Tech Days

[Dominic]

Let me preface this with a statement that the way the CrossFit classes are organized is awesome. Despite crowded sessions and large groups cycling in and out every hour, things are running very smooth!

My question is related to proper form and technique. Even though every effort is being done to teach this; it is not working. There is just too little time to do meaningful teaching and there are too many people in a session to allow for proper observation, mentoring, etc. Learning proper technique requires breaking down the movement to its individual components, execute these correctly, then putting them together in one fluent motion and repeating this over and over to become automatic and intuitive. All this requires a full session vs the 5 minutes we can afford under the current arrangement. This applies to weight lifting, but even to other exercises such as pull-ups, double-unders, push-ups, etc.

Could we consider tech days where an entire session is focused on learning how to do 1 or a couple of exercises properly? An hour-long class would be enough time to teach, demonstrate, practice, build up from no weight to WOD weight and get some one-on-one time with the trainer to establish good form.

Perhaps something to consider for thursdays (formerly rest days)? This gives us an excuse to come to the gym and work on something that will help us down the line. A tech day could also be used to set the stage for the following week - i.e. teach/refresh techniques that will be used in next week's WODs.

This is what bad form does to me personally:
- I keep injuring myself and/or aggravate injuries
- I look like an idiot tossing weights around like a drunk lumberjack
- My times, reps, performance suffer by making things harder through poor form

Food for thought? Anyone else feel the same way (or not)?

[swormofbees]

I think it's something to consider. Lindsay and all of the other trainers do anything and everything in their power to pound proper range of motion into peoples heads... Some get it, some try their best, and others just don't listen at all. Having it on Thursday is a great idea. You could even do 45 minutes of schooling and then program a quick 5 to 10 minute WOD for those who still like that Thursday torture.

[Dominic]

I agree that Lindsay & team are doing what they can to teach form - but the current setup just does not allow for enough time to do it properly. Some people will be content with clawing themselves through a WOD, but for those that wish to progress, a focus on technique is going to bring huge payoffs. In my case, I have plateau-ed and no amount of additional suffering will get me to the next level.

I really like your suggestion to include a mini WOD in a tech session. Short as not to take away valuable 'learning' time but intense enough to force participants to rely on their technique to get through it.

Lastly - I know the trainers have a lot on their minds trying to manage a growing group of people, expansion, equipment etc. So maybe this is something that can be considered 'down the line'.

[Lindsay]

I have been toying with the idea of adding another foundations class in each week and doing exactly what dominic is talking about. Each week having a movement like clean & jerk and breaking it down and getting better at it. I know that their are people that really want to learn the movements more then what is taught in class, it would be benificial for everyone including myself. But there are others that I could have a loud speaker in their ear telling them to work on doing this or that and it goes in one ear and out the other. So i will through that topic out, who wants an additional foundations class? let me know

[Mindi D]

I think it would be good. I need lots of help, not sure 1 class a week will do it but it would help. The only problem i see is that class being empty then the next day being way crowded. It's hard to 'practice' in the workout, but that's what we need to do, not worry so much about time. Also, it's hard to know if form is getting bad when i'm in the middle of a workout, i think you should call us out on it! I give you permission to get after me if i'm slacking. I honestly don't know most the time cause i'm numb

[elise_reinert]

I would be interested in a skills day. However, I see the same problem as Mindi that some classes may be packed so you would loose the benefit of the close attention from trainers or that the day selected is a rest day for someone or otherwise interferes with getting in your regular workouts.

Is there a way that we could select a skill to work on each week, focusing on that skill not only during the warm-up or strength portion throughout the week but then also selecting a day like everyone else has suggested where that skill is the focus of the class with a short WOD at the end--perhaps with that short WOD specifically emphasizing that particular skill? (And if we did that, the warm-up and strength portions could perhaps otherwise be things that would assist with that particular skill.)

Or what about something like the fundamentals class--just a more advanced version--that's offered every week, separate from the actual daily WODs?

I do love the idea! Because yeah... I'd really like to work on Cleans and Snatches and Handstand Push-ups. Especially Handstand Push-ups. As it is, I'm lucky to even kick my legs over my head....