Certainly in a CF gym. Not so much in globo.

We cant get our kids to stop doing the movements. We dont offer CrossFit Kids yet (but will) and just from the kids hanging out in the waiting area - they all want to mimic Mom and Dad by doing burpees, air squats, push ups, and most of all rope climbs.
Great point.

#2 Steve
We experience the same thing! My little girls want to be just like their Mom. It is very cool to watch them mimic the movements, especially the burpees!

I agree totally!

The gym is about the best place to develop virtue. Through refinement, revision, hard work and adversity. Through real training methods.

We're all into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu over here, and we think that there are too many things in common between Chan Buddhism, fighting martial arts and Crossfit to ignore.

Here's one interpretation from Matt Thornton that describes some of this synthesis;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_ts8hRKBW0&feature=related

(WFS)

Change 'functional martial arts' or 'aliveness' to 'functional movements' and 'random/high intensity'.

Have a great day! Go build characters guys!

-Jason
Full Circle

This is why people use so many sporting examples to get their point across. It reveals a lot about the human condition.

At first I was skeptical, until I actually took the time to research the definition of "virtue", and found it to more personal and individual than I originally presumed.

To borrow from an incomplete list of Roman Virtues, I agree that many are best and most easily taught in a box. Virtues such as: Humour, Perseverance, Mercy, Dignity, Discipline, Tenacity, Frugalness, Industriousness, Wholesomeness, and Manliness ("Valor, excellence, courage, character, and worth"). Others such as Humanity, Justice and Spirituality may have better places to be learned.

I still believe that team sports, long car rides, and porches provide very fine opportunities to instill virtues, as well.

Virtues are derived from beliefs* and forged in adversity, so I can see why a CF box would be a great place to develop and grow virtue.

(*Beliefs are derived from relationships, which can mean a box is a place where your beliefs can be molded too. Hence the "cult-like" attributes of CF.)

Interesting comments!

JB -- I would venture that "justice" (if we accept the definition of justice as "the maintenance or administration of what is just especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments") might be taught well by the barbell, the stopwatch, and a coach?

If not in the gym, then on the field or at the track. Certainly, the mental stress derived from the physical is more potent than that from office work or school.

Holy cow. I think I gained 3 college credits reading this post.
All I wanted to say is my kids love burpees.
ha ha ha

WAY TO GO LULAH!

Our kids too have no choice but to be at our affiliate nearly every day-and never complain about going either! I love it when our any one of them wants to WOD and when all 3 do so together it's such a RUSH!!
XO, Auntie Kimmie

Lis,

Interesting point. You could use your definition to address shoulder position in relation to the barbell in the deadlift. There has been conflicting claims stating we should begin slightly in front of the bar (Ripp), slightly behind the bar (Tate) and "over the bar" (company line). When you lift the load, the justice is revealed. The barbell is impartial to any of the three claims, and the reward (PR) or punishment (a miss or injury) would be effectively administered.

I would not disagree that justice can be taught in a box. I would not disagree that most virtues can best and most easily be cultured in a box.

But the lesson in the gym may be a different spin on justice than an accidental homicide trial. The lesson on humanity may be different than volunteering at your soup kitchen.

As far a "bang for your buck" goes...CrossFit is head and shoulders above any other place I can think of for teaching virtues. I keep coming back to the notion that what I love about CrossFit is that it PREPARES you. However, what you DO with that preparation is most important, in my mind.

Steven -- you make me laugh! Thanks!

JB -- exactly. Nice application of the theory.

Everything you do/learn in the gym doesn't mean dammit if you're a jerk when you walk outside the doors.

We agree and much like CrossFit doesn't built character it reveals.