Is there too much emphasis on strength in general and Weightlifting in particular in the Crossfit Opens workouts?

[iancd]

@orochii7 Yes, strength is overemphasized partly because of physiology but also because of the format and scoring of the online open.

1) Physiologically, one of the best ways to get fast at a light weight is to make it a smaller percent of your 1RM so strength is rewarded. In order to be inclusive, weights are typically moderate/light. Even the heavier lifts often involve a ladder up to the top weight. You get better scores on the 1RM event AND any muscular endurance event if you improve your strength.

2) There has always been some heavy olympic lift in the open. Unfortunately, because of open scoring, this means that a -requirement- to be considered for the top 40 fittest on earth is a 175/245 barbell snatch.

3) There has never been a run in the open b/c of the online format. I wonder how the field would change if, instead of a 245 snatch requirement, a 5 minute mile is required. The run is certainly more useful for general fitness than a barbell snatch.

Does strength have to be overemphasized? No, but many people will complain if there is no heavy olympic lift in the open. It's been this way since the online open started and it would shake things up if it's changed.

 

[katiejean]

@orochii7

but in the Opens itself you want people who have only an hour or so per day to train (the majority) to feel they have a realistic chance to compete.

TBH, I disagree. Basically it's about the cream coming to the top rather than having gen pop being able to go toe to toe with devoted trainees/athletes.

Furthermore, 49% of all WODs contained weightlifting or powerlifting.

CrossFit is a barbell sport. It's definitely not IronMan.

The point is that doing any WL/PL exercise the Crossfit way puts the “lighter” participants at an unfair disadvantage accroding to the rules of WL/PL, so it doesn't make sense that WL and PL appeared in 49% of all WODs.

Sucks if you aren't 5'10 190lbs or 5'5" 140+ in CF.

Opens WOD 20.3 demanded an already fatigued participant to do a further total of 45 deadlifts at 142kg/310lbs (men) or 93kg/205lbs (women) in the second half. Worldwide only 0.39% (men) and 0.34% (women) could even finish the workout.

It was basically designed to test from the top down and future proof in case a really good athlete could finish the first half too quickly.

Opens WOD 20.4 demanded an already fatigued participant to do 10 C&J at 102kg/225lbs (men) or 66kg/145lbs (women) in one go (and that's only at the halfway mark). Not something that professional weightlifters would do, let alone with other exercises.

That really shouldn't be something a professional weightlifter could not do. 102x10 shouldn't be terribly difficult for any professional weightlifter (going off the US numbers). It might be daunting for a male 55kg at the national level. That sort of weight could be a bit daunting for any national male lifter 67kg and below though the average male CFer weighs 81-89kg. 143x5 should only be difficult for national male lifters below 89kg.

The average CFer female weighs 66kg so we'll say 64kg. 93/5 1.5xBW would be no joke for a female in that class. 53/5 should not be terribly difficult for a 64kg female.

30 24 and 20" box jumps should not be very difficult for the average crossfitter.

Opens WOD 19.2 demanded an already fatigued participant to do 9 squat cleans at 125kg/275lbs (M) or 80kg/175lbs (W).

Shouldn't be much of a problem for a regional level CrossFitter. Maybe too heavy for regional level females. Especially stage 3. Stage 1 and 2 are for the gen pop CFer. Stage 3 is likely for the regional level and stage 4 is for the Games level athlete.

You don't push the bar if you set it to low. That's always been a CrossFit thing though the bar was very low until 2010.

Is this one of the reasons entries have fallen over the years?

Likely no. More like growth stagnation/plateau in the US (Canada?) and Western Europe. Also the bar to making regionals became higher and higher and then of course, no more regionals for sanctionals. Even the bar to compete well at the local level has increased where those who dominate at the local level may not make it at the regional level.

Other posters have hit the nail on the head. Doing movements with 95/65 or 135/95 shouldn't be terribly heavy for anybody doing RX strength wise. There is scaled for those who can't besides lighter MB, smaller boxes, etc.

 

[orochii7]

@katiejean Thank you for taking time out to reply in such detail. Some good insight.

Just one thing: By saying that the WODs contained exercises that professional weightlifters won't do, I didn't mean they can't but simply that they don't do sets like that in training.

 

[belovedgal]

@orochii7 No offense but this is retarded and not worthy of a detailed response.

 

[dsypherme]

@orochii7

Opens WOD 20.4 demanded an already fatigued participant to do 10 C&J at 102kg/225lbs (men) or 66kg/145lbs (women) in one go (and that’s only at the halfway mark). Not something that professional weightlifters would do, let alone with other exercises. Why then Crossfit? Completion rate was a staggering 0.19% (men)

You cant honestly think professional weightlifters would not be able to clean and jerk 102kg for ten reps even if fatigued, most professional weightlifters throw around 102 kgs like its nothing

 

[orochii7]

@dsypherme By saying that the WODs contained exercises that professional weightlifters won't do, I didn't mean they can't but simply that they don't do sets like that in training.

 

[dsypherme]

@orochii7 That makes even less sense, ofcourse weightlifters wouldnt train in a way that isnt beneficial for the sport they compete in