At Industrial Athletics, we do not believe in specialized training. Â We believe that the person who is most fit is the person who is capable of performing well at anything that is thrown at him/her. Â We take this concept and belief from CrossFit, although, it is not new by any means. Â The concept is referred to as General Physical Preparedness. Â The idea is that by training everything, you are much better suited for anything. Â This is not to say that specialists are not “fit.” Â An Olympic Lifter is certainly “fit” for an Olympic Lifter. Â The person who wins a power lifting competition is certainly “fit” in power lifting. Â But, what CrossFit is proving is that training for General Physical Preparedness can make you “fit” at everything. Â Olympic Lifting numbers put up by athletes like Rich Froning, Jr. rival those who have trained for nothing but Olympic Lifting. Â That is not to say that specialized training is not important or useful. Â But, weaknesses should not be ignored.
One of the best ways to test someone’s General Physical Preparedness is to watch him/her compete in a CrossFit Competition. Â A well designed competition will touch on a lot of different aspects of fitness (cardio, power lifting, olympic lifting, gymnastics, skills, etc.). Â A well designed competition will favor those who are physically fit over a large number of modalities, and will punish the specialist. Â This can been seen from elite athletes, down to weekend competitors. Â It can be a power training tool and mean the difference between finishing on the podium and not finishing at all.
Last summer, there were two examples that stick out in my mind. Â Two examples where one particular movement spelled disaster. Â The first was at the CrossFit Games. Â Josh Bridges is viewed by many to be an elite athlete. Â He is much smaller than most Games athletes, but still hangs at the top of the leader board. Â Until the last workout of 2013. Â One part of the last workout involved a 405lb deadlift. Â It was a heaviest deadlift ever programmed in a Games workout, and it stopped Bridges in his tracks. Â The second hits very close to home. Â And yes, he will hate me for never letting him live it down. Â Our very own Tony “ToneWod” Didomenico was sitting at the top of the leader board at a competition last summer. Â He was #1. Â Until the final WOD. Â All he had to do was 10 pistols to finish 1st place overall. Â He finished 2nd overall because he was not prepared for pistols.
Two more examples come from a recent local competition. Â The competition was set up so that everyone did 3 WODs. Â Then the top 5 men and top 5 women moved on to a final WOD. Â Through the first 2 WODs, one man sat in first and second place. Â He was battling another athlete for that top position and they were in a league of their own. Â That is, until WOD 3. Â WOD 3 ended with max effort double unders. Â This athlete could not do them. Â He dropped from first place to below fifth in one workout. Â The same thing happened during the men’s final workout. Â One athlete was well ahead of his next competitor and sitting in 3rd place. Â However, he could not complete chest-to-bar pullups before the next athlete finished heavy wallballs and 3 muscle ups. Â He was kicked out of 3rd and did not finish on the podium.
None of these examples are meant to humiliate the athlete. Â Like I said, you can walk around any competition, or possibly any daily WOD, and see where General Physical Preparedness is lacking. Â Recognizing the need for General Physical Preparedness is the goal. Â CrossFit’s workout of the day should be used as a tool to get better at everything. Â This also helps to explain the need for daily scaling, but I won’t beat that dead horse again. Â Afterall, what’s so impressive about doing a 600lb deadlift if you can’t pull your chin over a pullup bar . . . once? Â In the end, recognize what you are not prepared for and go change it. Â Look at Tony. Â After diligent training, he welcomes pistols in any competition.