Results for “midline”

Long relegated to strongman competitions, the yoke has found a happy home at Hybrid Athletics, Rob Orlando’s CrossFit box in Stamford, Conn.

It can be difficult to get a loaded yoke off the ground, and the momentum created by a swinging yoke laden with plates can be difficult to manage. But a strong midline isn’t the only thing you need to carry a yoke any distance—you’ll need a few elements of strategy, too.

In his gym… Continue Reading

Poor posture can create poor results and cause injuries. Dr. John Zimmer explains how to improve posture for best performance and safety.

“Your form sucks.”

This harsh statement is something I politely announce on a regular basis, along with telling the athlete he or she is pulling with the arms or has muted hip function, and it usually comes in response to myriad questions that are either injury- or performance-related.

“Why… Continue Reading

With only eight weeks to train, Italian athletes use CrossFit to prepare for the World Figure Skating Championships in Torino, Italy.

It is my great pleasure to write about the marvellous success obtained by my athletes who will soon compete at the next World Figure Skating Championship in Torino, Italy.

I found many applications for CrossFit as strength and conditioning coach of the Italian National Ice Skating Team. I’m… Continue Reading

In front of a chalkboard for a discussion on exercise theory, Coach Greg Glassman suggests midline stability isn’t just about safety. It’s also about performance.

Think of the midline as your “transmission”: a solid midline allows you to transfer force efficiently, while a weak midline results in lost force, decreased power and inefficient movement. Keeping your core tight is absolutely critical if you want to achieve elite performances in CrossFit WODs.

… Continue Reading

In front of a chalkboard for a discussion on exercise theory, Coach Greg Glassman suggests it’s possible certain muscles of the body can lift loads that can do damage to other parts of the body by compromising midline stability. To save us from ourselves, the body might short-circuit and fail before those loads severely injure an athlete.

For example, many people can lift one leg in an L-sit, but both legs fall to the floor… Continue Reading

The best teachers can simplify the most complex concepts, and Coach Greg Glassman always did so by including a session at the whiteboard before workouts at the original CrossFit gym in Santa Cruz.

Back in front of the board, Coach Glassman and Tony Budding discuss the basic concepts that hold up CrossFit’s definition of core strength. A line—the midline—can be drawn through the integration of the pelvis and the spine, and this line is profoundly… Continue Reading

Can’t get into a squat? Lacking power in your snatch? Daniel Christie suggests that aggressive bodywork may help you unlock your full potential.

Trainers often see horrible, awkward movements that limit performance and can’t be corrected with a simple cue. Why? It can often come down to poor strength and stability levels or poor memorized motor patterns, but it can also result from short, tight, facilitated musculature.

The sight of a forward head position, rounded shoulders… Continue Reading

How do you get the best time for a 200-meter pull on a Concept2 rowing machine?

C2 master instructor Bruce Kocher teaches a group of athletes at CrossFit New England how to get the lowest time for the sprint distance, covering topics such as torso angle, damper settings and the all-important start.

“More is not better,” Kocher says of the oft-misunderstood damper. “Elite rowers row at five and below. Many… Continue Reading

Joe Westerlin, owner and head coach at CrossFit Omaha, leads a group class on the push press, correcting a multitude of errors along the way.

Joe begins by cautioning against positioning the elbows behind the bar. This can quickly lead to problems, including an arched back and the inability get the bar over the midline.

Joe goes on to correct an athlete whose chest is falling… Continue Reading

Episode 64 of CrossFit Radio was broadcast at 6:00 p.m. PDT on May 1, 2009.

05:56 Terry Laughlin is an expert swimming coach best known for his “Total Immersion” program, which does for swimming what POSE does for running. Terry talked about why he is such a big believer in CrossFit. He discussed why midline stabilization is so important for swimmers, along with squats and deadlifts.

30:43 Craig Patterson is the owner of… Continue Reading

Gymnastics coach Jeff Tucker and assistant Jason Malutich take us through the importance of goal setting and progression in gymnastic movement.

They begin by emphasizing the importance of body position. Gymnasts use hollow body positions and constantly contract to achieve midline stability. Tucker and Jason then move on to the kipping pull up and scaling muscle up transitions.

Tucker said, “We’re going to teach you a kipping swing… Continue Reading

In CrossFit and in life, we go overhead. Kelly Starrett, of San Francisco CrossFit, explains the essential anatomy and physiology of the shoulder in this excerpt from his one day seminar at CrossFit Santa Cruz on November 9, 2008.

The shoulder is designed primarily for mobility. There are a number of forces that rotate it internally, while there are relatively few forces rotating externally. Balancing the shoulder so… Continue Reading

Rachel Medina is the co owner of CrossFit South San Clemente, she is also a part of CrossFit HQ’s traveling Level 1 seminar team.

In this clip from Jordan Gravatt of CrossFit by Overload, Rachel “Funky-Cold” Medina teaches the deadlift to Level 1 participants at the CrossFit certification seminar at CrossFit San Diego on Saturday, February 28, 2009.

The deadlift is a functional movement. It is nothing other than picking something off the… Continue Reading

Midline stabilization is essential for effective functional movement. Kelly Starrett, of San Francisco CrossFit, explains the essential anatomy and physiology of it in this excerpt from his one day seminar at CrossFit Santa Cruz on November 9, 2008.

The midline is the entire spine, and its stability is dependent not just on the core, but also on all the prime movers of the body, including the hip, glutes, and… Continue Reading

Midline stabilization is essential for effective functional movement. Kelly Starrett, of San Francisco CrossFit, explains the essential anatomy and physiology of it in this excerpt from his one day seminar at CrossFit Santa Cruz on November 9, 2008.

The midline is the entire spine, and its stability is dependent not just on the core, but also on all the prime movers of the body, including the… Continue Reading

Midline stabilization is essential for effective functional movement. Kelly Starrett, of San Francisco CrossFit, explains the essential anatomy and physiology of it in this excerpt from his one day seminar at CrossFit Santa Cruz on November 9, 2008.

The midline is the entire spine, and its stability is dependent not just on the core, but also on all the prime movers of the body, including the hip, glutes, and hamstrings. Excessive… Continue Reading

Midline stabilization is essential for effective functional movement. Kelly Starrett, of San Francisco CrossFit, explains the essential anatomy and physiology of it in this excerpt from his one day seminar at CrossFit Santa Cruz on November 9, 2008.

The midline is the entire spine, and its stability is dependent not just on the core, but also on all the prime movers of the body, including the hip, glutes, and hamstrings. Excessive… Continue Reading

This is the 36th episode of CrossFit Radio, which aired at 6pm PST on February 20th, 2009.

0:00 Intro
2:45 Kelly Starrett from San Francisco CrossFit
57:20 Comments of the week from “Jakers” and “Nick”

Kelly talks about his background, both in general and with CrossFit, his Midline Stabilization series in the Journal, and stretching suggestions and PNF.

1hr 2min 16sec

The next show will be Monday, February 23, 2009 with Tony Budding about the new… Continue Reading

Midline stabilization is essential for effective functional movement. Kelly Starrett, of San Francisco CrossFit, explains the essential anatomy and physiology of it in this excerpt from his one day seminar at CrossFit Santa Cruz on November 9, 2008.

The midline is the entire spine, and its stability is dependent not just on the core, but also on all the prime movers of the body, including the hip, glutes, and… Continue Reading

Midline stabilization is essential for effective functional movement. Kelly Starrett, of San Francisco CrossFit, explains the essential anatomy and physiology of it in this excerpt from his one day seminar at CrossFit Santa Cruz on November 9, 2008.

The midline is the entire spine, and its stability is dependent not just on the core, but also on all the prime movers of the body, including the hip, glutes, and… Continue Reading