Some of you probably tuned in to watch the 2014 CrossFit Invitational that took place last night, but I assume the majority of you did not. In either case, this post is because of one of the events that was thrown at the competitors last night.
The international team competition started out much like any other CrossFit event. Right off the bat, athletes had to perform 45 pullups and 45 thrusters as fast as possible. If you do the math, those are the same reps as "Fran", just done one movement at a time. Pretty nasty. Pure CrossFit.
Next, select athletes took on the challenge of lifting as much weight as possible in the snatch and clean & jerk. This one was definitely a fun one to watch as some of the athletes were throwing around some serious weight and making it look like a cake-walk.
Most notable was Rich Froning's 305 snatch......in Nanos! Stupid.
In any case, the next challenge involved rowing for calories while your teammate held the top of a deadlift with some significant weight (275/405). If your partner dropped the barbell, the athlete on the rower had to stop until the bar was picked up again. Once the two-person team cleared this fun-fest, they traded reps on a (135/185) barbell power snatch. It stretched out for some time and was more involved than what I described, but you get the idea.
The last event of the night is the one that had me excited. Why? TIRE FLIPS!
That's right, the 4-person(2males/2females) teams had to break off into male/female couples and flip a 950lb tire in alternating fashion for the length of hockey rink. It was pretty badass to watch some of the very best CrossFitters in the world struggle with something that Travis County Strength athletes take on all the time!
Now, don't get me wrong. I am not saying that my athletes could have done the same workout any faster than the American team. All I'm saying is that this is proof that the strongman movements are absolutely scalable and can be performed by newbies as well as some of the best athletes in the world - and both will come out smoked!
SMOKED! Having to take some time to get their shit together for another flip.
This is exactly why I have such a passion for strongman and odd object training. It has a profound effect on athletes, but yet is so simple to coach and teach to new athletes. You've heard me say this before, but here it comes again......
Strongman movements are not learned....they are remembered. And because of this shit being hardwired in us, we get a massive return on our investment. Suffice it so say that strongman movements give you the biggest bang for your buck.
This beautiful idea was planted in my head when I attended my first CF Strongman Certification course several years ago. Rob Orlando - the face and brain behind CF SM - stated a lot of things that made perfect sense to me, and has ever since.
That's why I'm so stoked to now be on his certification staff! I know have the awesome responsibility to share this badassery with others so that they, too, can implement these powerful tools, movements and ideas in their training and the training of their athletes.
I mean, if the top CrossFit athletes in world are doing it more and more....don't you think that if you were to also implement strongman and odd object training (in a appropriate level for you) you might see some success and progress?
I know you would. And not to mention the simple fact that this shit is FUN! Who doesn't want to flip a big, dirty tire, or learn to pick up an atlas stone? That shit is cool! The first step, however, is learning from those that have experience.
Here's your chance!
