The completely WODphobic person who tells you that you shouldn’t be doing Crossfit, it’s bad for you, it’s dangerous, it’s downright crazy!
I have just one word for them: modify.
Sometimes I have two words for them, but that’s another post for another time.
I recently sat next to a trainer on a flight from Denver to NYC, and had this very conversation. She literally said the words, “No one should ever do Crossfit.” I was shocked and appalled that anyone who fancies themselves a trainer would take such a hard position against any method of exercise. She was convinced that the high intensity could only lead to joint issues and injuries. And then I said, “You know you can modify any movement in a Crossfit WOD at least five different ways.” Her expression was somewhat of disbelief.
So I continued to tell her some of my personal history. Prior to joining my Crossfit gym I’d had several sports related injuries from years on the tennis court, like wrist problems and no ACL in my right knee along with a bad fall skiing in which I actually injured both shoulders.
But guess what? I complete every single WOD, and I can lay out a modification for you for every type of joint weakness that exists – and I’m not even a coach! As we discussed a few of them I could see her face soften before my eyes. And, as the plane was beginning its descent for landing she had finally agreed that if provided proper guidance on modifications that anyone could do Crossfit.
I think what I found to be most humorous from the conversation overall was this woman’s position that anyone who walks into a Crossfit box is forced to do things a certain way. The coaches in our box always ask, especially of new athletes, “Are there any injuries I need to know about?” And when the movement comes that may impact a weak/injured area they take extra time to work with the athlete on an alternative. The trainer was especially shocked at this approach. So I asked her if she did that with all her classes and clients; she reddened in the face and changed the topic.
At the end of the day adult Crossfitters are responsible for their own bodies, and their own injuries for that matter. There’s no coach out there holding a gun to your head to force you into box jumps. Are they encouraging you and pushing you to your personal limits? Of course. But when I tell a coach that I have osteoarthritis in my knee and need to step-up instead of jump, or row in lieu of a run, none of them bat an eye.
This whole conversation and experience with this woman on the plane is what kills me about peoples’ anti-Crossfit position – they condemn something they’ve never tried and typically don’t know much about. I think people see and hear stories about the sport, and the myths of horrid injuries prevail.
I say, don’t knock something until you’ve tried it. Is Crossfit right for everyone? Probably not. But it is right for more people than the average onlooker might think. With multiple types of modifications for every movement, anyone can make a WOD meet their unique needs.
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