5 Reasons Crossfit Gets a Bad Rep, Written by a Non-Crossfitter

Crossfit is not a fad, because fads eventually go away.  The Crossfit Games are broadcast on ESPN and boxes are springing up around the country.  In other words, it is here to stay.  It is the most polarizing form of fitness ever; most people either love it or despise it.  Personally, I don’t fall on either side of the spectrum.  I believe it has both good and bad elements, but for the purpose of this article I will defend the Crossfit community.  Here are five reasons Crossfit gets a bad rep, written by a non-crossfitter:

1. It is not designed for beginners, yet many beginners do it

The dropout rate for CrossFit is very high, meaning that people who start a CrossFit routine are likely to quit within a few months.  The reason?  Injuries.  Injuries can happen to anyone but newbies to CrossFit are increasingly susceptible for two main reasons.

First is that the workouts are way too intense for a beginner. They are a mix of high intensity cardio with weightlifting, often back to back within the same circuit. Imagine going straight from the couch into a CrossFit workout. It sounds crazy, but this is what a lot of people do.  Hell, a professional is going to be gassed at the end of a workout, how do you think a beginner will fare?

Second is the complexity of the lifts.  Many CrossFit workouts implement Olympic style lifts.  These are extremely complex and take months if not years to master.  A five minute tutorial isn’t really going to cut it for someone walking in for the first time.  I understand that instructors need to keep things moving, but I always thought CrossFit should be treated like a martial art.  You don’t just jump into your first jiu jitsu class and roll with a black belt for the same reason; you don’t want anyone to get hurt.  You take a few weeks to learn the basics.  Even a machine like the rower or airdyne takes some getting used to before you develop a rhythm.

2.  Bad form is inevitable given the style of CrossFit workouts

CrossFit is a combination of high intensity interval training, circuit training, body weight exercises, and Olympic lifts.  As mentioned previously, Olympic lifts are advanced movements.  They require not only strength, but technique and coordination as well.  I don’t care who you are, that clean and jerk is not going to look pretty after a 400 meter sprint.  If that’s all you’re seeing as an outsider, you may think “what the hell are these guys doing?”  But you have to understand that fatigue makes cowards of us all, so expect to see some barbells and bumper plates flying around.

3. The bodybuilding community is threatened by them

Time to let you guys in on a little secret: if you work out really hard for a long time… you get in shape.  Crazy concept right?  CrossFit goes against the fundamentals of bodybuilding, which stress proper form, tension, and controlled movements.  They don’t do curls or tricep extensions, yet have a physique that appeals to many.  It proves that the slow and steady bodybuilding style is not the only way to build muscle.  It’s natural to feel a little threatened when something flies in the face of everything you’ve been taught and still yields results.  It’s like when teams started jacking 40 or 50 three pointers per game in the NBA.  The old school, post up players and coaches hated it.  “This isn’t the way basketball should be played” they said.  Well, this is no different.  It’s not up to you to decide what’s right and wrong if it works.

4. There is a cult mentality among some Crossfitters

Whereas bodybuilders may feel threatened, crossfitters will get quite defensive if you question their workout style.  Don’t jump down my throat now, obviously this doesn’t apply to EVERY crossfitter. But I don’t think it’s outrageous to say that there is a bit of an elitist mentality with certain members of the CrossFit community.  Honestly, I don’t have much of a problem with this.  You should be proud of what you do, especially if you truly believe in the efficacy of the program.  The key is confidence, not arrogance.

Personally I think that each group could learn from one another.  Most bodybuilders are not adept at Olympic lifts, and personally I would love to take the time for someone to walk me through it and tweak my form.  On the flipside, many CrossFit athletes have huge shoulders but are lacking in the bicep and tricep department.  A little cross training with some bodybuilding movements would create more balance.

5. Kipping Pullups

Can we just rename this so people can shut up about it?  They’re not traditional pull ups, nor are they supposed to be traditional pull ups.