The first and most important component of beginning CrossFit is to follow our charter of mechanics, consistency, and then intensity. Keep reading on our Blog...
Mechanics refers to technique—your ability to move properly through our core movements. For us, this means moving yourself and external objects in the most 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲 manner possible.
As coaches, it is our duty to promote good technique at all costs, being strong doesn’t mean much if you can’t move well.
The reason why weightlifting and powerlifting have such low injury rates compared to popular sports like football and soccer is because technique is such a high priority. Every day they work tirelessly to perfect the quality of their movement. This is how the best are able to lift tremendous weight and have 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 in their athletic career.
Poor technique sets the athlete up for injury. This often means we need to decrease the weight on the bar until the movement quality improves. You don’t always need to stop training, but you NEED to stop pushing heavy weight. This means working on technique with lighter weight while you use individualized corrective exercises to 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀 in mobility and coordination.
Lifting heavy weights poorly will make you stronger. However, it will make you stronger in the wrong way by reinforcing poor technique. Remember that it doesn’t matter how MUCH you can lift, if you can’t lift it in the most 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲 manner possible.
Honestly, I was thinking it was going to be like the other CrossFit boxes I had been to before CJP. I thought I wasn’t going to last and that my first class was going to be a try out. I was surprised by how much commitment and effort the coaches put into each of us to make us better, a month try out turned out to be 3 years of continuous work. What started as a couple days a week turned out to be a life time commitment.
I was brought to CrossFit because of the functionality it provides for every challenge life versus just bodybuilding or power lifting. CrossFit forces you to break through mental barriers and past what you thought you physical or mental limit was.
We have something at CJP that I see and appreciate at every CrossFit gym I’ve ever vistied: a community of capable, caring judges and athletes of all shapes and sizes united under one goal of helping each other to get as fit as possible. That was my expectation when I showed up here on Day One (June 2015), and that perception hasn’t changed at all in the four years since.
