Coaching

Setting up for the overhead squat is easy when you’re holding a piece of PVC pipe—but how do you prepare for an overhead set with some serious weight?

In this video shot at Rainier CrossFit, Lisa Ray of CrossFit Flagstaff takes Stephanie Aardal through the steps to properly getting substantial weight locked out before attempting any overhead squats.

Before you’re ready to squat, you’re going to need solid mechanics on the… Continue Reading

“My name is Adrian Bozman, and my athletic background before CrossFit is very spotty.”

That may be true—but Boz is also one of CrossFit’s top trainers, and he’s a damn fine athlete by CrossFit’s standards. Interestingly enough, he learned most of the CrossFit movements on his own and developed into a great trainer. When his plans to open his own box didn’t materialize, Boz teamed up with Kelly Starrett at San Francisco CrossFit… Continue Reading

Dave Tate of Elite FTS is a powerlifting expert with a 930 lb. back squat, 610 lb. bench press and 740 lb. deadlift. Greg Amundson is the original CrossFit firebreather and consistently finishes Fran under three minutes.

To give Tate a taste of what CrossFit is all about, Amundson did Fran at a private seminar held Jan. 9, 2009, at CrossFit San Diego. With Amundson 10 reps into his opening set of… Continue Reading

Tony Budding’s newest hypothetical client is a big, strong guy with brutal technique and ROM, especially on body-weight exercises. He ignores all your attempts to improve his movement but one day he sees the light and books a one-on-one session. How do you get him to move better? Compare your opinion with those of Justin Bergh, Pat Sherwood and Matt Swift.

Sammy is 6’4”, 255 lb. and 38 years old. He played… Continue Reading

“Everybody hits the wall. Everybody.”

Demanding CrossFit WODs challenge bodies, but they also challenge hearts and minds. You simply have to be motivated enough to pick up the bar one more time even though your muscles are burning. Some athletes have endless stores of motivation, while others benefit from outside influence.

A great trainer can help drive you when your own motivation is failing, and Todd Widman of The Boz and Todd Experience is more than… Continue Reading

The Irish are literally head over heels for Jeff Tucker of GSX Athletics.

Leaving the Lone Star State for the Emerald Isle, Tucker visited Elite 400/CrossFit Northern Island on Aug. 29-30, 2009, for a cert at the site of the Europe Regional Qualifier for the CrossFit Games.

During the cert, Tucker taught an athlete named Helzy how to do the back tuck by taking her through several progressions before spotting her as she performed the movement… Continue Reading

Most CrossFitters love to watch their lifting numbers move up—but are they giving themselves enough recovery time between maximum efforts?

Strength expert Dave Tate of Elite FTS explains that training heavy is far harder on the body than sub-maximal work and can require up to two weeks of recovery.

“To do max-effort work every day, it really should not be done, all right?” Tate says. “It’s going to hinder progress, and most of the… Continue Reading

Dave Tate of Elite FTS isn’t afraid to call something “worthless bullshit” and then suggest a better way.

In this video documenting a private seminar held Jan. 9, 2009, at CrossFit San Diego, the opinionated Tate talks about working with athletes in the off-season. Tate’s main point of issue is a warm-up that has nothing to do with the skills an athlete needs to perfect to be successful on the field.

If you’re going… Continue Reading