The couch thread

Gary John · Post by **Gary John** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 12:25 am

Had a shitty day. Got home, tired, wife's sick, so I'm making dinner, or defrosting it, anyways.

Opened up today's:

http://www.moynihaninstitute.com/

Made me happy to be an American.

Crust Bucket · Post by **Crust Bucket** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 1:02 am

Yet he gets disparaged by this cunt, this drunken gimp that has no business giving health and fitness advice to anyone that isn’t a homeless junkie.

=D> =D>

Shafpocalypse Now · Post by **Shafpocalypse Now** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 1:18 am

Wash away all the lines on your face that show how you've aged
it's a long way down
your back's been broken you can't make the rounds
the tables are turned as the litany goes...
you're a rotten old man who'll be covered in dirt
on your knees
and pray to the maker that caused you to bleed

Chorus:
Turn back the hand on the clock
you're a bitter old man who's done nothing
but work your hands to the bone on the assembly lines
you've grown cold to the touch of the ones that you love
ignorance is something you can't over come but you've passed it on down
and that's something much worse for a bitter young man...
is now taking the torch

Silent scorn - you've taken it out on the ones you adore
Inside rage they've left you before but they'll come back again
they'll pray for you with all their love
but this time your indifference just can't be excused
Forced amends
well it's something you'll die with but it goes on for them...

Turn back the hand on the clock
you're a bitter old man who's done nothing
but work your hands to the bone on the assembly lines
you've grown cold to the touch of the ones that you love
ignorance is something you can't over come but you've passed it on down
and that's something much worse for a bitter young man...
is now taking the torch

Sofa King · Post by **Sofa King** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 3:08 am

Couldn't find that song on YouTube, so here's the next best thing:

Blaidd Drwg · Post by **Blaidd Drwg** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 1:20 pm

If we are to continue piling on GG, we really need to up the game. Unchecked aggression is boring. I provide a counterpoint quote, without attribution. Thought this was the fairest bit of hyperbole I'd read re: @fit in a while. .

Greg Glassman is singlehandedly responsible for more people actively practicing the 2 lifts right now than at any other time in history, and the current administration has done their best to completely ignore this fact. This situation will very soon be made right. He is also responsible for more sales of Olympic weightlifting equipment in the past two years than any other person since Bob Hoffman, and fact that has also been ignored and has gone unappreciated -- at least publicly -- by many of these same people.

My own opinion of Greg is that he has done more to legitimize actual training in the minds of the public than any other person since Arthur Jones destroyed it in the mid-70s.....

CrossFit has the potential to change the popular cultural perception of what exercise actually means over the next decade, and I will watch with delight as selectorized leg machines are melted down into more useful items like re-bar and manhole covers.

Shafpocalypse Now · Post by **Shafpocalypse Now** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 1:26 pm

The actual competitive lifters who've been exposed to the OLs via Crossfit is still quite small.

There's no trickle down or farm system, it's mostly mid-20s to mid-40s folks taking them up.

Blaidd Drwg · Post by **Blaidd Drwg** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 1:29 pm

Shaf wrote:The actual competitive lifters who've been exposed to the OLs via Crossfit is still quite small.

There's no trickle down or farm system, it's mostly mid-20s to mid-40s folks taking them up.

Your tone is too moderate. Surely you can do better.

Shafpocalypse Now · Post by **Shafpocalypse Now** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 1:41 pm

My hate is weakened because I've made some strength and righteousness sapping blunders. I don't especially hate Crossfit anyway, despite being one of it's most vocal critics.

Plus, I've spent about 5 hours over the last 24 hours outside removing snow, and am quite spent.

ledfistaco · Post by **ledfistaco** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 5:33 pm

Shaf wrote:The actual competitive lifters who've been exposed to the OLs via Crossfit is still quite small.

There's no trickle down or farm system, it's mostly mid-20s to mid-40s folks taking them up.

I'd be totally curious to see the number of competitive lifters who come to the sport through xfit. I am guessing it's tiny. The temple's program just doesn't allow one to get very good at the lifts or strong enough to get competitive.

The tone on the xfit boards about the o-lifts is not about increasing a total. People think a 2 day cert and some books and videos is adequate for their technical development. Those people won't ever develop competitively like that.

In the last week people have posted repeatedly asking for sources to get better at the lifts and most responses were websites, books and videos. I linked to USAW club directory online to get people into clubs.

Maybe more people are doing olifts than ever in the last 30yrs or whatever, but who gives a shit about 135lb cleans?

Also, all the xfitters who come to my gym always seem to have the same style. A jump with a real high heal pickup and loud stomp.
I think the weakness(es) they share is due to light weight, no progression in resistance. (i'm no coach, just a guess)

Danny John · Post by **Danny John** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 6:01 pm

Whenever people ask me "Why isn't O lifting more popular in the USA?," I always answer "Have you ever hung around O lifters?"

A typical high school football program would have many regional and state champions in the O lifts, but it seems the sport goes out of its way to make it difficult to join in. Weigh-ins at 9:00 am, lifting at 3:00 on a Saturday without any crowd (save the other lifters) and officials treating the event like the Final Olympic Trials...makes it hard to attract some/many kids.

Highland Games are a good contrast: big crowds, lots of fun, a kind of "c'mon and try it" attitude, respect for just attempting...

So, before we award lifetime achievement awards, we have to be careful about what we say. It's like that one clown who said he could be a Collegiate Strength and Conditioning coach and "instantly" make everyone stronger by 10%...yet, doesn't know the sports involved at all.

It's easy to write things. I am rich and good looking.

ledfistaco · Post by **ledfistaco** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 6:13 pm

Yeah Dan, the meets aren't always the most awesome event to come to, but when it's not a school sport, it's hard to get the kind of support, venues and attention other sports get for youth. And there's no pro's to emulate in the US... we need a nice slew of Olympic Golds...
But I have been to some well attended meets at Lost Battalion Hall, and one meet in CT that was webcast.
The highland games and strongman stuff are good models - they make it exciting for the crowd. O-lifting needs more promotion and fun I guess. Maybe theme songs for each lifter to come out to, bikini babes to hand out trophies.
That's what we need - young women handing out trophies for the best snatch.

Sofa King · Post by **Sofa King** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 6:17 pm

I will say this about CF and its founder: It has exposed more people to some pretty gifted minds in different fields. Look at the exposure Rippetoe, Burgener, Twight, and even Dan John got through CF. It's just unfortunate that there is no "free lunch" in that you are expected to give all freely and expect the returns to just flow in.

As some have learned, become too successful and fail to pay tribute to the GWF, and you pay the price. Of course, Dan's story defies logic or explanation and believe me I've heard both sides.

Can't explain the whole Buddy Lee thing though.

Danny John · Post by **Danny John** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 6:19 pm

ledfist, I love your blog, by the way.

You are on the right track, I think, but we don't have to go too far. Here is one idea: only five weight classes and eliminate all the Jr, Sr, Open, Masters (all the masters breakdowns) for regional events, so that the audience sees a competition and not everyone getting a gold.

I'm not ripping O lifting at all, but if we decided as a group to "breath life" into Greco-Roman wrestling, we could "represent" at a lot of low level contests.

Danny John · Post by **Danny John** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 6:20 pm

Actually, I think the exposure "cost" me. If I am going to sell out, I should at least get some money...something...

Schlegel · Post by **Schlegel** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 6:26 pm

Danny John wrote:Actually, I think the exposure "cost" me. If I am going to sell out, I should at least get some money...something...

Come on, everyone knows you did it for the free PVC pipe. You're a PVC junkie!

ledfistaco · Post by **ledfistaco** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 6:35 pm

Thanks, Dan. Glad someone's seen it.

Yeah, fewer classes might be good. And time... sometimes a meet takes forever. I get a headache by the end from the sound of the weight dropping.
And good PA announcers can make a real difference, too. Just letting the crowd know that a lifter is going for a PR, or this lift will qualify them for nationals, etc...

But all in all, I've found the meets I've been in to be pretty supportive. If someone struggles to get up on their clean, people cheer them, no matter how much on the bar. Usually the crowd is into it for every lifter's third attempt. They know it's gonna be the hard one, and they get into it. Watching coaches with national level experience, as lifters and in their coached kids, yell for some first timer who's struggling to rise from a sub-bodyweight clean is kind awesome.

Danny John · Post by **Danny John** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 1:20 pm

I was reminded last night of a meeting we were at around 1991 (when I was still pretty active as an O lifter) and Greg Shepard of Bigger Faster Stronger noted that "I (GS) have done more for the Olympic lifts than anyone in American history." Now, I like Greg and I, too, am prone to hyperbole (which is something I have said a million times), but I'm starting to get the start of an insight here.

Dazed · Post by **Dazed** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 2:26 pm

The sheeple will always hear the one who is loudest.

DJ - get a megaphone and get your slice of the pie.

ledfistaco · Post by **ledfistaco** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 3:34 pm

Crap, I think just getting a better time slot in the 08 broadcasts would do a lot for the popularity.

Seeing the competition in 04 is what made me want to do try it out. I ended up having to wait until 2006, but I was hooked from just watching once.

Sofa King · Post by **Sofa King** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 4:12 pm

I just read this in the comments for yesterday's rest day.

Just back from Vegas, saw the Crossfit fellas at the convention. Thanks to them for comming out; don't think crossfit is 'marketed' nearly enough. Probably a factor of passion for fitness instead of desire to create a business empire.

Comment #63 - Posted by me on February 7, 2008 04:28 AM

Not sure who "me" is or what convention he speaks of; I just thought the comment about "passion for fitness instead of desire to create a business empire" was a little naive.

The Real Rant · Post by **The Real Rant** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 4:22 pm

Bannedbycf wrote:I just read this in the comments for yesterday's rest day.
Just back from Vegas, saw the Crossfit fellas at the convention. Thanks to them for comming out; don't think crossfit is 'marketed' nearly enough. Probably a factor of passion for fitness instead of desire to create a business empire.

Comment #63 - Posted by me on February 7, 2008 04:28 AM
Not sure who "me" is or what convention he speaks of; I just thought the comment about "passion for fitness instead of desire to create a business empire" was a little naive.

I can tell just by looking at couch that he has a "passion for fitness".

TomFurman · Post by **TomFurman** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 5:09 pm

Danny John wrote:Actually, I think the exposure "cost" me. If I am going to sell out, I should at least get some money...something...

If I had your money, I'd burn mine. Then again with your looks, .... if you were my weight you could be a male model and do shaving commercials. It's a trade off.

Sofa King · Post by **Sofa King** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:49 pm

Danny John wrote:Actually, I think the exposure "cost" me. If I am going to sell out, I should at least get some money...something...

You told me you got a "free lunch" out of it. Guess the old saying is true.

Gary John · Post by **Gary John** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 12:35 am

It is amazing how much fun it is to be obsessed with hating Glasshole.

However, other than the very few who are into this stuff, x-fit is a pimple on a gnat's ass when it comes to audience.

First, when Dan started doing articles for T-Nation, I got tons of emails from different people I know, throwers, lifters, track coaches, on and on, saying I see your brother is writng for, T-Nation (I need to retake my college writing classes).

Now, I get people calling me, stopping me at the fucking supermarket, telling me they read Dan's stuff in Men's Health. This of course has heaped shame upon the family name.

So, Glasshole has a new liplock on the nuts of a couple of guys with cred in the lifting community. He'll burn through them, or they'll walk, whatever. Glasshole is Richard Simmons without the glitter.
Same basic client base, maybe a little more gay.

Shafpocalypse Now · Post by **Shafpocalypse Now** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 12:58 am

So, Glassman moved to Arizona.

Now, there have been two splinter groups from the original Crossfit Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz North, with that Brendan cat, and Santa Cruz South with Annie and Eva.

That's kind of interesting, no?

IGX

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