Last night, after the workout, I heard someone say, “I’m not coordinated enough to do that!” I’m guilty of using that phrase as well as the others like, “I’m not strong enough,” “I can’t,” yada, yada, yada.
I am not a graceful, coordinated person. I have lost my balance standing still, and trip over flat surfaces. The first time I tried to do a burpee by jumping both feet back, I belly-flopped on the ground and had to hang out there a few minutes to get my breath back.
But in the gym, when I’m working out, once I have practiced a move enough, I can do it like second nature. I don’t belly-flop for burpees anymore. I can snatch, jerk, and do pull ups all without banging my chin, nose, head on the bars (all things I have done).
CrossFit aims to help individuals become “fit” by improving across 10 general physical skills: cardiovascular/respiratory endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, coordination, agility, balance, and accuracy.
Coordination, agility, balance, and accuracy are improved with practice. Your nervous system literally changes through practice, and it will change again if you stop practicing. Double unders requires practice – your practicing your coordination, your accuracy, but as soon as you stop doing them for three months, you have to start over relearning those techniques.
Next, I’ll talk about the other six principles.