Cross Trainer

CO And what does the Crossfit philosophy involve? How does it differ from other training methods? AS Well, on one level it shouldn't differ at all, because it's really just what sports science tells you to do; but basically it focuses on a general all round fitness. Most people will tend to define fitness as being very specific on one thing, so you end up with strong people who can't run, and runners who can't be strong; what we're really saying is that be a good human being you need to specialise in everything, and that includes training all three energy systems to become a good aerobic athlete, a good anaerobic athlete, and a good short sprinter. We think you need to train all three systems. Obviously if you want to go off and become a marathon runner you have to that specific training, but people shouldn't confuse specific sports training with getting generally fit.

CO Ok, so it's kind of a one size fits all approach? How does Crossfit cater for the needs of a variety of different goals?

AS Well actually you set the same workout for everyone, but because you allow people to change their own rep systems and the weights they actually use, what you'll find is that people are having dramatically different workouts. So for example, in the session we did on the i-course here, if you say to people, 'do ten overhead squats', some cross trainer may decide to use a 10kg bar, some a 20kg one, and some may decide to use a broomstick. Those who are very strong may do it very fast, some may have to do it in reps of 3. So if you're very strong, that workout becomes quite easy; for others who are not so strong that would be their maximum workout, in terms of strength. 

CO Sure. So what would you say to people who look at the Crossfit concept, see people doing muscle ups and advanced movements and just think that would be too hard for them? 

AS I think a lot of people talk themselves out of doing stuff before they even try, but it's good to have some different objectives. Sometimes my main complaint about fitness, and it goes right back to my very first fitness course, where I was taught to treat everyone as though they were a cardiac rehab patient, (so not to risk getting people to put their hands over their heads, not do overhead presses), and this long list of terrible injuries that could potentially happen. And I think as a result of that, as a trainer I was unfit and the people I trained were unfit as well. So I think having difficult targets is what we want. We all set ourselves difficult targets , like trying to have a house, to try and marry someone who's not a total bitch : ) and when you think about it like that, trying to do a muscle up pales into insignificance in comparison. So then it's not so hard as you first thought, especially if you work through the exercises progressively. There's nothing that can't be done. The drills we choose are very basic in terms of the sport that we actually do, for example the average six year old gymnast can do a muscle up fairly easily, but you just have to keep on working at it.