A Story Close to my Heart

"Hope"

1 Min at Each Station for Max Reps of the Following:
Burpees
Power snatch
Box jump, 24" box
Chest to bar Pull-ups
Rest 1 Min

I want to bring up a subject that I'm pretty sensitive about and is quite difficult to discuss.  I feel the only way I am going to get through this is if I just come out and say it so…my name is Blake, I am a CrossFit athlete, and I have the legs of a chicken and arms of a slippery eel.  Everybody has limitations pertaining to this sport and these are mine. 

Though these would be positive characteristics in more elegant activities such as  baseball and ultimate frisby, in CrossFit they frequently equate to additional range of motion and added bodyweight.  Though being tall is an advantage in some movements (see running, rowing, wallballs) this is not the case in most (see pull-ups, any squatting movement with the exception of wall balls, pressing, burpees, etc).  I am not here to throw myself a pity party (yes I am) for I know there are many who have it worse than me coughadamcough, but I want to acknowledge that some people are going to inherently excel in some modalities while struggle in others.  This should also help some of you understand why it is that you don’t squat more than so-and-so or why your 5 k row time isn’t so hot (or at least give you a damn good excuse).

CrossFit is a game of mechanical advantage.  The individual who has the most effective levers in any given movement will move more efficiently and with all things being equal perform more work in less time.  If you evaluate human movement from this perspective it should also be apparent that limb/torso ratio is also a large factor.  Notice in the stick figure image above that the individual with longer limbs relative to the torso is forced to compensate by leaning over when back squatting (yes that’s what they’re doing).  Now this lever is an advantage in pulling movements such as deadlifts and power cleans but is typically a disadvantage in the squats.

On a side note, I once read an article by Dave Tate (Powerlifting guru) that said a 6’1” (my height) powerlifter could be competitive in the deadlift at a lighter bodyweight but would need to weigh in the ball park of 295Lbs in order to be competitive in squatting and bench-pressing because their hips/shoulder could not support a substantial load.  Now I recognize that powerlifters are playing a different game but unless you are some kind of alien panther then you better not be both tall and skinny (I was a whopping 165 a few years back and can relate). 

For the record, Derek Waterman now owes me lunch.  Post to comments your guess as to why this might be (it relates to the blog).