Optimum Performance Training

The is the name of an article I wrote for our bi-monthly Coach’s Email List. It took me quite a while to actually write this piece, because it took me quite a while to properly form the ideas in my head before writing them down.

He is a short excerpt from the article, near the end, “It appears to me CrossFit HQ has been frozen in time. Again, from their perspective, history seems to have ended. However, everyone outside their castle understands this is indeed not the case”.

The article is based on my own observations with regards to the trajectory of CrossFit, the idea. I frame my argument in the context of Francis Fukuyama‘s argument for “The End of History“ while also including Frederick Nietzsche’s portrayal of The Last Man, from his famous work “Thus Spake Zarathustra”.

I hope you will give it a read. And if you do, I hope you enjoy some parts of it. As always, I am open to your feedback and critiques.

https://optimumperformancecalgary.com/the-end-of-fitness-and-the-last-man/

—Michael

I first designed this test in 2011. I designed it for myself to do. At the time, my love for competing in CrossFit was at its peak. So, I sought out different ways of testing myself. As a result of being the guinea pig, I would then put this test onto my clients.

I often remark to individuals, as I did this past week to a client of Scott’s at our gym, that this is one of the few “mixed” tests that has not changed. A lot of the tests I designed back then I no longer use. I don’t see them as being very useful anymore. Or, I changed them quite substantially. But, this test, we have left it as is. As I feel it still holds up towards its intended purpose.

The benchmark used to be for men to achieve under 30 minutes and for women to achieve under 32 minutes.

The load used for the thruster is 75 pounds for men and 55 pounds for women. And the standard on the Burpee is to simply stand tall at the top, feet hip width apart, no jump required.

—Michael