November 22, 2010


The hip is essential to elite performance. Dan Hollingsworth explains how this complex joint works.
An easy case can be made for the hip being the most important anatomic region in all athletic endeavors. Before this argument can be made, we must have a clear picture of the anatomic structure and biomechanics of this complex region.
The true hip joint, otherwise known as the “coxofemoral joint,” is the articulation between the femur… Continue Reading
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In Medical/Injuries, Reference, Videos
November 05, 2010


“If he can do it, I can do it.”
That’s what Steve Rodriguez of CrossFit Fort Vancouver wants diabetics to say after watching him work out.
Steve is a Type 1 diabetic who has set his eyes on competing in the 2011 sectionals, and he’s taking the “evidence-based results” of CrossFit to the next level with a logbook of his nutrition and blood-sugar levels before and after CrossFit workouts. He hopes he can share this… Continue Reading
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Maintaining the lumbar curve is paramount when it comes to deadlifting. If an athlete can’t find or maintain a safe lumbar spine position for whatever reason, coaches should know how to make adjustments and set that athlete up for success.
At a recent Coaches Prep Course, HQ trainer Chris Spealler helps an athlete reach the ideal set position. First, he works with a dowel. Then he adds weight to see if the tension provides… Continue Reading
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In Olympic Lifts, Powerlifting, Reference
October 19, 2010


If you don’t warm up or stretch, you aren’t optimizing your performance. Bill Starr explains.
Getting considerably stronger and staying that way is largely a matter of taking care of the details, such as training consistently, designing a program that fits your individual needs, eating wholesome foods, taking nutritional supplements, getting plenty of rest and so forth.
Most serious strength athletes take care of these tasks… Continue Reading
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In Gymnastics/Tumbling, Reference, Videos
October 13, 2010


What do egg-beaters have to do with rope climbing? Let HQ trainer Adrian (Boz) Bozman show you as he teaches rope-climbing basics. On location in San Francisco, Calif., Sevan Matossian films Adrian, Kim Bozman and elite gymnast Carl Paoli as they demonstrate “the Spanish wrap.”
In this beginner technique, the dominant leg wraps around the rope, and the rope is secured by stepping on it with the free leg. From there, Boz says… Continue Reading
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In this clip shot at a recent Coaches Prep Course, HQ trainer Pat Sherwood describes the macro-micro-macro approach to coaching.
Sherwood explains that he takes a mental snapshot of the whole movement, then pinpoints a problem to fix and uses a hands-on approach to implement that fix. According to Sherwood, after correcting it’s imperative that the coach return to the macro view to see if the hands-on fix improved the overall movement.
HQ… Continue Reading
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September 24, 2010


Is linear-progression strength training optimal for CrossFitters? Chris Mason doesn’t think so and offers up a different method for building strength.
Linear progression is a system utilized by many CrossFit practitioners for the strength-training component of their overall regimen. Linear progression as it relates to resistance training involves the progressive increase of loads in a straightforward manner, hence the name “linear.” In other words, for a… Continue Reading
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At a recent Coaches Prep Course, participants were given the opportunity to shadow and learn from top HQ trainers Chris Spealler and E.C. Synkowski.
For new coaches, complex movements can be overwhelming; there’s just so much to see and catch. According to E.C. and Chris, it’s important to focus on one part of the movement and give fast, simple cues at the individual level first. If multiple athletes are tripped up by… Continue Reading