An Open Letter to CrossFit Trainers
CrossFit Journal August 2005
Greg Glassman
In gymnastics, completing a routine without error will not get you a perfect score,
the 10.0—only a 9.7. To get the last three tenths of a point, you must
demonstrate “risk, originality, and virtuosity” as well as make no mistakes in
execution of the routine.
In gymnastics, completing a routine without error will not get you a perfect score,
the 10.0—only a 9.7. To get the last three tenths of a point, you must
demonstrate “risk, originality, and virtuosity” as well as make no mistakes in
execution of the routine.
Risk is simply executing a movement that is likely to be missed or botched;
originality is a movement or combination of movements unique to the athlete—a
move or sequence not seen before. Understandably, novice gymnasts love to
demonstrate risk and originality, for both are dramatic, fun, and awe inspiring—
especially among the athletes themselves, although audiences are less likely to
be aware when either is demonstrated.
Virtuosity, though, is a different beast altogether. Virtuosity is defined in
gymnastics as “performing the common uncommonly well.” Unlike risk and
originality, virtuosity is elusive, supremely elusive. It is, however, readily
recognized by audience as well as coach and athlete. But more importantly,
more to my point, virtuosity is more than the requirement for that last tenth of a
point; it is always the mark of true mastery (and of genius and beauty).
There is a compelling tendency among novices developing any skill or art,
whether learning to play the violin, write poetry, or compete in gymnastics, to
quickly move past the fundamentals and on to more elaborate, more
sophisticated movements, skills, or techniques. This compulsion is the novice’s
curse—the rush to originality and risk.
The novice’s curse is manifested as excessive adornment, silly creativity, weak
fundamentals and, ultimately, a marked lack of virtuosity and delayed mastery. If
you’ve ever had the opportunity to be taught by the very best in any field you’ve
likely been surprised at how simple, how fundamental, how basic the instruction
was. The novice’s curse afflicts learner and teacher alike. Physical training is no
different.
What will inevitably doom a physical training program and dilute a coach’s
efficacy is a lack of commitment to fundamentals. We see this increasingly in
both programming and supervising execution. Rarely now do we see prescribed
the short, intense couplets or triplets that epitomize CrossFit programming.
Rarely do trainers really nitpick the mechanics of fundamental movements.