The couch thread

[Mountebank]

CROSSFIT GOES GLOBO-GYM?

We Used to be Counterculture…

I don’t know about you, but I’ve had a weird sense of foreboding since I heard about the CrossFit/Reebok partnership. I found this pic on crossfit.com and it didn’t make me feel any better. This pic SCREAMS globo-gym to me. Especially the “10 General Physical Skills” mural on the wall. YIKES!

Now, before everyone freaks out, let me say this: I LOVE CrossFit, the culture and what it has done for all of us. CrossFit changed my entire life. And Glassman is an absolute genius. I’ll never forget the night I read his “What is Fitness?” and was completely blown away by it and inspired. A few months later I was attending every CrossFit Cert I could find…

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the whole story, here’s the official announcement:
[video]

The Good…

The GOOD in the partnership is – for sure – the fact that the more effective CrossFit methodology and training techniques will make it out into the mainstream. This IS a good thing. In particular, the HUGE majority of people who want effective training and have been brainwashed by globo-gyms and fitness magazines into thinking machines and treadmills are the way to get “fit” will FINALLY have access to good information and effective training. Here, CrossFit making it to the masses is a GREAT thing.

And, as I said, Glassman is a training genius and he can do whatever the hell he wants with his baby as far as I’m concerned. He created it, we owe him a lot and he deserves to have “CrossFit” spread to the masses if that’s what he wants.

The Bad…

SciFit posted a really good article about the partnership (good AND bad) recently. It’s definitely a good read and probably has a more positive spin than anything. Here’s the thing: CossFit USED TO BE a subculture. I LOVED that I was part of this wacky, extreme training community that was seen as a little “nutty” from the outside. If CrossFit goes entirely mainstream – and I have NO DOUBT that it will if Reebok is involved – we will absolutely see it take on more of a “group exercise” tone. And, I shudder at the thought, we could even see “career” group instructors “picking up” a CrossFit cert to make themselves more marketable. You know, something to go right along with their Spinning and Zumba certs.

There’s no doubt in my mind that there is going to be a dilution of the core training principles if CrossFit goes “big.” One of the major benefits of CrossFit boxes was that they were virtually always owned by an experienced trainer who took the work very seriously and considered himself a producer of elite athletes. If CrossFit Reebok gyms start opening everywhere they’re going to need to be “staffed” and that is a scary, scary thing…

Everyone’s into CrossFit, no one does it anymore…

To me, the opportunity – and the question – is: “Where are the splinter movements?” Where are the smaller communities and blogs that are carrying on the quality and intensity that CrossFit had at the start of this whole thing? There have been a number of people who have split off from CrossFit – my friend Robb Wolf being one of them and OPT Fitzgerald being another. It will be interesting to see if a bunch of displaced talent comes together to carry on the REAL work of furthering the “sport of fitness” and moving training and nutrition science ever forward.

And, if there are ALREADY some “splinter groups” or schisms forming, BY ALL MEANS drop me a message and let me know!

To sum it all up, I’ll leave you with this:

What you’re looking at above is recognition that CrossFit is now officially an ANSI Accredited Certificate Program Issuer for their Level 1 Trainer Course. Essentially, we’re talking about Level 1 trainers now having a “map” that they need to follow, with rigid standards and black and white rules. As Seth Godin says in Linchpin:

“Our society is struggling because during times of change, the very last people you need on your team are well-paid bureaucrats, note takers, literalists, manual readers, TGIF Laborers, and fearful employees…. What we want, what we need, what we must have are indispensable human beings. We need original thinkers, provocateurs, and people who care…. Indispensable linchpins are not waiting for instructions, but instead, figuring out what to do next. If you have a job where someone tells you what to do next, you’ve just given up the chance to create value.”

When I found CrossFit back in 2007 with the help of my good friend Merle Mckenzie, there was no map. There wasn’t even a written test at the end of the Level 1 Cert I took. For a guy like me, that was GREAT – give me an awesome, intense weekend of training and theory and turn me loose to create MY OWN map and find my own way with a great set of principles.

Maps, standards and sets of instructions are confining and stifling to Linchpins but they’re exactly what you need if you’re planning to replace coaches who consider training others “doing art” with low paid employees who need a manual to tell them what to do next

I believe we have entered into the Quickening...

[TerryB]

CROSSFIT GOES GLOBO-GYM?

We Used to be Counterculture…

I don’t know about you, but I’ve had a weird sense of foreboding since I heard about the CrossFit/Reebok partnership. I found this pic on crossfit.com and it didn’t make me feel any better. This pic SCREAMS globo-gym to me. Especially the “10 General Physical Skills” mural on the wall. YIKES!

Now, before everyone freaks out, let me say this: I LOVE CrossFit, the culture and what it has done for all of us. CrossFit changed my entire life. And Glassman is an absolute genius...

I stopped reading right there.

[JohnnyBadAss]

And Glassman is an absolute genius...

I stopped reading right there.

I'll hand it to Glassman. An overweight, alcoholic gimp that is able to make millions a year fleecing yuppies...yeah, that's pretty genius. His training methodologies are about the antithesis of genius. But in terms of laughing his way to the bank...genius.

[Damien]

Proto, you missed the best part.

And Glassman is an absolute genius. I’ll never forget the night I read his “What is Fitness?” and was completely blown away by it and inspired.

The sad thing is, because of this article, every crossfit retard is of the opinion that couch was the first person to ever come up with this idea of fitness...

[Shafpocalypse Now]

I saw Reebok's display of knee socks, volleyball style fitness shorts, and sports bras at Dicks yesterday.

[TerryB]

I saw Reebok's display of knee socks, volleyball style fitness shorts, and sports bras at Dicks yesterday.

No self-tattoo kits?

[friedquads]

I am surprised he didn't DNF doing that ad. I think I see a hip injury about to happen....

Its just a picture. He could have blown a hammy right after that. The ribs thing is bad. You could be slow like ox and walk him down. Sooner or later he will DNF.

he would fit right in at the globo gyms he claims to hate so much with the abz and the narcissism

You know he's going to be screaming his eliteness to the masses once the Reebok shops start expanding. (Unlike the ANSI joke that is the Level 1 cert, the Endurance cert is still a two-day joke where he professes he's still claiming to be a legit athlete.)

The hammy issue did happen. It was his excuse when he dropped out of his own 41-mile run across the Death Valley Basin after running for 4-hours with the excuse of "melted shoes" and a gimpy hip.

Hey...4-hour...gimpy hip...that's a combo of Tim Ferriss and The Couch!

[Stillwater]

I'll never forget the day I found IGX.

Crossfit is like the matrix and IGX is the red pill.

[Shafpocalypse Now]

I started keeping track of Bmac's blog. For everything he says that sounds reasonable, there are about 10 pieces that are just silly.

[friedquads]

I started keeping track of Bmac's blog. For everything he says that sounds reasonable, there are about 10 pieces that are just silly.

You're being far too nice here Shaf. Must be the holidays.

[TerryB]

The year is coming to a close and I still haven't bagged the Diva.

This year sucked.

[Stillwater]

Crossfit + openbook = goldmine.

http://youropenbook.org/?q=crossfit&gender=any

[WildGorillaMan]

The year is coming to a close and I still haven't bagged the Diva.

This year sucked.

Her turn ons include gorillas and dudes that can run more than 13 miles in one go. Turn offs include rain, cat people and dudes who bitch and moan on the Internet.

You've got two clear avenues towards her affection: run more and/or stop waxing off all your body hair.

[Mountebank]

The year is coming to a close and I still haven't bagged the Diva.

This year sucked.

So ultra running must not be doing the job she wants on her lower portions, or else why would she be in those stupid shape-up shoes?!?

[syaigh]

She has a lot of cranium accessories. For the stupid people, she has too much shit on her head.

[friedquads]

The year is coming to a close and I still haven't bagged the Diva.

This year sucked.

So ultra running must not be doing the job she wants on her lower portions, or else why would she be in those stupid shape-up shoes?!?

Those are not Shape-Up shoes. They're actual trail shoes called Hokas. From what I heard, they feel pretty awesome but wear out quickly - average lifespan is about 200, maybe 300 miles tops before they disintegrate. But if you got the $cratch or if you're sponsored by the company, your feet will not feel like hamburger after a long trail run.

http://www.hokaoneone.com/en/

[syaigh]

Wow. Those are like the opposite of barefoot shoes. Do you suppose they might melt at a slower rate in death valley as well?

[friedquads]

Wow. Those are like the opposite of barefoot shoes. Do you suppose they might melt at a slower rate in death valley as well?

Depends on the size of the knuckle tattoos you have.

[CultBuster]

I want to know if Assman is offering any protection to existing affiliates agains the Reebok/@Fit gyms?

http://reebokcrossfitone.com/

I doubt many of the Mom and Pop boxes could stand up next to places like these. If you are in a garage or storage locker with a rower and some bumpers how are you not going to get drilled by this?

[TerryB]

Well, I hope Reebok is prepared for lawsuits if they're going to let their name be plastered on every two-bit "box" opened up by your neighborhood level 1 "coach."

Or perhaps Cultfit HQ agreed to indemnify Reebok from liability through the RRG? LOL

[Mountebank]

Wow. Those are like the opposite of barefoot shoes. Do you suppose they might melt at a slower rate in death valley as well?

Pretty hilarious that she got press in "Born to Run" and now she's wearing those goofy (although possibly beneficial for the recovering sadomasochistic ultrarunner) shoes.

[Yes I Have Balls]

I want to know if Assman is offering any protection to existing affiliates agains the Reebok/@Fit gyms?

http://reebokcrossfitone.com/

I doubt many of the Mom and Pop boxes could stand up next to places like these. If you are in a garage or storage locker with a rower and some bumpers how are you not going to get drilled by this?

"The cream will rise to the top...."

[Jay]

I want to know if Assman is offering any protection to existing affiliates agains the Reebok/@Fit gyms?

http://reebokcrossfitone.com/

I doubt many of the Mom and Pop boxes could stand up next to places like these. If you are in a garage or storage locker with a rower and some bumpers how are you not going to get drilled by this?

I am not gonna lie, every time I read Assman, I first think its still about me... please call him Couch so I can avoid thinking I am part of @fit, kthx. :D

This corporate merger is going to be epic to watch, I can't wait to see how they destroy it.

[Yes I Have Balls]

Or perhaps Cultfit HQ agreed to indemnify Reebok from liability through the RRG? LOL

I guess that could possibly explain where all that RRG money actually went?

[Shafpocalypse Now]

Reebok is going to kill the affiliates in the big markets. $50 monthly memberships, classes every hour on the hour, enough equipment for 20 folks to train at once.