I came across an article yesterday while on Jim Wendler’s website. For those of you that don’t know, Jim Wendler wrote the popular and highly effective strength program/protocol 5-3-1. I’m a huge fan of 5-3-1 and of Jim. But that is not the point of this post.
While on Jim’s site, he referenced an article called “What CrossFit Is and Isn’t” written by a trainer named Dewey Nielsen. As you can see, I’ve linked it so you can read it for yourself and decide what you think. I’m writing my thoughts on the article here.
When I first read the article, I was furious. Luckily, the article doesn’t have the ability to leave comments. I have no doubt I would have written my response reactively and defensively instead of objectively.
So, I went to bed and reread the article again this morning.
Mr. Nielsen opens the article by stating that its just his view on CrossFit, not a bash on CrossFit or CrossFit coaches or Greg Glassman. I appreciate that.
There are a lot of things that bug me about people. Two of them are 1) talking about people behind their backs, and 2) talking about people or things you know nothing about.
This response to Mr. Nielsen’s article is NOT an attack on him. Its just a response to his “view” of CrossFit. I have no doubt Mr. Nielsen is a phenomenal trainer and coach and has helped improve people’s and athletes’ lives. Other than the assumption that he is in fact a great trainer and coach, I’m certainly not going to assume or write anything about him directly, because I don’t know anything about him, his gym or his training methods.
So again, this is not an attack on Mr. Nielsen. Its just a response to his view of CrossFit.
Why?
Because in almost 6 years of running our CrossFit gym, this article is one of, if not the, most grossly inaccurate assessments of CrossFit I have ever read. In this view, there is such a clear and obvious lack of understanding of What CrossFit Is and Isn’t that it borders on ridiculous and comical. It is beyond me how someone that is obviously very intelligent can decide its ok to write about something with an almost unbelievable lack of knowledge in that subject or topic.
So, here is my response…point by point.
“I’m sure there are good Crossfit facilities and coaches but I’m sorry, when you associate you’re name and reputation with non-sensical training and irresponsible coaches, how good are you really? When coaches are able to post horrendous videos on Youtube under the banner of Crossfit, the good coaches are instantly thrown into this category.”
This is unique to CrossFit? Hardly. Search for anything involving human movement on Youtube and you will see both the good and the bad from any industry, sport, activity, skill set, etc. I’ve seen far more ‘horrendous’ exercise videos on Youtube by non-CrossFit trainers than CrossFit trainers. I’ll address the non-sensical training comment below.
How good am I really, you ask? I’m amazing, actually. At teaching CrossFit and teaching people how to eat right and helping people safely get into the best shape and health they have ever been in and improving people’s lives…I’m freaking awesome! One of the best around.
“Crossfit is not a thought-out progressive exercise system, it is an extreme sport done with strength training tools. That’s what it is. No different than MMA, motocross, etc. It’s not a system meant to safely improve health, strength or work capacity for general pop or athletes. If I had a mid 40?s house wife that wanted to lose body fat, I wouldn’t ask here to go get punched in the face by our fighters. It’s scary that these folks can get certified over a weekend, open a gym and start coaching humans.”
Wrong and wrong. CrossFit IS a thought out progressive exercise system. Just because Mr. Nielsen doesn’t know the details and safe implementation of that system doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.
It IS a system meant to safely improve health, strength and work capacity for general population and athletes. LONG before there were CrossFit competitions, CrossFit was just personal training and small group training using safe, functional human movements instead of stupid machine driven exercises. I’m talking about proper technique, safe, functional movements that help people, not hurt them. What about the intensity argument? Yes, its intense…relative to the individual. More on this later.
I don’t require any of my mid 40′s housewife athletes to get punched in the face either (don’t understand this analogy at all). I teach them how to move right. Once they move right, I safely add load to those movements where appropriate. Once they prove their mechanics in a consistent manner, we safely add intensity to the training.
Mechanics, Consistency, Intensity. One of the founding principles of CrossFit.
Regarding the certifications. Don’t think CrossFit is the only training certification that can be attained in a weekend. Any Google search will provide countless ‘personal trainer’ certification systems that allow you to order study materials, schedule a test at a testing center or seminar/workshop and take the test. Boom. Certified.
At our gym, we host CrossFit Level 1 CrossFit Instructor certifications (we don’t run them, we just host them). Its almost comical how many ‘trainers’ certified in another organization come to a CF L1 cert and get blown away by the incredible knowledge of the L1 staff and the immense and thorough material contained in the study material. Its also a common occurrence to see theses other ‘trainers’ come in to the cert and display HORRIBLE movement.
I can also assure you this. If the attendee doesn’t study and truly understand CrossFit training methodology, methods of scaling intensity and movement substitution, topics of nutrition, and the dangers of ANY physical exercise activity, including high intensity training…..they WILL fail the test and NOT be certified.
CrossFit critics assume the test is easy.
With this statement, “It’s scary that these folks can get certified over a weekend, open a gym and start coaching humans,” there is an implication that any other ‘certified trainer’ (non-CrossFit) is a great trainer immediately upon being certified and ready to ‘start coaching humans’ the day after they got certified. Really? All certified trainers except CrossFit trainers are ready and able to coach humans right after being certified? Whatever!
Exercise/fitness/strength/conditioning trainers/instructors/coaches get better with time and experience. No trainer, prior to working with their first client, is better than any other trainer prior working with their first client. Its all knowledge, no application, until you actually start working with real people. That is no different for any trainer out there, CrossFit or otherwise.
“What do I mean by a progressive exercise system? Simple. Not everyone is capable or ready for just anything. They must progress into performing specific tasks. Everything should be scaleable. Simple to complex movements. Lighter weight to heavier weight. Slower tempos to faster tempos. Common sense stuff. But this is exactly what Crossfit lacks. There is no progression. Everybody does the same exercise, with the same load, for the same reps with absolutely no respect to form and technique. Get it up with any means necessary. But I’m sorry for the common sense here….. If Jane Doe can’t front squat 115 lbs for 1 rep, then she can’t front squat 115 lbs for 20 reps.”
Of course not everyone is capable or ready for anything. Of course they need to progress into specific tasks. Of course they move from simple to complex movements. Of course they move from lighter to heavier weight. Of course its common sense. THAT IS HOW CROSSFIT WORKS. CrossFit doesn’t lack these things. CrossFit IS these things! Everything in CrossFit training IS scaleable and IS scaled to the needs/abilities/current fitness level of the individual. Any assumption or understanding to the otherwise once again demonstrates a COMPLETE lack of understanding and knowledge of what CrossFit actually is and isn’t.
Another of CrossFit’s founding principles is Universal Scalability. “Everyone does the same exercise, with the same load, for the same reps with absolutely no respect to form and technique.” What?! Perhaps at a CrossFit competition everyone is doing the same thing because those are the standards of that event of that competition. But, in a CrossFit gym, in a training setting, EVERYONE is scaled to some degree. At our gym, we typically train about 100 clients per day. Out of that 100, on a typical day, 3-10 of them do our Workout Of the Day as prescribed (without modification). Everyone else has the workout, reps, weights, distances, movements modified in some manner to create a challenging but accomplishable, relatively intense (relative to the individual) workout. Here is a pic of the Workout of the Day at our gym the day I write this:
We trained 96 different people today using the same WOD. But each athlete had the movement modified to their needs and capabilities. 13 of our athletes were able to complete the workout unmodified. Everyone else had the workout scaled in some capacity. Our intermediate athletes used the L2 column as a guide for scaling their weight. Our beginner athletes used the L1 column as a guide for scaling their weight. And then we dialed in other movement or rep modifications as necessary for each person.
This is just an example of scaling at our gym…but THIS IS HOW CROSSFIT TRAINING WORKS FOR EVERYONE.
“With classic Crossfit quotes like “If you are afraid to fall off the rings and break your neck, we don’t want you in our ranks”, it should be obvious that this was not a system (technically it’s not a system at all) dedicated to making people healthier.”
First, I’ve never heard that quote. Second, that is NOT a CrossFit quote. That is an individual’s quote and it doesn’t represent CrossFit. And, if its from a CrossFit affiliate owner that only wants to work with elite CrossFit athletes, so what? Plenty of trainers and coaches, CrossFit and otherwise, only want to work with elite athletes. That’s their decision. The individual being quoted there does not speak for CrossFit. He speaks for himself or his gym.
And, once again we have to address the ‘system’ thing. CrossFit IS a progressive and well thought out exercise and training system. Mr. Nielsen and tons of other critics may not know what it is. They don’t know how to program CrossFit training effectively and safely for different individuals from all walks of life. We do. Their lack of knowledge and understanding of CrossFit training methods is NOT a defining characteristic of CrossFit and CrossFit affiliates. They can’t define it because they don’t know anything about it.
“This is where things get bad with Crossfit.”
“1. CF coaches have no idea it’s an extreme sport.”
CrossFit is not an extreme sport.
“2. CF participants have no idea it’s an extreme sport.”
CrossFit trainers know CrossFit is not an extreme sport.
“3. People wanting to safely get in shape and are thinking about trying Crossfit have no idea it’s and extreme sport.”
CrossFit is not an extreme sport.
Let’s clear this up. CrossFit is not an extreme sport. CrossFit competitions can be an extreme sport, and certainly the CrossFit Games IS an extreme sport.
But there is a distinction.
CrossFit and the Sport of CrossFit are two different things. Thousands upon thousands of people use CrossFit as a safe and highly effective exercise system to get stronger, faster, fitter and healthier.
A select few individuals of those thousands have the desire or what it takes to compete in CrossFit competition.
They are different things.
Using the other activities referenced by Mr. Nielsen; anyone can study and practice martial arts, self defense and MMA in a safe and, if appropriate, intense manner. Only a select few desire to make it to the UFC.
Unless prohibitively impaired, anyone can enjoy riding dirt bikes. Only a select few have the desire to ride motocross professionally.
“So the folks from category #3 see the bodies (because many of them are great) of the folks from categories #1 & #2 and think, “I want to look like that”. Since #1 & #2 don’t recognize the reality that crossfit IS actually an extreme sport, they go ahead and encourage #3 to join Crossfit. Unfortunately for #3, the lack of this understanding of what Crossfit is from #1 & #2 typically gets them a case of rhabdomyolysis, a bilateral shoulder dislocation, a blown achilles tendon, 3 herniated discs, etc, etc, etc, and they NEVER got the body they wanted because they have now spent more time recovering from non-sense injuries than they have spent actually training.”
The injuries listed above are actually extremely rare in CrossFit. How can safe, functional, efficient human movement executed correctly do anything but make a person better?
Take a good look at the thousands and thousands of people doing CrossFit and eating right (likely as a result of their exposure to CrossFit) and you are undoubtedly looking at one of the healthiest demographics on the planet.
Again, CrossFit is NOT an extreme sport. Its an exercise method.
I just looked at my management system history the other day. Almost 1000 athletes have trained in our gym in some capacity.
With the exception of 1 stupid young man that ignored our training and recovery advice and got a case of rhabdo, we have never had an athlete get a single injury you listed (or any other type of serious injury) as a result of our training instruction.
“In Crossfit, only the mutants survive. Just like MMA, only the Randy Coutures survive. Ever wonder why you don’t see more 45-50 year old MMA athletes?? It’s because that shits rough. It’s an extreme sport and only the mutants age gracefully through years of extreme sports. They are the exception, not the rule.”
Mutants? 95% of my clients are regular folks, ages 35-55. They all do CrossFit and they all do it well. They all are better for it. I’ve never talked with another affiliate owner, but with extremely rare exception, that doesn’t say the same thing.
Again, using the MMA example Mr. Nielsen uses here, while only a select and small nitch of the population will go on to compete in the UFC, anybody can train in and benefit from safe mixed martial arts training.
“If you love to participate in Crossfit, more power to you. Just understand what it is so that you don’t push it upon someone that shouldn’t be doing it.”
We know EXACTLY what it is…and what it isn’t.
“To any of the good Crossfit gyms and coaches out there (because I’m sure they exist), why, PLEASE ASK YOURSELF THIS, why in the world would you associate your name, your lively hood and your character by standing behind this banner?”
Because of CrossFit, thousands of people have been exposed to functional training and healthy eating. Thousands. In all likelihood, hundreds of thousands. And we’ve only started.
True CrossFit is about improving people, primarily through fitness and nutrition. CrossFit defines Fitness as improved work capacity across broad time and modal domains. Who doesn’t need that?
A famous and timeless and great CrossFit quote straight from the What Is CrossFit? page on CrossFit.com: ”The needs of Olympic athletes and our grandparents differ by degree not kind.”
Well played Matt. Well played Sir.
Wow, I read through this article and was really surprised by some of the comments about what Crossfit is and isn’t. I’ll be 50 this year and I’m scaled all the time. NO ONE has pushed me beyond what I’m capable of. Sometimes I’m more capable than I think, but the trainers know that. The key here is that the Trainers know that. Where else would you find that?
I think Crossfit Champions is freaking awesome !
Great post Matt!
First place always paints a target on your back. Mr. Nielsen appears to have a vested interest in spreading misinformation about Crossfit, he has his own training business to promote (http://impact-pt.com/). I’m sure he’d change his tune if he visited CFC and saw what really goes on.
Great response Matt. I read this article a few days ago on my own, and came to the opinion that this guy was either 1. misinformed or 2. had a personal agenda. I think the truth is both. His personal training business is probably getting its ass kicked by the local CrossFit affiliates, and instead of learning and adapting, he has resorted to the bashing. Its a shame. Keep up the good work at CFC!!
Matt, great response. I saw this article a month or so ago and laughed. CrossFit is easily
criticized because most if not all affiliates put their workouts out for public consumption. The beauty of people like this guy , they do not put theirs out there. CrossFit is unafraid of criticism. I would love for everybody to be as open as CrossFit folks.
All I can say is…WOW!
I personally as one of those 40 something year old housewives, can not begin to express in words how Crossfit has not only changed me physically but mentally as well….and for the better! Like Cathi I have never been pushed beyond my limits and feel so greatful for being able to be associated with such an enormously supportive group of normal people all striving to be their personal best.
good retort Matt. I hope you sent it to Wendler.
Angie
L2, 80 reps
Pullups – 30 kips, 30 Red, 20 blue…I haven’t used a blue band in a looong time and I could still only get a couple at a time.
Pushups – went the same. A bunch strict, then some snakes, then some knees.
23:12.
oops. posted my Angie results in the wrong spot…must be WOD drunk.
Sounds like a guy that has got burned by Crossfit. Probably becasue he lost some clients to it. The article is false, or at least what I read of it. Crossfit just has a target on its back for growing in popularity. I can speak for its benefits, and for how it works for everyone, and I am not L1 certified. Just been at it for a while.
Good post, and rebuttal.
Clearly, Mr. Nielsen has never set foot in a CrossFit facility. If he had, he would know that his statements regarding the training methods are totally inaccurate. I have trained at 4 affiliates, and each one has been sensitive to my abilities, safety and well being. I have yet to see a CrossFit trainer push to unsafe, hazards levels.
To base his comments on one Youtube video is misguided and only displays his complete lack of knowledge concerning CrossFit. Across all pursuits, you will find those who go to the extremes. It isn’t limited to fitness. CrossFit is about community, providing a safe environment where individuals can train to the best of their abilities. No one is pushed or goaded into becoming an elite athlete. Most just want to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
I would venture a guess that Mr. Nielsen has seen his business take a hit and is trying to do damage/spin control.
Crossfit is awesome and at crossfit champions proper form always comes before weight can be added. I’ve been at cfc for almost 3 years and I’m an almost 40 yr old housewife w/ 6 kids. Crossfit works and I’m a much healthier person because of it. The wealth of information I get nutrition wise and working out is outstanding. I have never injured myself seriously, just the normal little kinks here and there. That guy is nuts and obviously knows nothing of what he discusses. I mean look at the range of people doing it day in and day out- we love it and it works!
Matt, very thoughtful and articulate post. Like everyone who has posted, I am puzzled as to why Mr. Nielson wrote the article. My journey with CFC began 3 years ago at age 58. I was not then, and am not now, an athlete participating in an “extreme sport”. I am the poster child for “If I can do this, anyone can do this!” All the 5 a.m. group knows that every wod I do is scaled. While on vacation, I worked out at another Crossfit affiliate for one month. And there, also, the wods were scaled for me and for other members. Also at that affiliate, mechanics were emphasized. I could write a response to Mr. Nielson longer than yours. How I wish the “comment” was on so I could post. My experience with Crossfit Champions is this: Five years ago, I was prescribed Evista to prevent osteoporosis. I never filled the prescription. Three years into Crossfit, the doctor stated to me that “You have great bones.” I look forward to what I can post about my CFC experiences when I am age 70.
Matt, great response. I love Crossfit. Period. I would love for Mr. Nielson to visit CFC to check out ALL the mutants who survive every WOD (passed out maybe, but still breathing). T-shirt idea: I am a Crossfitter so I am a Mutant. Wrap it up in a nice box with pretty paper and send it to him. Too harsh?
To many points and places to start so I’ll just say this. Thank you Matt for setting the record straight with this guy. You know what it really sounds like he is saying…? That he has realized that there is a more efficient/effective way of getting people into the best shape/health of their lives and upon admitting this openly he would shake the core of his out dated training methods. So for him its just easier to say that we’re all crazy and he is sane and everyone should try his program and not ours. Oh and he failed to mention that the results we see daily are quantitative AND qualitative and those results are reached faster and cheaper than what a traditional personal training regiment would. Period. The end.
Very well said. I’m kind of over people downing CF cause it’s not to their exacting standards. Thanks for keeping it real.
Matt, great article! Thanks for all you do!!!
Unfortunately the author of that terrible article and some of his like minded “intelligent” trainers are located near me and make it their business to bash crossfit fairly frequently. I am pretty sure it largely stems from them seeing the tide shifting and clients moving away from their programs and towards Crossfit. I could find flaws in thier programs but I don’t write articles about them and put them online. In the end the numbers and testimonials speak for themselves, every month CF boxes like mine are exploding and people are getting fantastic results. I can imagine how hard that is to see from their end, but the answer is easy. If you can’t beat them join’em and make Crossfit as good as you think you can. I appreciate this article, I tried to write something similar but could not keep my emotions out of it because my business is effected by the non-sence and misinformation they publish pretty directly. Thanks-
Great article. I think the greatest problem with Crossfit is ego. Not in people who do & enjoy CF, as people actually involved in Crossfit tend to be gracious, welcoming and friendly. I’m talking about people like Dewey.
At some point, Dewey probably did a WOD as RX’d because he figured, “Hey, I’m an exercise guy. This workout looks easy.” And he got smoked. Luckily, he was hopefully strong enough he didn’t give himself rhabdo.
Ego is the greatest potential for injury with Crossfit. If you’re too proud to admit you aren’t using good form and aren’t strong enough to do it as RX’ed, don’t do CF. CF is about improvement, not necessarily doing everything RX’ed. You need to be able to accept there are people better than you, but that’s irrelevant. I do Crossfit to improve ME, not to compete with the people I admire.
I find it ironic that the people who dog crossfit the hardest are also the most obsessed with the level of performance common among the firebreathers.
Kudos, Matt. This yet another classic example of someone speaking as an authority about something, when they in actuality have no knowledge of their intended subject. On some personal curiosity level, I think it would be interesting to know what Certifications Mr. Nielson has, but it ultimately is irrelevant. CrossFit is far superior to other Certifications because of the Practical and Clinical sections of the Certification. Yes, it may only be a weekend and a written exam. But I will always put CrossFit’s weekend against buying a book, studying, taking a test, and then claiming that your “educational background and vast personal experience” are virtuous.
Really appreciated your article and the objective approach. This definitely highlights a lot of the misconceptions that prevail regarding Crossfit. In regards to Mr. Nielsen’s article… well I am going to go do some tire swings in the backyard to work through that one!
I am not a crossfitter. I train a variety of ways circuits, weights,sprints, and even some of the girls worked into rounds, but I do have many friends and family members that are crossfitters. I think you guys help people get off their a$$’s so more power to you. Haters gonna hate, so keep doing what you’re doing,
I am a 34 year old female I have never been fit. I’ve been doing Crossfit 4 months and it’s the first time I’ve ever not made an excuse to go to the gym. I drive across town 4 days a week to see what kettle ball I’m up to, or what band I’m up to or how long I can hand stand. Crossfit is about growth and reaching your fullest potential and every day I feel healthier and stronger and it makes me proud. That guy didn’t allow comments because he knew what the backlash was going to be
great response!!
as someone who has been involved with crossfit for just over 2 years and am 50 1/2 years young i can not begin to say enough about my 3 coaches who have changed my life.
at age 48 1/2 i was 30 lbs over weight, ached to get out of bed every morning and was becoming more and more sloth like every day. then for xmas 2009 my wife got me a 6 day crossfit foundations gift card and i have not looked back since.
in april 2010 i reinjuried my left shoulder which ultimatly led me to having surgery on it in january 2011. my 3 coaches have gone beyond the call of duty to see that my rehab and scaling of exercises have worked for me they are a huge part of why i keep going back 6 days a week.
today i did a 320 lb front squat and last week over the course of 2 wods ran for a total of 5 miles 2 things that if you had told me 2 years ago i would be doing that i would have said your nuts.
through crossfit i have also discovered a whole new world of eating clean. with out crossfit i may have found this out on my own but it is just another bit of why crossfit changed my life.
keep up doing what you all are doing and don’t let the haters get you down. they are quite possibly envious of just how well of a program crossfit is.
The break your neck on the rings thing is a Glassman quote. Generally he speaks for CrossFit. Other than that, I agree. Good points.
Oh, and I’m aware of multiple low-quality affiliates. We shouldn’t deny that they exist. I suspect they are more prevalent than most of us are aware of. I hope the CrossFit clientele migrates toward as many GOOD affiliates as are available to them.
Yep. Was informed a few days ago that the rings/neck quote was Greg. From an article painting a negative picture with the quote taken out of context.
Oh well. My bad on that one.
But, that was the least significant point of my entire response article.
And, yes, I whole heartedly agree that there are bad CF affiliates and trainers out there. Not denying they exist. Of course they do. Just as they do in any industry. There are plenty of sucky personal trainers out there and high school football coaches out there and……
The main point of my response article was simply to point out how incredibly off base Mr. Neilsen’s assessment of what CF is and isn’t was.
[...] ‘What CrossFit Is And Isn’t, By Someone Who Knows What He’s Talking About’, by Matt at CrossFit Champions. A very well worded rebuttal to an article written by someone who claims that CrossFit is an ‘extreme sport’. Perhaps if you were to only watch the CrossFit Games you may come to that conclusion but what we do on an everyday basis is hardly extreme. We perform functional movements that make us stronger and that in turn makes it easier to get on with our regular lives. Who wants to be the person who can’t change the 5 gallon water jug at the cooler? Or the person who can’t lift their carry-on suitcase to put it in the overhead bin when traveling? Read it through and tell me what you think. Post thoughts to comments. [...]
[...] Some link love for ya: What CrossFit Is and Isn’t [...]
WOW!!!! Well said Matt!!! Thank you for your wonderful and accurate insight!
get em!!!!!
Great response!!!
“Everyone does the same exercise, with the same load, for the same reps with absolutely no respect to form and technique.”
This is shocking! That has to show, that he has either never done crossfit,or never get to the essence of it! What I love about Crossfit, is exactly the scaling part! Everybody does the same work out ACCORDING TO HIS OWN ABILITIES! That means if you can’t do handstand push ups, you will scale them. If you can’t do pull ups, you will use a band. If you can’t deadlift 100 pounds, you will deadlift 60….
Sometimes it bugs me how much understanding there is out there. Thanks for the great piece!
Ines
[...] What Crossfit Is and Isn’t by Someone Who Knows What He’s Talking About [...]
I will agree that there are bad trainers across all disciplines, but you can’t deny the popularity of Crossfit among the uninformed masses as compared to say power lifting. You get people in Crossfit who have never done anything except recreational running or a couple of bootcamp classes, who are snatching, cleaning, and deadlifting in their first week. These are all highly technical moves, which when done in a very competitive atmosphere, beg for injury. Everyone wants a fast time, to get the most reps etc., it is how Crossfit programming is structured. I’m sorry, you can’t ignore the fact that it takes little more than a weekend and some capital to become certified and start training people. Any further training or learning is done completely on your own, no requirements from HQ, no one is checking in to make sure you are following proper programming. So Mr. Nielsen’s point that “It’s scary that these folks can get certified over a weekend, open a gym and start coaching humans.” stands. Your integrity as a coach/affiliate owner might be great, but you can’t deny that there are no checks and balances in place to ensure that it is the same everywhere.