The Rules
THE RULES
The rules of Pathfinders:
1st RULE: You do not whine about the workout.
2nd RULE: You DO NOT whine about the workout.
3rd RULE: No excuses.
4th RULE: No Lies.
5th RULE: One repetition at a time. – Focus on the task at hand. The repetition will not count if it does not meet standards. Cheating gets you nowhere.
6th RULE: No Shirt, No Go – we don’t care about appearance, we care about performance. If someone becomes so overheated during a workout and they take their shirt off, so be it. But you will never begin a workout without a shirt.
7th RULE: Workouts will go on as long as they have to.
8th RULE: If this is your first time at Pathfinders, you HAVE to workout.
What is functional movement?
Functional movements can be broken down into 8 elements. A functional movement really does all of these things or else it does not fit the definition of functional. This is what makes CrossFit different from what most of us know as a circuit training. For a movement to be functional it must be:
1. Natural. This means something that happens in nature. Dead lifts, squats, pull ups are all excellent example of this. You do these everyday whether you even realize it, most of the time with very little if any load.
2. UMRP (Universal Motor Recruitment Pattern). In even simpler terms, core to extremity power. Meaning I get my momentum from my core and use that to move weight at my extremities. A kipping pull up is a great example of this.
3. Efficient and effective. If movement is not the most efficient way to move the weight then if does not meet the definition of functional. This pretty much excludes any kind of isolation exercise like bicep curls or skull crushers.
4. Essential. Meaning you must to this to live. You must be able to stand up (squat) you must be able to get up out of bed (sit up) you must be able to get up off the ground (push up).
5. Compound or multi-muscular. Again, this kind of ties in with efficient. But all CF exercises use more than one muscle group. Flutter kicks, iron abs, planks, wall sits, crunches are multi muscular but are not efficient so also do not fall into this definition.
6. Elemental. This simply means it cannot be reduced any further. Think about a dead lift, I cannot find a more elemental way to move weight from the ground to the hang position.
7. SAFE. This is probably the most important. If it is not SAFE then you risk injury. Poor form = not safe. Get someone to watch you if you think your form is suspect.
8. Power=(F*d)/t. Each movement is designed to help you move large loads (F), long distances (d), as quickly as possible (t). Think about this. Does it matter whether you go up stairs one at a time, 2 at a time or more? You are moving the same amount of weight the same distance. The most efficient is the one that allows you to do it fastest. If you move the same amount of weight the same distance faster, you increased your power capacity.
1. Natural. This means something that happens in nature. Dead lifts, squats, pull ups are all excellent example of this. You do these everyday whether you even realize it, most of the time with very little if any load.
2. UMRP (Universal Motor Recruitment Pattern). In even simpler terms, core to extremity power. Meaning I get my momentum from my core and use that to move weight at my extremities. A kipping pull up is a great example of this.
3. Efficient and effective. If movement is not the most efficient way to move the weight then if does not meet the definition of functional. This pretty much excludes any kind of isolation exercise like bicep curls or skull crushers.
4. Essential. Meaning you must to this to live. You must be able to stand up (squat) you must be able to get up out of bed (sit up) you must be able to get up off the ground (push up).
5. Compound or multi-muscular. Again, this kind of ties in with efficient. But all CF exercises use more than one muscle group. Flutter kicks, iron abs, planks, wall sits, crunches are multi muscular but are not efficient so also do not fall into this definition.
6. Elemental. This simply means it cannot be reduced any further. Think about a dead lift, I cannot find a more elemental way to move weight from the ground to the hang position.
7. SAFE. This is probably the most important. If it is not SAFE then you risk injury. Poor form = not safe. Get someone to watch you if you think your form is suspect.
8. Power=(F*d)/t. Each movement is designed to help you move large loads (F), long distances (d), as quickly as possible (t). Think about this. Does it matter whether you go up stairs one at a time, 2 at a time or more? You are moving the same amount of weight the same distance. The most efficient is the one that allows you to do it fastest. If you move the same amount of weight the same distance faster, you increased your power capacity.
10 General Physical Skills
1. Cardiovascular/Respiratory Endurance- The ability of the body systems to gather, process, and transport oxygen.
2. Stamina- The ability of the body to process, store, deliver, and utilize energy.
3. Strength- The ability of a muscular unit, or combo of muscular units to apply force.
4. Flexibility- The ability of maximizing range of motion at a given joint.
5. Power- The ability of a muscular unit, or combo of muscular units to apply maximum force in minimum time.
6. Speed- The ability to minimize the time cycle of a repeated movement.
7. Coordination- The ability to combine several distinct movement patterns into a singular distinct movement.
8. Agility- The ability to minimize transition time between one movement pattern to another.
9. Accuracy- The ability to control movement in a given direction or at a given intensity.
10. Balance- The ability to control the placement of the bodies’ center of gravity in relation to its’ support base.
2. Stamina- The ability of the body to process, store, deliver, and utilize energy.
3. Strength- The ability of a muscular unit, or combo of muscular units to apply force.
4. Flexibility- The ability of maximizing range of motion at a given joint.
5. Power- The ability of a muscular unit, or combo of muscular units to apply maximum force in minimum time.
6. Speed- The ability to minimize the time cycle of a repeated movement.
7. Coordination- The ability to combine several distinct movement patterns into a singular distinct movement.
8. Agility- The ability to minimize transition time between one movement pattern to another.
9. Accuracy- The ability to control movement in a given direction or at a given intensity.
10. Balance- The ability to control the placement of the bodies’ center of gravity in relation to its’ support base.