Wednesday, 25 May 2011
A Functional Summer
Whenever summer rolls around, I start thinking about all the fun outdoor activities that have been put on hold during the winter. That's not to say there are no fun outdoor activities during the winter, it's just that summer activities tend to involve less logistics and more hours of daylight. There's alot to be said for what can be gained by training in the cold and wet weather, in addition to training at night...but that is a topic for another discussion.
Greg Everett's thoughts on "functionality" that was included with yesterday's post made me think about my own definition of functionality. I think Mr. Everett is a brilliant man...I appreciate his technical knowledge in the area of Olympic weightlifting, and his writing style is precise...much the way I attempt to write. However, I feel as though he's missing the point, if only a bit. He is obviously taking a(nother) stab at Greg Glassman and the CrossFit methodology. What Everett is not understanding, or choosing to ignore, is that Glassman has defined "functionality" in more ways than "large loads, long distances, quickly", although it's true when Everett states that Glassman puts this as the most important aspect of functionality. I tend to focus on the statement "they are natural, effective, and efficient locomotors of body and external objects."
Sure, functional is functional with regard to specific movements for specific purposes. Everett states: "To determine whether or not an exercise is functional, we just need to consider the goal for it." But what if the goal is impossible to know? Glassman's CrossFit methodology of preparing regular folks as well as elite athletes for the "unknown and unknowable" is the antithesis of the specifics that Everett eludes to. Using Everett's reasoning, bicep curls are functional if the goal is to get bigger biceps. However, Glassman might argue that a pull-up is a path to bigger biceps as well, but the movement is functional in terms of it being a natural one.
I suppose the debate can go on and on. I consider both men to be very intelligent...I would pay money to see these two go head to head on the subject of functionality. In such an event, it would be good to have a strong moderator, or possibly a referee.
With all that in mind, and getting back to the topic of summer outdoor activities, how does the specific task of tying a proper bowline become functional? I say it's functional when you look beyond being a good knot-tyer (yes, it's a word, but can be spelled tier as well) and focus on the fact that someday, it might come in handy to know when and how to use a bowline in a life-saving situation. The goal isn't necessarily to tie a knot, it's to save a life. So, if you see knot tying come up as part of our training, it may be functional according to Greg Everett, but maybe not to Greg Glassman. If you go on an adventure this summer that requires a bowline as a safety or lifesaving device, it's likely functional to Glassman, but maybe not to Everett.
News, Announcements, and Special Events:
Times:
Functionality Gone Bad
Five rounds, one minute each station, one minute rest between rounds.
Nutrition:
Mindset:
Whenever summer rolls around, I start thinking about all the fun outdoor activities that have been put on hold during the winter. That's not to say there are no fun outdoor activities during the winter, it's just that summer activities tend to involve less logistics and more hours of daylight. There's alot to be said for what can be gained by training in the cold and wet weather, in addition to training at night...but that is a topic for another discussion.
Greg Everett's thoughts on "functionality" that was included with yesterday's post made me think about my own definition of functionality. I think Mr. Everett is a brilliant man...I appreciate his technical knowledge in the area of Olympic weightlifting, and his writing style is precise...much the way I attempt to write. However, I feel as though he's missing the point, if only a bit. He is obviously taking a(nother) stab at Greg Glassman and the CrossFit methodology. What Everett is not understanding, or choosing to ignore, is that Glassman has defined "functionality" in more ways than "large loads, long distances, quickly", although it's true when Everett states that Glassman puts this as the most important aspect of functionality. I tend to focus on the statement "they are natural, effective, and efficient locomotors of body and external objects."
Sure, functional is functional with regard to specific movements for specific purposes. Everett states: "To determine whether or not an exercise is functional, we just need to consider the goal for it." But what if the goal is impossible to know? Glassman's CrossFit methodology of preparing regular folks as well as elite athletes for the "unknown and unknowable" is the antithesis of the specifics that Everett eludes to. Using Everett's reasoning, bicep curls are functional if the goal is to get bigger biceps. However, Glassman might argue that a pull-up is a path to bigger biceps as well, but the movement is functional in terms of it being a natural one.
I suppose the debate can go on and on. I consider both men to be very intelligent...I would pay money to see these two go head to head on the subject of functionality. In such an event, it would be good to have a strong moderator, or possibly a referee.
With all that in mind, and getting back to the topic of summer outdoor activities, how does the specific task of tying a proper bowline become functional? I say it's functional when you look beyond being a good knot-tyer (yes, it's a word, but can be spelled tier as well) and focus on the fact that someday, it might come in handy to know when and how to use a bowline in a life-saving situation. The goal isn't necessarily to tie a knot, it's to save a life. So, if you see knot tying come up as part of our training, it may be functional according to Greg Everett, but maybe not to Greg Glassman. If you go on an adventure this summer that requires a bowline as a safety or lifesaving device, it's likely functional to Glassman, but maybe not to Everett.
News, Announcements, and Special Events:
- CrossFit Helena competition: Saturday, June 4th, at Memorial Park. Check out helenaspringfling.wordpress.com for
details.
- NOTICE: When doing band-assisted pull-ups, don't use your other (unsupported) foot to get your support foot off the bands! Use a partner or wait for a coach to help you. The bands are laminated latex and they are getting damaged so please don't contribute to their deterioration! Thanks!
Times:
- 6am
- 9am
- 6pm
- 7pm
- External objects
- Monostructural
- Bodyweight
- DS/BM
- Wrists
- P/S/P
- Achilles
- Med ball toss
- All exercises in today's workout
Functionality Gone Bad
Five rounds, one minute each station, one minute rest between rounds.
- Run (lengths)
- Obstacle jump
- Object lift
- Tire flip
- Object toss
Nutrition:
Mindset:
- "You will become as small as your controlling desire, or as great as your dominant inspiration." -James Allen
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