IGX

Shafpocalypse Now wrote:Grab that really long comment, it was relevant to Rudy's douchiness

crossfitgene permalink

This was my email to Rudy after I attended a camp to which he never replied or acknowledged. He’s a DBag and a fraud, and everyone needs to know it.

Dear Rudy,
I wanted to give you my feedback on this past weekend’s “training camp.” My wife and I, along with other athletes we knew there were very disappointed with the total lack of: organization, useful content, and coaching!
When we paid $300 each for the “Outlaw Training Camp” we were excited and had high expectations. We understood that the Camp was geared towards competitive athletes, and people who had a solid command of CrossFit movements, and that the weekend would be a chance to hone skills, and understand in a deep way the method behind your programming. We have followed some of your programming, and appreciate the thought that goes into it.
Friday night was OK. A lifting session shooting for PR’s in the snatch and clean and jerk is always fun, but I can do that in my own gym anytime. With 60 people attempting maxes, why was there NO COACHING? Seems like a wasted opportunity to help some athletes PR, but I still had high hopes after Friday night.
Saturday morning brought a PowerPoint presentation on the snatch and clean and jerk that ANYONE who has been crossfitting for a few years or has attended Oly seminars could give. The info was very basic, and, in my opinion valueless to competitive athletes, affiliate owners, and anyone except a person with almost no exposure to the lifts. It looked like it was thrown together.
The breakout session showing the warmup was a joke. “It’s like the Burgener warm up, but better,” we were told. It was the Burgener warm up with a few extra movements. The groups were led by EA, and BP (your traveling coaching staff, I assume) and two guys from another gym here in Ca, and another from the host gym because you were out getting coffee. Exactly how much training or preparation did they have for what they were going to demonstrate? I can only guess zero, as they didn’t even know the sequence of the warm up, and one of the “Coaches” (who we were told “can do 25 muscle ups, he’s a good coach” was demonstrating recovering from a split jerk by bringing your back foot all the fucking way forward. What they did demonstrate, they did not further cue or correct.
The workout we were given was a tough one, and you used it to make the point that the strongest guy and girl had the fastest Grace time as well. What wasn’t explained or answered was: why weren’t the second strongest guy and girl second fastest? What do they need to do in order to get there? Why didn’t our Grace times line up with our Clean and Jerk PR’s? I don’t need to do Grace with BP in order to know he’s stronger and faster- he is a multi year Games athlete! What I thought I was paying for was information to get me just a little bit closer to performing at that level. A session regarding strategy before the workout would have been much more useful than a verbal berating afterwards about how much better EA moves than we do.
The afternoon lecture covered the seasonal template you use. No one was given a copy. The information was completely glossed over and a programming plan for an entire year was covered in a few minutes with NO DETAIL or specific examples. Exactly what does “aerobic endurance” entail? What kinds of wods help achieve this? What kind of workouts do you use for specific endurance? What do you recommend for maximal strength development? These terms were on display, but nothing specific was given!
The nutrition lecture was void of any information whatsoever. The takeaway message was “eat what works for you.” How about pre workout fueling? Multi-workout day fueling? Post workout meals? We didn’t learn a thing we could take away and use in competition. I can experiment on my own, but how about a direction to go in, or something you’ve seen someone else do that worked? There was also nothing talked about in terms of: competition prep, tapering, etc.
The second WOD was again used to show us that EA was a better runner, better at c2b pull-ups, and a better deadlifter. No Shit. Afterwards there was discussion about breaking up pull ups, pacing on the runs, and deadlifts. Wouldn’t that have been way more useful BEFORE the WOD? I can do a workout anytime, and kick my own ass. What I would have gotten more out of would be strategy, or an experiment with pacing/planned rest, etc.
We woke up on Sunday, and my wife asked if she could stay home to do laundry. How bad does a seminar have to be when a woman would rather wash smelly WOD clothes than attend? Another athlete wanted to stay home and watch football. We came anyway, hoping things would improve.
Sunday’s morning lecture about gymnastics was information that we teach our new clients during their foundation sessions. You’re giving a lecture to competitive athletes, some of whom made it to regionals, and you’re telling them that midline stability is important?!?
The breakout stations, with the exception of EA (handstand walks) and BP (pull-ups) lacked coaching, direction and a point! At the muscle ups station, we each did some muscle ups, then stood around for ten minutes. At the handstand push up station we each did some HSPU and then stood around. There were no progressions being taught, no nuances of the movement being refined, no teaching happening. At the pull up station, there was a progression, but I was taught how to go from hollow body to superman, and how to do a kipping pullup. BP at least had a plan, and kept people moving, but I teach this same progression to my beginners! I can’t imagine a room full of competitive athletes and coaches need this level of instruction. I snapped a photo of you at this point, laying in the corner, playing with your phone. If I was in charge of a seminar with 60 people, paying $300 each, I would be working my ass off the entire time to make sure they were getting their money’s worth.
After the gymnastics WOD was announced, I took my wife home. She had given up any hope that things would improve and couldn’t wait to get to washing and folding.
My friend and I skipped the WOD as well, figuring there wasn’t much a point to participating.
The afternoon lecture was the first time any actual information was given out, but again no handouts. I enjoyed the discussion about intervals, but would have liked more information about how programming fits into prilepin’s chart. If it is the end all, be all, why not explain it in detail? I was also confused when in two successive statements you seemed to completely contradict yourself. You explained that interval work is so important because you want to maintain absolute intensity. Then, the question was asked about scaling to maintain that intensity, and you said intensity doesn’t matter, do Fran at 65#, even if it takes 20 minutes. This lecture could have been first of the weekend, and every WOD could have been used to demonstrate another piece of the puzzle, and strategy could have come into play each WOD as well.
The last breakout session was the least organized, some stations going way past 12 minutes, and others falling way short. At the high bar back squat station, we each did a few, and stood around. At the low bar, we did a few, then bullshitted with EA. At the block station, we pulled a few and I heard that we’ve all been doing it wrong. That’s cool. I would have received way more value out of a lifting session from the blocks than one of the competition wods we did. If block work is a very important part of the program, it deserves more than 12 minutes and a 95# bar. My group had about 4 minutes with BP and the pulling from the floor station, so I have no idea if there was anything there I could have used. The hang clean station was basically pointless, just a bunch of us taking turns doing hang cleans. All weekend, each station lacked a progression, and lacked a plan for how to keep 12 athletes engaged and moving, and some coaches seemed to lack any coaching skill whatsoever. They all seemed like nice guys, and maybe they are great coaches at their home gyms. The responsibility for their performance and what their teaching falls on you.
I didn’t stick around for any final q and a’s or a closing ceremony. I was so mad and frustrated that I just left. I would love my $600 back, but I doubt that will happen, so I’m sending you this in hopes that you can make some drastic changes to your training camp so that the hundreds of people worldwide that have signed up will not be as disappointed as we are. I also realize that you may just post this on your site, talk shit, and make fun of it. I’m knowingly taking that chance because I KNOW that I am not the only unhappy attendee, and if you take this criticism seriously you can improve the quality of its content.

Blaidd Drwg wrote:

milosz wrote:What do these people mean by "genius programmer"?

They mean he effectively cut and pasted the old Gant Grimes Hybrid program without understanding a god damned word. I challenge anyone to go to his website and find more than a handful of corn in the ocean of shit he "programs"

Dr. Agkistrodon wrote:

tzg wrote:

milosz wrote:What do these people mean by "genius programmer"?

open source, yo.

One of the greatest hacker demigods of all time crops up on the couch thread. Jesus H. Fuck IGx really is the place where anything can happen.

I'd Hit It wrote:I thought the most interesting comment was Talanya Fortunato giving the writer props, given she was one of his prize ponies at last year's Gaymes.

I dig big chicks wrote:

I'd Hit It wrote:I thought the most interesting comment was Talanya Fortunato giving the writer props, given she was one of his prize ponies at last year's Gaymes.

He abandoned her in Iceland. Stranded her there. She fucking hates him.

macchez6 permalink

Great article, and very accurate description. We experienced the same thing with our training camp. Rudy also never paid the owner of the gym he used. I wonder how many other camps have experienced the same? I hope my coach will put the e-mail on here he sent to Rudy about his camp, which to this day has recieved no response.

NikiMRhodes permalink

It’s nice to see someone speaking up. This man Rudy is a criminal doing “training camps” all over the world and not paying anyone for their help or the use of their gym…..

Richard Truong permalink

Great write up. Same thing happen to us at the camp in Palm Desert (CrossFit Shifted)

doworkjoet permalink

Yup big joke. All bullshit at my camp too. Waste of money.

I feel bad for the long list of people in which he owes money to. Aka the affiliate owners of his mediocre camp and the winners of his events.

He’s on borrowed time in the cf world.

He will soon learn the law of the universe. “What goes around come around”

Shafpocalypse Now wrote:I can't believe nobody has whipped his weak and soft ass

Dr. Agkistrodon wrote:

Shafpocalypse Now wrote:I can't believe nobody has whipped his weak and soft ass

I can't believe people actually pay good money for this crap!

Actually, let me amend that statement...

...I've said before that I "get it." People want to be special, extraordinary. Some of those people do worthwhile things like pursue a Master's Degree in something interesting, others work hard at their job, and do cool things like train and compete in their chosen disciplines, and they lead happy, productive lives.

And then there's the douchebags. The ones that go over the top with it. The ones with no real sense of self-esteem or self-identity. They latch on to whatever "awesome" group they can find and dump every resource they have at their disposal into "fitting in." Case in point, these poor rubes who signed up for a "kickass, awesome, amazing" training camp lead by a "sought-after," "awesome," "genius programmer par-excellence" and basically got screwed, becuse they were unable to see this thing for what it actually is- a bandwagon you have to pay, to get on.

I get it. Mediocrity sucks. A passive life lead on the sofa sucks. Being fat and out of shape sucks. But training, getting strong and healthy doesn't make you awesome in and of it's self. The person who coaches you doesn't make you awesome, either. But unfortunately (for the sheeple) there will always be a group to join. A bogus training camp to sign up, and pay up, to attend and another bullshit cert to acquire.

Entities like this and others wouldn't exist if it weren't for dumbasses who buy into it. I blame the dishonest, unethical "leaders." But I blame their sheeple flowers even more.

tzg wrote:

Dr. Agkistrodon wrote:

Shafpocalypse Now wrote:I can't believe nobody has whipped his weak and soft ass

I can't believe people actually pay good money for this crap!

Actually, let me amend that statement...

...I've said before that I "get it." People want to be special, extraordinary. Some of those people do worthwhile things like pursue a Master's Degree in something interesting, others work hard at their job, and do cool things like train and compete in their chosen disciplines, and they lead happy, productive lives.

And then there's the douchebags. The ones that go over the top with it. The ones with no real sense of self-esteem or self-identity. They latch on to whatever "awesome" group they can find and dump every resource they have at their disposal into "fitting in." Case in point, these poor rubes who signed up for a "kickass, awesome, amazing" training camp lead by a "sought-after," "awesome," "genius programmer par-excellence" and basically got screwed, becuse they were unable to see this thing for what it actually is- a bandwagon you have to pay, to get on.

I get it. Mediocrity sucks. A passive life lead on the sofa sucks. Being fat and out of shape sucks. But training, getting strong and healthy doesn't make you awesome in and of it's self. The person who coaches you doesn't make you awesome, either. But unfortunately (for the sheeple) there will always be a group to join. A bogus training camp to sign up, and pay up, to attend and another bullshit cert to acquire.

Entities like this and others wouldn't exist if it weren't for dumbasses who buy into it. I blame the dishonest, unethical "leaders." But I blame their sheeple flowers even more.

I am a destiny. I am the star of the movie I am in.

Have you ever read Eric Hoffer's True Believer?

tzg wrote:Have you ever read Eric Hoffer's True Believer?

Grandpa's Spells wrote:

I dig big chicks wrote:

I'd Hit It wrote:I thought the most interesting comment was Talanya Fortunato giving the writer props, given she was one of his prize ponies at last year's Gaymes.

He abandoned her in Iceland. Stranded her there. She fucking hates him.

This actually happened?

Shafpocalypse Now wrote:Ol' Rudy's bad ass black Crossfitter has moved on to Pendlay for real coaching.