Monday, June 29, 2009

CFJ - Greg Glassman talks fitness

Just watching a new CrossFit Journal video clip of Greg Glassman lecturing to Marines. One thing I really like about his style is how he'll define terms rigorously, and then repeat and expand in everyday language. There is consistently strong use of pauses and emphasis. This is a very effective approach for conveying technical information.

I enjoy the art of instruction.

Brief review of Stamina and Cardiorespiratory Endurance:

"Cardio" as it's commonly known, is about gas exchange. That means O2 and CO2 through the lungs and blood. Stamina is about localized muscular endurance - not fading, muscularly. The phosphagen, glycolytic, and oxidative energy pathways.

"You can't develop stamina in the lower extremeties without taxing yourself in terms of cardioresiratory endurance. You with me? How can you get your legs so they can go forever without making your heart beat hard? You can't." Greg Glassman

Coach Glassman's quote above is in the context of the broad domain of ten general physical skills, or adaptations, namely:
  • Cardiorespiratory endurance
  • Stamina
  • Strength
  • Flexibility
  • Power
  • Speed
  • Agility
  • Coordination
  • Balance
  • Accuracy
These distinctions are useful, but man-made. Nature has no respect for this distinction. That is what Coach Glassman is getting at (and states in the video). To be most fit, ie. ready for anything unknown or unknowable, is to be most broadly developed across these ten physical adaptations.