28 First off, I would like to say this was originally only one blog post but I kept rambling on, so I had to break it up into several pieces. This is part one of the ongoing series entitled-
Common Misconceptions About CrossFit, the World and Everything Else Part 1
Myth #1- CrossFit didn't create anything new! Fact: It depends what you mean by 'create.' Example-
photo via apple.com and facebook.com
This is not supposed to sound like an answer from the Matrix or a philosophical answer, but let's look at products and society and go from there. Let us take the iPad and Coca Cola for examples. Coca-Cola- How often have you thought, 'man I want a Coke?' But wait, is coke the same as a cola? What is cola? From Wikipedia: "Cola is a carbonated beverage that was originally flavored and caffeinated by the kola nut, as well as by vanilla and other ingredients. However, most colas now use other flavoring (and caffeinating) ingredients with a similar taste. It became popular worldwide after druggist John Pemberton invented Coca-Cola in 1886. His non-alcoholic recipe was inspired by the Coca wine of pharmacistAngelo Mariani, created in 1863; it still contained cocaine. Coca-Cola is a major international brand, and is associated with the United States. It usually contains caramel color, caffeine and sweeteners such as sugar or high fructose corn syrup." So John Pemberton did not INVENT Cola, but he sure put a stamp on the beverage by tweaking a previous idea and adding some incredents (a little cocaine here and there) and voila! He made a new product that people worldwide have been drinking for several decades and is so popular that people refer to most, if not all, colas as cokes. (Except you Pepsi fans, but in your heads you probably say Coke and correct yourselves.) Apple- When you look at the commercials for new tablets and computers, who owns a fair share of the market? It would be no other than Apple. How do they accomplish this? They first make a product that's easy to use and they market it like nobody's business. Now some may think, what, that's not fair! Their computer isn't better than any other thing I've seen! But let me ask you something: didn't they make a product that you know is only made by THEM and set APART from all the other laptops and tablets? Brief story- I was in the store the other day and a older woman asked what kind of iPad should she buy. She wasn't talking about the difference from a iPad and a iPad mini; she thought all tablets were called iPads. Somewhere, deep below the surface of the Earth in California, someone at Apple is smiling and stroking their money beard in the marketing department. Bottom Line- CrossFit has streamlined many different principles that help you become stronger and see results. There is nothing new under the sun. But the way you package it makes all the difference. There is no mistaking that CrossFit works. But why are some people upset it's becoming well known? Because they didn't package the idea first and streamlinen this very effective system of exercise. For further examples please see the invention of the Kleenex. Myth #2- CrossFit created a brand new system called circuit training and it is the best, and never changes from the original purpose. Fact: CrossFit is a system to implements many different systems in several different arrangements to emphasize muscle confusion. Example- Look at this.
photo via adamtglass.com
Seriously I am not making this up; the caption for this picture on their site is, "Seriously bro...Hard-CORE!" “Where are you at with your fitness training?”
And you want to know the answer to that? IT'S NOWHERE FOR A FEW DAYS BECAUSE YOU JACKED UP YOUR HANDS STUPID!!! This has been mentioned in several articles throughout the last few years. This is an injury it is not cool or fun. This is preventing you from training effectively for several days and it is slowing your progress regarding pull-ups, or anything remotely to do with a grip!
But you know what? The very first box I started training at wouldn't let me use gloves. It WASN'T allowed. Why? Because some people thought that was a sissy way to do pull-ups. Oh yeah? Go watch a video of Neal Maddox at the 2012 CrossFIt Games or even last month's Invitional Throwndown at CrossFit One World. And guys, what does he have on his HANDS!?
The point is, things change. Year after year especially in CrossFIt. This is new, this is fresh their going to have growing pains just like every other sport or group or club. People speak up bring new ideas to the table for CrossFit and the bottom line for what we do is to see results. We want to see the data; we want to see result with what ever do.
I don't mean or intend to take away anything Coach Glassman has done for CrossFit. But it shows that no matter the product or service, it takes a shrewd and smart person to market it and to make it something that the public can use.
(See also- Closed-chained VS open-Chained Ther-ex in Knee Rehab. Very interesting why it has changed over the years. That will be mentioned in a following article.)
Part 2 will discuss why I believe CrossFit started in 1967 and other alien conspiracies later this week :)
Leave some comments below! (Profanity is notallowedin the comments if directed towards the author of this article.)
