many mistakes, and also pushed boundaries that certain norm charts strictly disagree with (I.e ACSM). They have worked for me.

Poliquin hasn't got where he has by staying within Guidelines, norm charts and Scientific results.

IF IT WORKS FOR YOU!!!!!! Great .... BUT IF IT DOESN'T!, EXPERIMENT.

What have you to lose.