Does having someone push as Schinn is doing with Blake here help take you to another level? Or could you do without it? Post your thoughts to comments.
Colin Jenkins of CF Ventura brought up an interesting phenom in one of his last posts. I am most definitely a puller. What are you?
Pullers: athletes who are significantly stronger at pulling movements (deadlifts, pull-ups, rowing, etc…) than they are at pushing movements.
Pushers: athletes who are significantly stronger at pushing movements (presses, push-ups, dips, etc…) than they are at pulling movements.
Well Balanced Bad Asses: athletes who are equally strong at pushing movements as they are with pulling movements.
Are you a Puller, Pusher, or Well Balanced Bad Ass? If you’re not a well balanced bad ass yet, what will you be doing to turn into one?
Fittest mother of two
WOD
5 Rounds of:
-20x SDHP Unbroken (95#, 65) If you break set you must notate and do 7 burpees for each break in set
-100m 100% effort resisted run with green band and partner. (fence and back)
Rest 3 minutes (switch partners and have the other go while you hold the band but make sure to start again on 3 minutes. Coaches make sure athletes look at clock when they finish round. Exact rest here is critical.)
I 100% think that having someone “like Schinn” pushing me helps my performance. A prefect example was last night’s WOD… I was the only girl in the 5:30 class therefore I had my own bar and was completing the 5-5-5-3-2-1 Front Squats solo. While there were other team members on other bars, no one was directly helping nor pushing me to the next level. I hate to admit this, but, I get lazy if I don’t have that extra bit of help. I asked JMF to come and push me, direct me and critique me and it helps TONS… Then when I saw Punky walk in I immediately grabbed her and asked if she’d help me wrap up the sets and she gladly did. Thanks everyone!!!!
When I hear someone say “Come-on Punky!” its like a fire was lit under my ass. Being pushed, having a partner and just being around people who are pushing themselves in inspiration.
Mel, now that I have more time I am going to be at the gym helping you and everyone blow past their potential and become TOTAL BAD-ASSES!!!!
I love you Punky!!!!
Because I am inherently lazy I need someone to push me. I don’t mean encouragement, I mean in your face yelling. That is how I respond best to these grueling crossfit workouts. JMF does a very good job at motivating because his yell is like a battle cry and no matter how bad it hurts you just have to get it done. I believe that the true X-factor in crossfit is the motivation, support and challenge from others in the box. That is why I have made more gains in 5 months at crossfit than 20 years in the traditional “gym”.
I am balanced when it comes to push-pull strength, not a bad ass, just balanced. The only thing that affects that balance is how fu**ed my shoulder is for the pushing movements. Prior to crossfit I was absolutely a pusher.
When I come to the box I am pumped. I know I am there for a reason. What motivates me most is the synergy of everyone pushing themselves harder and motivating each other. When I hear Andre or Punky or anyone being encouraged I find I step up my pace as well.
I am probably 60% pusher and 40% puller. Strong push press, strong pullups, weaker deadlift but I am stronger there than I have ever been in my life.
I love that everyday the workout challenges me differently. Repetion is death!
It is so true being pushed by my fellow Crossfit athletes to perform beyond what my mind says is possible works. Thanks everyone!
Last night, trying to do a heavy front squat, there were a few seconds that I really thought I couldn’t get all the way back up. JMF noticed and started shouting that I was going to get it, and then other people started shouting too. I really, really didn’t think I could do it, but because of the shouting, I forced myself past the point where I would have otherwise given up, and did it.
This happens to me a lot at Crossfit, and it’s one of the reasons I love it.
I’d like to chime in on this one, because I think that I can sometimes be misunderstood with the way that I encourage people to push themselves.
When AJ (umm you guys know him as the BAD ASS rower that just left our gym about a month ago to go kick ass at a collegiate level), he and I ended up in a WOD that required us to do 150 standing squats, run 800 meters, and 150 standing squats. We were in the middle of the WOD and AJ wasn’t fully thrusting his waste. I in my infinite wisdom called him out in the middle of the WOD and told him to finish the thrust and thrust the hips. AJ took exception to the fact that I did this. To my fault, my timing was terrible, and he truly didn’t know that he wasn’t keeping his form. AJ actually wasn’t a Matty fan for a while because of this as a matter of fact. However, this all changed after AJ became a member after Justin opened OCC. You see, AJ is gnarly. Like super gnarly. Athletes like AJ and Ben are 10%’ers, maybe even 5%’ers. Not only are they extremely talented at what they do, they’ll out work you to be better than you as well. Michael Jordan was built this way. He was not only quite possibly the best athlete this earth has ever seen, but he was always the guy that worked the hardest. AJ, myself, and Ben bonded because of this. Now you may say that I personally don’t belong in their company, but it’s certainly not because I’m not workin as hard as they are.
My point is that to be pushed is one thing, to push hard is another, but it’s quite another thing to take that encouragement, digest it, and go deeper into yourself, and push harder than you ever have because of it. Why?? Because, it’s the next level. You’re not there yet. Do you want to get to that next level? Ask yourself this because guess what once you get to that level. There’s yet another one right above it.
It’s my opinion that if you’re serious about Crossfit (and I’m gettin’ serious again), that you should always be asking this question. Quitting 24 hour fatness was only the first step, learning the movements and the exercises was #2, the third step is figuring out just how far you want to go with Crossfit while understanding the philosophies and culture that comes with it.
I want to be in gnarly friggin shape every day of my life. Crossfit is the tool that I use for that. I’m going to push myself to improve everyday and get better and stronger at the sport of fitness. I want everyone to push me. I want to push everybody.
I hope that I’ve not ever offended anybody, my heart is always in the right place, it’s my communication that can leave a little to be desired. Just know that if you want to be pushed, exactly what that can mean.
And love it!!!
Like it or not OCC is a family with all it shortcomings, dysfunctions, blessings and benefits. As with any family you have people you get along with better than others. There are those who’s encouragements you take well and those who just rub you wrong. But as with a family everyone, and I do mean EVERYONE, has the best interest of each member in mind and the gym as a whole. If some one is in your face its because he/she believes that you are capable of more. They believe in YOU. Be stoked that they do. And not just in you, but in OCC and Crossfit in general. There is a lot of shit talked about Crossfit out there and shit talked about our little Gym. Lets make them eat their words.
I think that everyone will have moments where they get lazy or don’t want to push at their max. At that point I need someone who is going to keep me accountable. I don’t care if it is my coach or my teammate, make me break through and win!
Yo Mad Dog, I totaly agree for the first 2 weeks I thought you were a total asshole but when I started doing crossfit more I fully understood where your coming from. Being the hypercompetive athletes that we are we seek perfection and a high level of competition. For instance Karen, like you said wall balls are not your best exersize but at the end of the day you went 110% and kicked all our ass’s by over 2 minutes. Matty you have heart and being able to yield that in battle is your greatest weapon. Keep up the good work eveyone see you all in a couple weeks.
Matty, Thank you for allowing me to seek greater athleticism with your constant screaming, cheering, and in some cases, taunting. Its guys like you, the “like minded maniacs,” as a great man once said, that give young guys like me and aj the extra boost we need to kick the shit out of a workout. You are a badass mother fucker who don’t take no shit off nobody! But in all seriousness, I have gained a lot from training with you. Not only in terms of dedication, but how to approach a given workout on a given day. Going about your business with reckless abandon and saying no to the pain that comes your way. I remember when we did the workouts at the NAC in a hallway about 3′ wide. Meanwhile, all of those super athletic paddlers that worked out at the NAC at the time (wink wink) thought we were crazy. Brings back great memories and a lot of pain. Most importantly though, we have learned how to push each other and feed off each others energy. Like AJ said, can’t wait to do a WOD…maybe a wod on turkey day just before we stuff ourselves full of food??? …Just remember to “watch those hips bitch!”
I remember when we did the workouts at the NAC in a hallway about 3′ wide. Meanwhile, all of those super athletic paddlers that worked out at the NAC at the time (wink wink) thought we were crazy. Brings back great memories and a lot of pain. Most importantly though, we have learned how to push each other and feed off each others energy. Like AJ said, can’t wait to do a WOD…maybe a wod on turkey day just before we stuff ourselves full of food??? …Just remember to “watch those hips bitch!”
Ben and AJ i miss you guys. Turkey Day wod is so on.
Thought I might add something just cause at the moment I have no one pushing me. Someone else pushing me helps a tremendous amount. I can push myself but having someone else there makes me go just that much harder. I have no doubt that I could get 20 rounds in Cindy if I had a good motivator here to help me. It can be just talking me through it or yelling but being able to stop thinking for myself allows me to ignore the pain and the grind.
This is one of the reasons why I love OCC. Every time I step into the gym someone is pushing me. I recently visited a CrossFit in Cleveland and it just did not feel the same because I wasn’t with my OCC family. Thanks to everyone for pushing me to be the best athlete I can.