Grab a snack and some espresso, this may take a while.
Black Box Summit
Several months ago I was contacted, along with Michael “Rutman” Rutherford, James “OPT” Ftizgerald and the non-pseudonym fitness luminaries, Nicki Violetti plus Greg and Aimee Everett (formerly Anaya) to participate in The Black Box Summit: For Affiliates By Affiliates. The purpose of this summit was to provide a forum for CrossFit affiliates and trainers to learn a variety of best practices in business, training and related topics, from the most respected and successful people in the CrossFit Community. The stratospheric growth of CrossFit has created equal parts challenge and opportunity. The Summit’s purpose was to begin a trend of professionalism and education that would, in theory, address the needs of the CrossFit community from every conceivable angle.
Quality Control & The brand of CrossFit
Jeremy Theil, CrossFit Games competitor and founder of the successful affiliate, CrossFit Central, opened the day and focused on the issues of quality control in CF and what role CrossFit HQ would play in this process. In short CF HQ will play “no” role in the quality control of affiliates. The most public explanation of this position is an open market “cream rises to the top” philosophy, however the legal/business anchor for this position is that any attempts on HQ’s part to police or institute best practices would put the organization into a franchise scenario. These are some interesting topics, which will need some exploration later, but this should suffice for now simply to paint a picture of the opening of the Summit. Jeremy concluded the opening session with a brief analysis of the controversial GreySkull blog post which created quite a stir several months ago. Jeremy made the point that if you love the community you would stay in and fight for it. A sentiment shared by many of the commentators to the Greyskull thread. This would however be prophetic for me, as my love for the community and desire to see it improve would lead to my sacking in a little over 48 hrs.
Better Business Practices
The first section of the business practices was fantastic. Attendees saw several different ways of structuring a business with the Examples coming from CrossFit Central, Optimum Performance Training (OPT) and NorCal Strength & Conditioning/CrossFit NorCal. Nicki spoke on several topics in this early session but one was on branding. She made the argument that one of the best ways to distinguish oneself as an affiliate was with a distinctive name + superior training, business systems and culture. The CrossFit community has seen monumental growth. In many cities there are 4-8 affiliates within literally eyesight of one another. Disparities in training, business systems and culture have raised significant anxieties for affiliate owners. What if all the prospective clients in an area are “turned off” to CrossFit by poor training or injury? What if something happened in a gym with a similar name and you are confused with that affiliate? CrossFit HQ’s stance on this topic has been an analogy of Starbuck’s and the fact there are “multiple Starbucks on some city corners”. Indeed there are, but this is a ridiculous comparison. Starbucks is a centrally owned business with solid, consistent business practices. CrossFit affiliates are unregulated and highly variable from location to location. Anxiety about the quality of a neighbor that essentially SHARES your name is valid on the part of the affiliate owner. The HQ position: “quality will win out” provides remarkably little solace for those affiliates who have neighbors who have driven down prices and possibly alienated clients with poor training. Perhaps someone should inform HQ that Starbucks has seen massive cutbacks? Would HQ be friendly to competitive strength & conditioning entities providing certifications? Whatever the case, Nicki couched all of this in terms that were positive and helpful: Pick a name that is unique. Distinguish yourself by quality actions such as training and business systems. This suggestion resonated with many of the attendees as evidenced by the questions Nicki received throughout the weekend. At least one attendee did not appreciate the suggestion, Director of Training, Dave Castro. I’d soon get an earful of what Dave thought about Nicki’s recommendation to co-brand oneself. Initially, I could not make sense of Dave’s animosity until I thought things through: If you have two names you not only distinguish yourself from your neighbors who may or may not have good business practices, you liberate yourself from the control of HQ. You have little recourse if you are dissatisfied with the parent organization when your only name is “CrossFit Anytown” and your only url is www.crossfitanytown.com.
Warming up…
Day 2 progressed with excellent content that appeared to both inspire and inform the audience. Mostly. In addition to Dave Castro, HQ sent Media Czar Tony Budding and Media Lackey, Russell Berger. Russell, you might recall penned the “balanced” review of the Gym Jones seminar. Greg Glassman claims Mark Twight stole his technology and has generally whined about this situation for years. My position has been and continues to be: If Twight stole from you, SUE HIM. It seems an airtight case, so why the lack of action? Anyway, Russell asked many questions throughout the weekend, always after either Tony (on day 1) or Dave (on days 2 & 3) leaned over and whispered in his ear. Russell, I believe DOES own an affiliate (experience neither Dave nor Tony have) but the emissaries from HQ are interesting:
- None have extensive training experience.
- None have ANY strength and conditioning education outside CrossFit and are largely incapable of articulating any of the nuanced methodology in strength and conditioning.
- None have a background in anatomy, physiology or exercise science. Greg Glassman never had a formal education in this material but has a formidable self taught knowledge. For the most part, the HQ staff does not reflect this knowledge base, and this in not only a “fitness” company but a “fitness juggernaut”.
I gave my talk on effective strategies for implementing nutrition in a gym. I detailed the systems such as integration with On Ramps and how to customize your approach for divergent populations such as fat loss vs. performance. My main focus for the talk was a food quality approach using “Paleo” concepts. I shared some case histories and then opened the floor for questions. Russell asked “when would I introduce the Zone in my practice?” and I said I tend not to. We have produced top tier athletes without the hassle of weighing and measuring. This did not satisfy him and he probed for how I would know what ratio athletes need for their best running and would it not be better to emulate a Zone approach. I gave him 2 concrete examples of top tier athletes who WERE eating the Zone, switched to un-weighed, unmeasured Paleo (a significant shift in food quality which decreases inflammation in many ways) who IMPROVED performance significantly by dropping the Zone. I said IF an athlete ceases to make progress I will weigh and measure food to see where to go next, but if a simple, intuitive approach is working, why mess with it? Russell and Dave are visibly agitated by this point. Russell was marshalling for another salvo when James Fitzgerald (the only other person in attendance besides myself who has logged thousands of hours working with people on their food) offered support for my position. Dutch Lowy (who was facilitating the questions) said we were out of time. Dave Castro stood up and loudly said: “That was Robb Wolf’s lecture on why the Zone Sucks”. Dave then walked outside and began texting on his phone.
After my talk at the Summit Dave Castro eventually grabbed me and said “You need to calm down on the Zone bashing”. I told him I was NOT bashing the Zone but you CANNOT weigh and measure shit food and get the same results.
Things Get Jerry Springer
After lunch, Greg Everett was up and he would tackle the topic of why the Olympic lifts are valuable for the CrossFit athlete. Greg’s presentation was fantastic. Clear, concise and it opened with an example of a top level CrossFitter improving her performance dramatically with just a few weeks of instruction in the O-lifts. Greg had numerous photos in his power point presentation, one was of Annie Sakamoto doing a barbell clean. This was a photo HQ had used on crossfit.com as an example of “good” form and Greg pointed out the shortcomings of the technique displayed in the photo. A bit later Greg showed a photo of Nicole Carroll doing a medball clean with a form error Greg would later explore in depth. When this photo came up, Greg said “I’m not going to get into this right now” Dave Castro yelled out “No, GET INTO IT!”
Greg thought this was Michael Rutherford and said “Not now sweetie”. Either way Dave thought he had been “Disrespected” and yelled out, in the middle of a lecture, attended by over 70 people from around the world, at an event that was NOT HQ sponsored or endorsed “FUCK YOU, YOU FAT FUCK!” This is all on film. If it sees the light of day you will be able to see the whole thing yourselves, and from two different camera angles.
Greg continues his lecture remarkably unfazed while Castro seethes and wiggles, texting on his phone. When Greg’s talk finishes Dave rushes forward and starts yelling at Greg. Dutch is trying to calm Dave down because Dave Castro, Director of Training for CrossFit HQ is yelling at one of the best and brightest coaches in the community because Greg said CrossFitters will benefit from technical proficiency in the O-lifts. Having a cooler head than Dave, and actually giving a shit about the attendees experience, Greg asks Dave to go outside so they can talk.
At this point I’m shocked but reticent to get much more involved. I did not want my presence to provoke matters further and frankly, I did not, in my wildest imaginings, think Dave Castro, Director of Training for CrossFit HQ, the fitness juggernaut built on Empiricism and facts and OPEN SOURCE CONCEPTS, would conduct himself as he was doing. I could see Dave yelling at Greg outside. Dutch Lowy and Michael Rutherford were trying to quiet things down. Mind you, this is in the middle of a SEMINAR with 70+ people in attendance. I could see Greg’s head getting redder and redder so I went outside and Dutch is pushing a motormouthed Castro away from Greg. Greg is repeating “ I have noting to say to you Dave” while Dave is obviously working to provoke Greg. Every time Michael Rutherford or Dutch would get between, Dave would push his way around, all the while yelling a stream of obscenities at Greg. Dave was saying things like “you just hate HQ, you are just waiting for this thing to fail so you can swoop in and benefit. You are a parasite on the community…you should de-affiliate, we should de-affiliate you!!” I get between Dave and Greg and said “HQ cannot hear an ounce of criticism, you are above reproach and it is ruining the organization.” He said I was no better than Greg.
I told him to take my high-paying nutrition gig and stick it up his ass.
At this Dave becomes dead quite and just looks back and forth at Greg and I. Then he starts repeating “you guys are done…you guys are done, you drew your line, you are done…” Imagine an all-powerful despotic leader of an authoritarian regime ranting over two subjects he is about to execute. That’s the flavor of this professional exchange.
Dutch Lowy finally tells Dave he needs to leave. That the cops would be called if need be. Jeremy is trying to keep things as mellow as possible but the whole of the 70 people are taking in the spectacle of the Director of Training trying to provoke a fight with Greg Everett over an OLYMPIC WEIGHTLIFTING LECTURE. I have received 2 emails from people who said they filmed parts of the outside yelling match. I’ll post that video when I get it.
As an aside, imagine a similar scenario playing out at a Level 1 CrossFit cert. What could so enrage an attendee that the individual would rush the stage and start spewing threats and obscenities like Dave did? Who knows, but the individual would obviously need to be very insecure with the material that was presented to react this way.
Day 3
Dave would not make eye contact with me all day on Sunday. The seminars were amazing, particularly some of OPT’s material. Inspiring and some very high order thinking. All of the presenters were brought up front for a Q&A. This went pretty well till Russell Berger asked “If the Main site WOD would optimally prepare an athlete for the Crossfit games. He gave some numbers which had the appearance of being vague, but it was pretty obvious he had a specific person and situation in mind. Of the panel, NOT ONE PERSON thought the crossfit.com WOD would get a person to optimal strength/conditioning levels the fastest. The weekend had been comprised of discussions of the Max Effort Black Box which was developed by Michael Rutherford. The reason he developed it was because crossfit.com was inadequate to the task of producing top tier strength. I’M SURE I will look like a huge A-hole when Russel’s CFJ piece is finished.
At about 8pm Sunday night I received a phone call from Eric Black, one of the understaffed members of CrossFit Legal. Black informed me that Greg Glassman decided I would no longer be doing the CF nutrition certs and that someone else would fill the coaching for the several sold out certs on the books. I asked Eric if HQ had an “official” position on the topic. He said he did not know anything else. I said “You do know I will make a public statement about this. I have hundreds of people signed up for and looking to sign up for a cert in which I am the instructor. I will post this publicly. Attendees need to know it will not be me instructing the course. Are you prepared for this and are you sure you want to go through with it?” To this black said he was not 100% sure the situation was final…that there might be some discussion, that I should consider if I had a message for Glassman. I said I was stunned they did not have a written, formal reason for dismissing me, that it was appallingly unprofessional that Glassman, whom I’ve known for nearly 10 years now, did not have the Stones to do this himself. And That I was DONE. I was not interested in a kiss-and make up session.
I shot an email to CrossFit Legal and the Glassman’s that I wanted a written explanation of why I was being replaced within 24 hrs.
Monday
John Welbourn called me and said Dave Castro wanted to know if John was going to leave. If he was going to continue programming CrossFit Football. John said he would, for he foreseeable future. John said to Dave: “I was not there but I hear you did some remarkably unprofessional things.” To this Dave Castro, Director of Training for CrossFit HQ said “ Greg Everett was running down CrossFit and he was running down Mark Rippetoe. I was not going to let Greg Destroy Rips legacy….”
A few things are funny about this, beyond the fact it’s a complete lie intended to manipulate Welbourn. The first is that Dave Castro HATES Mark Rippetoe. He sent an email to Rip one time that was, the most unprofessional thing I’ve seen…up to that date. THAT will make some interesting reading at some point. The other funny thing is that Greg said of the squat in his lecture “there is a high bar squat and a low bar squat. We just call it “The Squat”. Yes Dave, this is certainly grounds for your behavior.
Thoughts and What Next?
Generally, I’m just shocked the emissary from HQ conducted himself in this way. Dave acts with an impunity that is frightening in it’s severity.
In the phone call Eric Black said HQ had a replacement for my upcoming nutrition certs. I want attendees to know it will NOT be me there. I do not want people rolling into the cert expecting to see me.
As of this writing I have not received any communication from HQ other than a voicemail from Glassman saying “Robbie! I hear you started another fire..call me kid!” Classic lack of professionalism on HQ’s part and Glassman’s preferred method for dealing with unsavory situations: Make it look like it was not his decision.
I’m REALLY interested to see the HQ response to this if any. they NEVER take responsibility for actions. We will see some kind of 90* take on this. My guess is that I’m using this as a media stunt.
I’ll continue to serve the community I’ve been a part of for so long via my blog. I’m going to take this time and finish my book. On my writing breaks I will ponder the same thing on most CrossFitters minds: Where IS my RRG money?
599 Comments
Crossfit reality TV Show?
Latham-
Take the RDL, you simply emphasize the eccentric portion of the movement. No need for he complexity you are describing. I would again direct you to OPT’s site:
http://optimumperformancetraining.blogspot.com/
He makes extensive use of various rep-speed protocols for desired effects:
Day 10 Training:
A1. Front Squat @ 30X0; 2-3 x 5; rest 10 sec
A2. AMRAP Chin Ups; 5 sets; rest 240 sec
+
3 rounds for time;
135/95# hang squat clean unbroken x 10
35 anchored it ups
post loads/reps for A1/A2 and time for conditioning workout to comments
So, there ARE applications for all this. There ARE implications for all this ie. rhabdo and significant liability. Keep posting if you like, ask questions. What was pissing me off was you telling me I don’t understand the fitness protocol Greg Glassman has publicly said I wass a “co-developer” of.
Dave = My Hero
Robb – what does the 30×0 stand for in the program
Steve-
Do some searching on “Poliquin rep tempo”
Dave,
I thought Robb had deleted the previous post, so continuing discussion was pointless.
CrossFit, Inc., then, has a board of directors. Instead of 2 people we now have 5-10 people. Those people know Dave Castro, and have now likely privately excoriated Dave Castro. This is the first time he has created a liability issue, and he has likely been put on notice that a second offense will lead to his termination. The Board is fine with those decisions, as Dave has otherwise been an asset, most of the time. Fiduciary Duty is served.
Moreover, Dave was NOT operating in an official capacity. The chairs did not say CrossFit. He was not the personal envoy of CrossFit, Inc.
Regardless, go ahead, sue them. See what happens. People threaten to sue every day, and some of them do. And if no lawsuit is going to be filed, then why do you care? Because that is a subtle way of insulting CrossFit HQ and others, and because you know your chain of events will never be tested with actual litigation?
Robb, I have to say, after reading all this, I have reached the same conclusion Dave C. did: you need to resign your affiliation. You are basically encouraging Dave, here, to go on and on about the legal and moral culpability of CrossFit HQ, talking down to people about their lack of knowledge of the hypertrophic potential of eccentric lifts, and generally not acting like you like anyone who runs CrossFit.
I can see perfectly well why Dave lost his temper. I’m just not sure that CrossFit is big enough for your ego and Coach’s. I don’t buy that you are smarter than Barry Sears OR Coach. I just don’t. Barry Sears may not have much experience training athletes, but that can be fixed.
And YOU are the one who keep saying CrossFit is falling apart. Why is it falling apart, if it is? Because YOU keep saying it is. You keep saying that nobody listens. They don’t listen to YOU, because they don’t agree with you. This is not being authoritarian. This is having a backbone and not kowtowing to everyone who thinks they know better.
You are the equivalent of the Medical Doctor where the rest of us are Physicians Assistants. MD’s know a lot more, but for run of the mill stuff their training only makes an iota of difference very rarely. P.A’s and Nurse Practitioners can do pretty much everything they can.
If I put somebody on the Zone, drop their body fat to 15% or so, then tell them to supplement as needed with peanut butter or almonds, that will get them health and decent performance. Anything beyond that is fractions of a percent.
I will make that my last post, since this whole thing is making me progressively more angry.
Nope, I do not, as a rule, delete posts. If it;s complete ass-hatery then, yes I delete it before it sees the light of day.
I’ve been following the comments every day since the BBS shenanigans and am finally compelled to put in a brief word of my own:
This is not about Zone vs. Paleo or Sears vs. Wolf.
This is not about whether the medicine ball clean is an effective training tool for learning the Olympic lifts.
This IS about the attitude of HQ toward differing perspectives.
In a perfect world, this is what would’ve happened instead of the confrontation at BBS: Robb would be invited to write an article for the CFJ about how to turn clients on to the Paleo Diet (or something like it) and why it’s effective. Barry Sears would also be invited to write about the Zone Diet. Then the Comments section would soon be filled with pointed yet respectful arguments from experts and laymen alike, and we would all have the opportunity to learn and to find what works best for us.
Also, the HQ mainpage would link to Greg Everett’s “Teaching the Olympic Lifts in the CrossFit Group Setting.” Then, if Greg Glassman or Dave C or Tony Budding or anybody wanted to post a response claiming either that Everett is wrong or that his points are irrelevant to the CrossFitter, he may do so. And once again, let the comments begin, and let us all benefit from them.
HQ is not falling apart. In fact, it’s still moving forward (in the right direction?) But what saddens me is that it’s not moving forward at the pace it should because the powers that be turn a blind eye to many brilliant men and women simply because they disagree on some specifics.
I don’t know the politics behind all this or who left for what reason, but I feel like I get the big picture. Please correct me if there’s something deeper at work.
Robb, for what it’s worth, your blog is one great example of how HQ could operate better. You post your perspective and explain why it is what it is, allow all other perspectives, answer all questions, and lead by example. Thank you.
And no, the medicine ball clean is not an effective training tool for learning the Olympic lifts.
I wrote that I had a “brief” word but then I saw it, and the comment area looks like a football field. My bad.
Barry,
What you don’t realize is that most of the Crossfit community is behind Robb on this. You are doing untold damage to your own business by blasting off on these forums.
Good luck. You’ll need it !
Barry, making me the winner of my bet with my wife that he just COULDN’T walk away without trying to have the last word:
> This is the first time he has created a liability issue, and he has likely >been put on notice that a second offense will lead to his termination. The >Board is fine with those decisions, as Dave has otherwise been an asset, >most of the time. Fiduciary Duty is served.
Geez Barry, how many times do I have to explain this. I am NOT saying it is my opinion that CF Inc. must do a 3rd party investigation into Castro’s Follies, it is the requirement of both California and Federal Case law. Further, it is a standard requirement on all business liability policies, (due to the state and federal cases), because the Insurance Company does not want to take the chance to be responsible for the HUGE damages that can result from a company NOT following the proper procedures. Whether YOU believe a private censure is enough is both irrelevant and further demonstrates your lack of understanding of the issue. Who the F*CK cares what YOU think, (or for that matter I think). I am talking about well established legal requirements, that I would be requiring any corporation or business for which I was their counsel, (and signed their yearly statement of disclosures to their liability carriers), to employ.
Let me put it this way, If Robb came to me, (or I found out) that one of Robb’s trainers had committed a similar “violent” episode, and knowing that all of Robb’s trainers are close friends of his; I would do EVERYTHING in my power to make Robb do the 3rd party investigation, suspension of the trainer, etc. JUST AS I AM RELATING WHAT THE LAW REQUIRES CF INC. TO DO.
Nothing different. Nothing less. It would not matter if the trainer were a personal friend of mine. This is NOT about friendship. This is not about “personal loyalty”. This is about PROTECTING clients, affiliates, co-workers, and the business entity itself. Again, WHO is now going to perjur themselves by signing the yearly insurance disclosure? Someone’s going to have to, or they will have to drop their liability insurance altogether. NO, they just can’t switch, because the new policy, will have a “look back” disclosure, whereby you have to fill out the same disclosure under penalty of perjury.
>Moreover, Dave was NOT operating in an official capacity. The chairs did >not say CrossFit. He was not the personal envoy of CrossFit, Inc.
I made this easy for you above Barry. Have Dave provide his receipt for his personal payment of $1,000 to the BBS, (whereby he was simply a private paying attendee). Do that, and your “belief” that Dave was not “representing CF Inc.”, might have some traction. Short of that, I am going to go with the repeated statements of Greg, Robb, Dutch, etc., that Dave was there, (and expressly made it known), that he was there on behalf of CF Inc., (HQ). Please note, that your “belief” would also have to account for how Dave could “invite Buerger”, (or whatever the guy’s name is that wrote up the CF article on the BBS). He specifically said that he was Dave Castro’s guest. How could Castro, as simply a paying private attendee, INVITE someone to the BBS, who also did not pay to attend? The only reasonable conclusion is that Dave invited him, because Dave was the representative of CF Inc., and wanted Buerger to chronicle the event for CF Inc.
Again Barry, you can manufacture any beliefs you want. That doesn’t make them logical, persuasive, or even rational. Saying that Dave was not representing CF Inc., is easy. Presenting any FACTS, Anecdotes, or evidence to support your statement is the hard part, (because it is not accurate). I have multiple people saying Dave told them he was there representing CF Inc. I have multiple people saying they did not really want him there, (because of his past transgressions), but felt they couldn’t keep him away as he was the CF Inc. rep. I got the guy saying Dave invited him to chronicle the BBS for CF Inc. What you got? ……
See, that’s the difference between a Statement and an Argument. You are making a statement, I am making an argument. An argument that to date, you have been unable to refute or discredit with anything other than your own personal beliefs.
>Regardless, go ahead, sue them. See what happens. People threaten to >sue every day, and some of them do. And if no lawsuit is going to be >filed, then why do you care? Because that is a subtle way of insulting >CrossFit HQ and others, and because you know your chain of events will >never be tested with actual litigation?
If Robb or Greg asked me to, I would certainly consider it. However, I already stated above that I doubt either of them, (or the BBS group itself), will file such a law suit. What you apparently still DON’T understand is, that now Dave is a WALKING time bomb of liability. ANYONE, an affiliate, a co-worker, a volunteer at the Games, a motel worker where he stays at during CF Inc. trips, anyone coming into contact with Dave, and then claiming that he created a hostile work environment, assaulted them, etc., not only will have a claim for that incident, but probable punitive damages against CF Inc., their officers and directors, because they failed to properly investigate and Stop Dave from creating future such incidents.
That is why this has become a HUGE liability issue for corporations across the country, and why GL insurers are all requiring the yearly disclosures. If you really feel that strongly, and secure about your opinions, then maybe you can convince CF Inc., to appoint you as the Corporate Compliance Officer or Controller. Then you can sign the disclosure statements under penalty of perjury stating that you have made a diligent inquiry, and are unaware of any claims, events, or actions that could give rise to any current or future liability against the corporation, or any of its officers, directors or employees.
>Robb, I have to say, after reading all this, I have reached the same >conclusion Dave C. did: you need to resign your affiliation.
LOL…..”after reading all this”…..Dude, get a grip. You have been stating the same crap from your first post to your last. You agree with Dave. What Dave did does not matter. Glassman is God. Robb deserved to get fired, because he did not ’submit’ to the all powerful dictatorial presence of HQ. All hail the Chief. Ignore the Barbarians at the Gate. et fini, et fini
>You are basically encouraging Dave, here, to go on and on about the legal >and moral culpability of CrossFit HQ, talking down to people about their >lack of knowledge of the hypertrophic potential of eccentric lifts, and >generally not acting like you like anyone who runs CrossFit.
Wait, first you are mistaken about Robb asking you to stop posting. Then you think I care or even know WTF hypertrophic potential is. Damn dude, do you actually READ any of these posts? I have been “talking down” to you, because you are spewing bullshit quasi legal jargon that you have absolutely no real understanding of. I will let Robb “talk down” to you about the technical aspects of nutrition and fitness, because I have no ability to.
If you are referencing my post regarding Lathem, please note that I was making an analogy of why his statement that “building larger muscles” is not something CF is concerned about. That was a statement clearly made by a lay person, (as I know crap about nutrition and physiology). It was making fun of his premise, not talking down to him.
>I can see perfectly well why Dave lost his temper.
So you are saying that you now “believe” and “agree” that it is excusable for Dave to physically attack someone because he did not like what they had to say? Is that your way of saying that if you could, you would reach through your monitor to attack me? Wow, the philosophy and lessons you are trying to teach us are simply staggering……
>And YOU are the one who keep saying CrossFit is falling apart. Why is it >falling apart, if it is? Because YOU keep saying it is.
Not sure if this was directed at Robb or I, but from my view, CF Inc’s apparent refusal to follow the law, dictates that they have embarked on a slippery slope of liability and corporate malfeasance that has little chance to end in anything other than disaster at some point, (unless these problems are solved).
>You are the equivalent of the Medical Doctor where the rest of us are >Physicians Assistants. MD’s know a lot more, but for run of the mill stuff >their training only makes an iota of difference very rarely. P.A’s and >Nurse Practitioners can do pretty much everything they can.
Nicely done, promoting yourself to the equivalent a 4 year degree that also requires a 2 year internship, (plus numerous board exams to secure your licensing). Wow….you really do think highly of yourself. Get a few certs., talk a big game, and voila……You are the equivalent of a highly trained medical expert.
I used a dig with Latham about him hiring you as his attorney, (given your obvious view of your expertise in the area), now I guess you can be his Nurse too. Good luck with that.
>I will make that my last post,
Yeah, I remember you said that before. I’m still betting it won’t be the last time we hear from you.
>this whole thing is making me >progressively more angry.
Angry….what happened to that mental fortitude, or focus, you know, whatever you were boasting about a few posts ago. Oh yeah, and your tenacity. I guess these qualities are as superficial as your knowledge of physiology and nutrition.
HAVE A NICE DAY =)
Barry,
I am read all of your posts and at times agree with you. Your focus has turned too narrow. There are affiliates “not just Robb and his ego” that are pissed. There voices regardless of all of the spin that HQ aka Coach Glassman or the inner koolaid drinkers profess is that quite frankly most of the affiliates don’t speak up and feel silenced or worse yet apathetic, why should they…
Yes, this is simply a brand issue. I can get “certed” in CrossFit, Spinning, ACSM, NSCA, whatever, but some affiliates bought into the fact that they helped build the brand. Without the internet and the viral spread of the community it simply would be just another training method…period that is a fact. Greg didn’t just magically come up with this in his garage, they were trying to find a “way” to make some money. They were trainers to their own word that slept in the gym training clients. So, apparently they were like all the other trainers trying to make a living and trying find a way to be successful. Trying different things until they hit upon a marketing concept. There is reference to training like this from the 1970’s in a wrestling strength book. This is nothing new…What was new was the community that wrought it and the power of the internet…that is fact.
We took a love to the fact that WE are the brand and therefore deserve a say. If you disagree fine, I don’t and believe that we do. The problem Barry is many of us deeply loved it not just as a business but as something more that I cannot philosophize (my word). Also, not as blind koolaid cult sychophants. So, it is not a simple Greg can do whatever the hell he wants and screw the input unless your one of the inner buds. People are walking away because of this, because the feel hurt, let down, whatever, I don’t really give a damn if you think they are weak or should grow up. They gave a shit and wanted to help and have been getting trounced.
I appreciate your “logical” arguements but you miss the bigger picture and so do many of inner group that this is about heart not logic, community and family, not business. Leadership not management and quite frankly unless you by into the pure brand of koolaid… Greg is short on leadership.
Perhaps they will awaken, I had one interaction with Dave and he was a Dick then and I don’t really care if people say thats his “personality”, being a dick and being unprofessional is just that. I served 11 years in the military and for the last 3 was an instructor and never and I mean never would I stand up and say what he said to an instructor or in front of a class…It is pure and simple classlessness…there is no excuse…period
Dave won’t be trounced, the games that are and will continue to grow are hosted on his property, so lets not talk about fairness. 1500 rough affiliates or just brand spreaders if you like are not speaking, 150 or so have left, some after just a few months because they felt that what is paraded and what is real are two very different things…Again Barry you do have some great posts and I have followed it on the main page but heart not logic here Barry, life not philosophy while I respect it, in this case is a weakness…
Dave,
Any chance you can you link to the section of California Law on the 3rd party investigation stuff if it is in fact online. I find the topic interesting. Thanks
Barry = MANIFESTLY OWNED
I know Robb is into Charles Darwin, as evidenced by the “I think” graphic at the top right of the page, and his Darwinian approach. Charles Darwin had a friend named Thomas Henry Huxley, who was known as Darwin’s Bulldog. Huxley publicly defended Darwin and completely embarrassed critics. I nominate Dave to recieve the title of “Wolf’s Bulldog.” Barry, you are manifestly a student of the history of ideas, so you manifestly know all of that, but for anyone else who is manifestly interested, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Henry_Huxley
First off, as Jon stated, I too have read all the posts & finally have to throw in my two cents.
Jon; Well stated facts. The personal feelings/issues between HQ, Robb, Greg, & the likes, are an aside from the fact that what appears to be @ least several hundred people have good ideas & great intentions for the betterment & survival of Crossfit. Looks to me like Helen Keller is in charge of HQ’s complaint department.
Barry, I was starting to see some objective views in your posts, where did they go? You now agree w/Dave Castro & see why he acted the way he did defending HQ’s views? Weren’t Robb & Greg defending their views as well, but in a more dignified manner? And if Dave Castro wasn’t operating in official HQ capacity then how could he tell Robb & Greg they were finished with Crossfit? Sounds to me like he was speaking for HQ , or did it just mean that that he was going to “tell the teacher” on them? Dave Castro should’ve gotten his ass kicked by every attendee for attempting to ruin what was otherwise a very successful meeting, but everyone else there acted as adults. And your comment about HQ having a backbone & not kowtowing to protect their beliefs, isn’t that exactly what Robb & Greg were/are doing? Barry, it looks like you have successfully adopted the double standards of HQ, do as we say, not as we do.
Dave; You’ve got him on the ropes, a few more blows to the ego & he’s out!
I have been to Greg’s O lifting seminar twice & found it very helpful for myself, as well as helping to teach others. He was nothing but professional & used humor to enhance his public speaking, which makes it fun & keeps the audience interested & alert. He takes digs @ himself just as much as he does anyone else, which shows he’s not attacking anyone personally.
As for Robb, I have had the pleasure of him training me, as well as working side by side with him. We all know he’s amazingly smart, but what pisses me off me is the few people attacking his credibility & morales to stand up for his not only beliefs, but his knowingness that what he teaches actually works. He puts in hours upon hours researching & experimenting with nutrition to help thousands of people he doesn’t even know. Wow, what a selfish, egotistical asshole. Robb, Thank you!
Robb I posted this morning and wrote a heartful reply to Barry but I don’t see it up…any ideas? I know that you aren’t about censorship…
By the way here is CrossFit before it was CrossFit…lets get over this Coach invented this….
In 1968 (Pat) O’Shea developed a system that he designated “aerobic” weight training. He commented that it was based on the two principles developed by Cooper relative to aerobic training and the development of circulo-respiratory endurance:
(a) If the exercise develops a heart rate of 150 beats per minute or higher, the development effects begin five minutes after the activity starts and continues as long as the activity is performed
(b) If the activity does not develop a sustained heart rate of 150 beats per minute, the activity must be continued considerably longer than five minutes, such as long distance running, cycling, etc.
O’Shea’s system is based on a circuit interval training approach, with progressive increases in the amount of resistance used in the exercises … his research reflected that students participating in the program reached a sustained rate of 154 beats per minute for 20 minutes, and the group registered significant improvement in cardio-vascular fitness over an eight-week period.
Several years ago the writer designed a group of weight training routines to develop circulo-respiratory endurance in Olympic weight lifters. The interval training principle was employed, using weights in the 10-30 percent range of maximum with a progressive increase in repetitions (20 to 40) on each exercise for two sets and with varying rest periods of one to three minutes between sets and exercises.
Ten exercises at one station composed a routine. The exercises used were Olympic lift skill movements (press, snatch, clean and jerk) and explosive weight training assistance movements (jumping squats, etc.) interspersed with one stationary running exercise. It took 35 to 45 minutes to complete the entire routine.
Pulse rates during a routine ranged from 122 to 185 during the entire period which is in the pulse range recommended by Gerschler for use with interval training programs for runners. The routines developed physiological aspects of both aerobic and anaerobic endurance.
The preceding paragraphs are excerpted from John Jesse’s remarkable book titled “Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia, published by The Athletic Press, Pasadena, CA, in 1974.
One small excerpt but worth reading….nothing new under the sun just BRANDED very well.
Robb, Wow. Crazy story man. I’m just a little over a year of serious crossfitting and I know enough to hate all this for everyone. I’m glad I got in at the Nutrition Cert in Atlanta a couple weeks ago though for sure! That was some incredible stuff. Hate to see the family at odds with one another. Sounds like Dave hat a little problem with the challenge. Doesn’t knowing your right bring some level of confidence? I learned one time in a psychology class that the people who fly off the hinge like that almost alway have some underlying fear and guilt to feed that kind of anger – it doesn’t usually come from righteous indignation. That kind of anger is typically more calm and confident.
anyway, it sucks. Sorry bro!
- Aaron
Will-
I thought I OK’d everything…let me know if it did not go up! Great piece regarding Oshea.
Barry,
Looks like you spend hours a day online. Why don’t you focus some of that energy on your own web site?
http://www.crossfitlouisville.blogspot.com/
Chris
Gentlemen, where is the video. I grow wary and would like to form my own opinion.
Parker said:
“Charles Darwin had a friend named Thomas Henry Huxley, who was known as Darwin’s Bulldog. Huxley publicly defended Darwin and completely embarrassed critics. I nominate Dave to recieve the title of “Wolf’s Bulldog.”
Wow, thanks for the insight. I personally was not aware of Mr. Huxley’s role in the defense of Darwin’s theories. While I don’t think I have earned that comparison; I certainly appreciate the sentiment, and hope that Robb’s findings, theories, and insights, will become as revolutionary and widespread as Darwin’s. If I can do my little bit to help make that happen, then I would truly be honored to have a little footnote in history as “Wolf’s Bulldog”.
Will, that is a seriously great find. Thanks for sharing it.
I tried to post a response to Anonymous about workplace violence, but it does not appear to be posting. I normally don’t do web citations, so maybe I screwed that part up, which is causing the problem. Anyways, just trying to complete the issue, I posted the response on my personal blog:
http://www.slimmingthoughts.blogspot.com
So you can check out that info there, (until the response is properly posted here).
It came through Robb thanks!, sadly they have effectively shut this down on the CrossFit main page. Censorship at its best…
Dave, excellent legal pawnage of Barry. I’m not sure if it was covered or not, but in response to Barry’s “Castro was not operating in an official capacity” argument, California Civil Code sections 2298, 2230, et. seq. on ostensible authority as well as some sections in the Corporations Code which I am too lazy to research now would be applicable to this set of facts. The guy apparently is a “walking time bomb” as you say, and I agree with you that any officer or executive worth their salt would understand that retaining an individual like that will only significantly jeopardize the company. Poor business judgment.
Also, Will has removed the proverbial curtain to expose the wizard in Glassman by posting that excerpt from Jesse. Critical thinkers still enamored with CF take note.
I have just put the “wrestling physical conditioning encylopedia” on hold through my library. It should be in my possession in a week or so. If anyone is interested, I can try and scan some of the more pertinent pages, but I’m not too sure on the copyright issues. Anyone? Maybe I can just type some of it up.
Also, here is a thread at catalyst about the book:
http://www.cathletics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=897
And some other links:
http://www.elitefts.com/documents/sandbag_arsenal.htm
This guy seems to sell the book, but not sure if he owns the copyright. I’m going to check:
http://www.superstrengthbooks.com/john_jesse.html
That book Brad is an awesome book. I just ordered it. Jesse was a genuis for his day….What is old is new again…haha
Robb,
apologies for offending you. I may have gotten a little carried away.
I will try out OPT’s programming.
Thanks!
Robb,please post the videos from the summit of the incident(s).Get everything out in the open including past mistreatment/skullduggery perpetrated against you and any other SME’s.The spin campaign spearheaded by Castro has begun.There is a funny side and irongarmers will get this but he says in his video that the true enemy is couch…yes…let us vanquish couch
Rob,
I was introduced to you by Mike Smith from CrossfitHB at the ‘09 Games in Aromas. Wow, sounds as if somebody needs to check his ego in and reasses his reasons for being involved with Crossfit. Academia and Crossfit need to be able to coexist and meld their findings to deliver the best methods for training.
It seems as if there is always rift i.e. Boyle v. Glassman and now this. I don’t like it as it interferes with all the efforts and contributions by dedicated people all around the world to make Crossfit “The Preferred Method of Training”!
Hopefully, this will all blow over and all parties come to their senses.
William-
I do not have the videos, I’d LOVE to have them come out.
For the record, here is the first real public comment by Crossfit HQ on the subject of this blog post, made in the comments section of the Crossfit Journal piece “Understanding the Real Battle.”
Tony Budding:
“Jason Ashman (several posts here, but primarily 66) has said that CrossFit is now in the business of selling image. He and I have emailed privately on the matter, and there is no doubt that Jason is a true CrossFitter and has genuine intent on helping the community. He made a very long and well articulated case for why we need to be concerned about image and damage control and people’s feelings. And so, it is with complete respect that I disagree.
CrossFit is in the business of improving human performance in the real world. If you want to get fit, or help your clients get fit, there is little doubt left that constantly varied functional movements at high intensity combined with a moderate diet is the best way to do it.
This answer did not exist 10 years ago, certainly not in the format and availability that it does now. We all have Greg and Lauren Glassman to thank for that. Sure, barbells and gymnastics and interval training and the Zone and the Caveman diet all existed long before. But saying CrossFit is nothing new because of that is like saying a great meal or a great novel is nothing new because the same ingredients and words have been around forever.
Jason wrote me that this simplistic approach worked in the past, but we are now too big and too successful to ignore image, and this event has tarnished our image. I don’t believe this is true. The truth always comes out in the end, and the truth here is that we are fully committed to providing you with the most resources possible for you to become as fit as you want to be. We have created a community around the pursuit of fitness, and we remain as loyal to serving that community as we ever have been.
Jason says that part of serving that community is that we need to issue public statements about what happened at the BBS and why Robb got fired. I disagree. The way we serve the community is to provide a forum and culture where the open presentation and debate of effective fitness concepts can occur. This is what this video is about. It’s not spin. It’s who we are.
Why are we not talking about the BBS and Robb’s being replaced? Because they are not about the pursuit of effective fitness. They are about personalities, and such topics don’t belong on the CrossFit site. This is a divorce of sorts, and any of you that have been through divorce or had close friends go through a divorce know how painful it is. On a personal level, this whole thing has been very upsetting. For a long time, I thought Robb and Nicki were close friends. They came to my wedding last year (and the majority of attendees were friends and family unassociated with CrossFit). This is the second time our personal and professional relationship has gone south, and I honestly don’t understand exactly why.
But that’s all I’m going to say about that because it has nothing to do with CrossFit or our purpose here. Is this whole kerfuffle about fitness in any way? No. I guess there is some percentage of the population out there that thinks we fired Robb because he sells Paleo over the Zone. That’s ludicrous. He’s been a Paleo guy since long before he started touring the country with the CrossFit Nutrition certs. Do you think we didn’t know that before?
Those of you think what happened at the BBS caused us to fire Robb are mistaken. And, that’s all I’m going to say about that because it’s none of your business. Robb has been told why and that is all that is needed. He may not believe it, but that isn’t our problem.
For those of you feeling like the big bad powerful corporate CrossFit can and does arbitrarily destroy people’s lives, check your facts. Rip wasn’t fired. He left to do basically the same thing he did under the CrossFit banner now under his own. Rip has made great contributions to the world of fitness, and for that I’m grateful. Many of them of are presented in the CrossFit Journal and always will be.
Robb and Greg Everett and Dutch were not deaffiliated. They have not been blackballed or slandered or censored. Robb was removed from his role as the nutrition presenter. Period. We’re like a sports team. We changed a player on the team. It happens. You still have Robb if you want him. He has a blog that’s just as easy to find as CrossFit. I’m sure he’ll do seminars, and I hear he’s writing a book.
So, the bottom line is that I disagree with Jason. CrossFit HQ is about fitness and training, and the communities that treasure them. I am proud to be part of an amazing community that values hard work and the integrity of results more than image or political correctness. If it turns out that I’m naive and Jason is in fact correct, that my job as the Director of Media and Web Content is really more about spin, branding and damage control than fitness, then I’m in the wrong position.”
both robb and dave are big *****. Sorry had to be said , I learn of you and your site thru CFJ. robb u and ur website are top notch, yes i dont know all the facts etc.nor do i want to. get over it , set up meeting w/dave or glassman, close door what ever it takes. as cf become to big for it’s own good. globecrossfit. has there been a repeat winner at the crossfit games. NO. i believe each winner was on a different diet (life style). similiar but different. even if u urself went around teaching and reteaching trainers their will always be bad trainers … it’s life.. people will always eat crap food etc.
Tony’s comment on the thread at .com is ridiculous, disingenuous and/or naive. Robb and Greg’s experience provides important insights into the ripple effect of organizational abuse. One member who suffers unjust treatment from a leader is not simply a self-contained unit that can, if need be, be eliminated or replaced at will. Rather, the community consists of literally tens of thousands of connections. Harshness, injustice, and abuse distill both abrupt and subtle poisons into those connections, just as, for example, Gregg Glassman’s many acts of kindness to individuals have warmed and nourished and strengthened those connections with members who heard or read about the experiences, even if they had never met him. A member, even at a distance from a leader, naturally feels that he or she, too, might be treated in the same way.
And since HQ has espoused the virtues of the community as such a key part of advancing human performance, it is ludicrous to now claim that this event and your replacement have “nothing” to do with advancing human performance. When the CF community suffers, the advancement of human performance suffers. Vague analogies, no apologies, and smarmy videos from the same idiot who caused the problem just serve to weaken the community and thereby GREATLY diminish the ability of that community to advance human performance. Everybody with enough sense to lace up their shoes knows this. Tony and HQ should know this. That they haven’t acknowledged this and acted upon it speaks volumes.
Lee-
Coach Glassman had a statement on the affiliate blog, this was my response. Not sure if it will see the light of day over there:
I appreciate the statement, although tardy. A few clarifications are in order before putting this whole matter to rest.
1-The seminar I provided was 50% food quality, 50% weighing and measuring. I have nearly 50 complete certs worth of video to prove this point. The 2500+ attendees of the cert can validate this point. My contention has been that food quality is the most important issue. HQ disagrees on this point. I have thousands of data points on this topic that I have collected over the past 5 years. We will see those data sets in a formalized setting in the coming months. I have ALWAYS recommended (look back to the 2003 archives for example) starting with a paleo/quality approach first, then weigh and measure for best effect. What we have seen however are numerous examples of people abandoning Zone proportionality and lack of quality emphasis, and seeing dramatic improvements. Coach Glassman conveniently ignores this information. That’s no longer my concern as I am not a member of HQ and thus not obliged to attempt to fix its shortcomings.
I also apparently have a lack of clinical experience and scientific training! Remarkable. Apparently my CV was poorly circulated at HQ.
2-Coach Glassman is alluding that this is all a PR/marketing stunt to push Paleo Brands. That my insistence on food quality is something new. This is remarkable given my YEARS of consistent message on this topic. NewSpeak lives apparently. This also sounds remarkably similar to when CF NorCal left CrossFit several years ago in a protest of practices endemic to HQ. Our departure changed nothing (as evidenced by the Black Box Summit) but numerous people in CF were told we left to “Join Mark Twight and Gym Jones”. This is straight out of the same playbook.
3-It is ironic given Coach Glassman’s disdain for academia that MD’s and PHD’s mean “quality” or “competence”. An interesting and timely paradigm shift.
I want to make clear that my copyrighted material (the stuff not based on clinical or scientific experience) is NOT to be used at future CF Nutrition certs. It WAS used at the last event despite my communications that it is not to be used.
Off to practice Pseudo-Science and delude the masses…
Robb-
Saw the statement and aside from the insinuations about your motivations and credentials, thought it was rational and, at least, a plausible and legitimately articulated reason for a shift. The timing is suspect, obviously. Most importantly though, it does not address the main issue which is Dave’s behavior at BBS. His behavior, not necessarily deciding to remove you as the Nutrition guy (although since the two are so chronologically correlated, it is all suspect), is what needs to be addressed to heal the community. I’m fine if the Nutrition Cert goes a different direction. That just means i don’t have to fork over a grand if I want to hear your lecture. I’ll just buy your book. I’m not fine with Dave Castro as the Co-director of training. I feel that Coach (and Tony) are trying to make this about your replacement (which they apparently have “good” reasons for) and thereby obfuscate the real issue in all this, which has nothing to do with nutrition or O-lifting ideologies and everything to do with open-source-ness, civility of discourse, and Dave Castro’s unprofessional, scary behavior (for which there are no “good” reasons).
Robb,
Nope – your response won’t see the light of day – you knew that though. Control the variables. Couch did respond to you though:
“Let me share a difference between a bit of scientific fact and applied clinical knowledge.
Dr. Sears, when asked about sodium intake, offered that sodium retention was governed by aldosterone and that aldosterone was controlled in turn by insulin, which is ultimately controlled by carbohydrate intake.
I asked later who knew what to do if a client found herself very dizzy on standing days after being put “in the Zone”. Nobody knew. The answer is/was “get her to salt her food and see if it goes away”.
Same mechanism. One clinical knowledge the other not. We need a cert based on successful clinical experience.
Our old cert was sketchy on science, at best, and entirely bereft of clinical knowledge/experience.
It’s entirely my fault. We’re fixing it. ” – Couch
After reading Mr. Glassman’s posts on the CrossFit Affiliate page today I understand why things happened the way they did, and what is in store for CrossFit in the future. RW is not the problem. Paleo Brands is not the problem. TB and DC are not the problem. The problem is Greg Glassman’s character, and that will never change.
Bill-
He is a liar. This is why I left CF several years ago. this is the spin he is introducing now. they are not allowing me to post a response there so I will do it here.
Interesting that the Sodium/aldosterone/insulin issue has been a feature of EVERY nutrition cert offered by me. I will post video on that as soon as I can que it up.
I grabbed a handful of unmeasured almonds and an apple and read your post. Geez’ talk about a downer. Not you, Castro’s behaivor, very unprofessional.
There’s a reason this happened. I’m grateful you are working on your book, the sooner it gets published the sooner I can purchase and give to friends/family as gifts. What I got from your nutrition cert. was priceless. Thank you!
Michele
Robb,
Now that Lisbeth has closed the comments on the Affiliate blog, I just want you to know that my response to her “haha we don’t moderate” nonsense was that evidently, since my copy-paste of your reply taken from your blog went through no questions asked while your own post was blocked for several hours, it is not the CONTENT of your post that got caught in the filter, but your NAME (or email address, IP, website). Same for Greg Everett.
Congratulations, you and Greg are officially personae non gratae on the CF Affiliate blog. I don’t know if you should be sad or proud.
Best of luck,
Third party observer
Testing-
I appreciate your efforts. I had another response regarding the IP infringement. Bobbi Milsaps presented portions of my material at the event. I clearly communicated with HQ/Legal that my material was not to be used. I know it was an honest mistake but it illustrates Glassman has no idea what his staff is doing.
A catalyst, something that causes a massive ripple. The BBS and Dave’s actions were the catalyst. Sometime ago someone asked why the affiliates hadn’t piped in and now I will for what its worth.
This isn’t about Paleo or Zone, it really isn’t; though thats the face being presented.
This is about Greg Glassman, its like we want to blame the organization (HQ) not the man but this is what its about.
When I came to CrossFit I invested $40,000.00 to get my gym up and to pour my heart into it. I have wanted this most of my life and CrossFit was a vehicle. I bought into a brand but never really became a Koolaid drinker. This very quickly set me apart. I have t-shirts in the name of my gym, business cards, signs, a several thousand dollar website, I have invested my time and life and created a following, not of CrossFit but at my gym.
I expressed, much like Rob did, my disatisfaction, except about the brand and what followed was a verbal ass reaming from a man I respected.
The man behind the curtain has his faults as we all do but what people see on the surface and what lies beneath are simply two different people. This is simply what people are pointing out. What they thought they believed and what is….simply aren’t matching up.
This situation was a catalyst for me…I chose to no longer affiliate with nor spread the name of CrossFit. Before anyone especially the Koolaid drinkers jump in my ass about what CrossFit has done for me, well it was nothing, their brand name here means nothing, most have never heard of it, I put a ton of money into it, I wake up everyday and go sale it on the street, I advertise, I bust my ass, I have never got visits from the affiliate directors or asked how my business is going and yet HQ’s business spreads and grows. How many affiliates are millionaires? Out of 1500 or so how many, how about the Glassmans? So, in essence I own nothing. I am not sorry if this pisses people off but the over the rainbow crap has finally filled my cup.
CrossFit didn’t change your life, your coach did, or if you found workouts online thank the man that put it on there, but the lifting that you are doing is age old and the concepts age old, not a new novel or new idea just newly packaged.
What am I giving up by giving up the name is the money I invested, the time I put in, basically I have to start over but as scary as that seems to me, I won’t spend another day if can help it pushing the name that benefits the man.
Will-
We did it before, likely will do it again. You can do it. It DOES suck though because the whole thing could be REALLY good.
I agree Robb, 100% and that is what pisses me off…but the die is cast, now I am going to be calling Nickki and y’all for some guidance…lol
Dude, this Rick guy is a dumbass. His comment about T-nation, epic. Dows he realize that doublecrossfit is hiring t-nation contributors? You have gone full retard Rick, ain’t no coming back.
I know this issue with Dave Castro and some others is a bit ago, but it’s still relevant to me.
I’ve recently had a discouraging interaction with Dave and some other Crossfit leadership. I gotta get to work, and maybe I’ll write more later, but the gist of this is it seems the Crossfit people actually believe that their expertise in fitness has some sort of larger import. They’ve taken some success in FITNESS PROGRAMMING into areas where they have ZERO expertise. Sure, Crossfit’s an effective protocol, but developing it doesn’t make you good at anything else! Not at planning events, not at measuring performance, not at understanding specialization, nor nutrition, nor recovery, nor injury prevention, not accounting, not photography, not flying airplanes.
It seems a lot of the Crossfit leadership have become reactionary know-it-alls who are turning lots and lots of people off. I know I’ve been turned off.
Expertise is a funny thing. Most experts readily acknowledge their weaknesses outside of the subject matter and they are ENERGETIC in pursuit of learning to reduce their weaknesses. The Crossfit folks seems to be creating their own form of expertise, where core knowledge in one specific thing suddenly gives license to a whole host of others.
In my interactions with them, some of the Crossfit people, Dave included, came off as officious and narrow-minded. I can’t put it better or more politely than that, and I won’t try.
Robb, I’m sorry for your experience. I certainly know where it’s come from, and for the Crossfit leadership it’s not a good omen.
DF-
I really appreciate that. Sounds like you have some interesting insight indeed.
We ahve been blessed with a business mentor who is one of our clients. Great guy, sold his internet based business for $83 Million at the age of 28…very successful and the first to admit he has nothing but opinion with regards to each new project. He left Nicki and I with a doosey the other day: What got you where you are will NOT get you where you are going. learn, grow, adapt and shoot for humility and joy in what you are doing. CF is so full of talent, I really hope they get a handle on the arrogance…it will be their undoing otherwise.
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