What is CrossFit (CF)?

CrossFit (CF) is a sport consisting of disciplines of weightlifting (including powerlifting), gymnastics, and athletics. Jump ropes, rowing machines, climbing ropes, dumbbells, medicine balls, and kettlebells are also used. The core element is the so-called WOD (Workout of the Day).

Why is CrossFit usually not training?

The WOD takes place in the form of a competition. CrossFitters compete against each other, and the winner is the one who finishes first or has the most repetitions. The WOD "Karen" consists of 150 wall ball shots. What do you get from it? 2-3 days of muscle soreness, nothing else. That's 2-3 days when I can't train properly because my body needs to recover. The WOD means competition, exhaustion, and fatigue.

CrossFit and CrossFit

I call this "people's CrossFit." The elite train differently. Olympic weightlifting (few, heavy repetitions), squats, deadlifts, and a lot of technical training are the core of their training. They are lone wolves who train alone or in small groups and do not show up in the class. They know what training is, have concrete goals, and are incredibly strong athletes. "If you want to get better at CrossFit, you can't do CrossFit." (Top 25 CrossFit Games athlete and coach, wishes to remain anonymous due to sponsorship).

Waving the load

There is a training principle called "Waving the load." The intensity is divided into light, medium, and hard. Those who always "train" hard in CF disturb their homeostasis but take a long time to fully recover. Kettlebell training is sensibly structured (light, medium, hard), allowing the athlete to continuously improve through consistent, intelligent training to achieve a previously defined goal. Just as training should be. In the WOD, I often see sloppy repetitions (quantity of movement over quality of movement). The RKC follows the opposite motto: quality of movement over quantity of movement. Only this way does training make you better and not break you.

Learning from each other

CrossFitters should: not always go full throttle, minimize the WOD, develop Olympic weightlifting and strength, and only perform clean repetitions. But what can we learn from them? A lot! There are already kettlebell athletes who integrate the barbell into their training. Through weightlifting and powerlifting, we can further develop our athletic potential and benefit in many other areas. Gymnastics on rings and bars would expand our training spectrum of upper body pulling exercises. Many of us know this and sensibly supplement our training. Unfortunately, not all of us do so yet. Let no one die weak - evangelize, train, and become a better athlete.

that hardstyle kettlebell swings are the ultimate secret weapon for CrossFitters? By alternating between absolute body tension at the highest point of the swing and relative relaxation at the lowest point of the swing, you learn to provide stability on point. Extremely important for, e.g., Olympic weightlifting or gymnastics exercises on rings and bars.