Thank god

I expected to see more comments already

this is needed

Great photo. Been dying to see Nicole's legs for years. First photo I've seen of her in shorts. OK, time to put my raincoat back on.

Awesome...I was planning to rest anyway.

No rest for me, CFT before work manana; 1250m swim after. Should be fun.

It seems he may have overlooked the most-important concept for beginners - scaling.

Whenever I begin to worry that Crossfit will be become commercialized and lose something in the transformation, something like this comes along to make me second guess if it will ever become Mainstream.

Oh thank GOD.. First FULL week of Crossfit, and I am BEAT

It's clear the Capt. is a yes man, simply towing the line. Being prior service Navy and now active duty Army, I can tell you no military service has a program tailored to an individual, let alone a decent program for a large population. What the services offer is absolute crap.

I did begin to type a rather nasty rebuttal, to vent my frustration at his idiotic comment, but Capt. Picker wouldn't be reading it so I'll focus my energy on my REAL workout.

Isn't CrossFit already commercialized?

Seems to me that's become pretty mainstream.

Giving exercises girls' names in against CORE Navy values? I did not know that.

Might use this day for some "active" rest. I kinda burned out after 5k today. I don't know if it's because I was working on my form for the CnJ, or if it's my eating habits. I really need some help with nutrition. I eat too much garbage.

If the Navy's idea of a fitness program is remotely similar to the Air Force's, I can tell you firsthand that ANYTHING is better than what they currently do. Take this guy's comments with a grain of salt...they're more concerned with how fast you can jog a run versus being able to drag your buddy fifty feet to safety when your heartrate is going a million miles per hour.

#9...you're completely right. I'm doing this because the AF PT programs just aren't up to snuff.. and i saw this in the AF Times, which is what got me interested in it.

and we are seeing higher incidents of heart disease and other health issues.

Anyway, i could see the initial concern..because it is something different...everyone is scared of difference at first

#13..i have a buddy who can't lift is own body weight, but he maxes the AF PT test because he's got a tiny waist and can run.. let me tell you, next time i get deployed on an ILO tasking.. im hoping he doesn't come with

It's people like Captain Jon Picker that make me ashamed to be in the Navy. It's become a bureaucracy that caters to obesity and laziness and is so politically correct that this waste of a commissioned officer has to throw in a sentence condemning the fact that our workouts have girl's names. Maybe someone should bring to his attention all the SEALs that also have workouts named after them who are probably rolling over in their graves right now. Thank you for linking his e-mail address, hopefully he gets a lot of e-mails about this.

ehn...

If there's anything I've learned, it's that somebody in power who doesn't want to adopt a new program/idea/whatever will find a way to do so. The reasons's given aren't all that important... actually, it's usually the most obvious reason, and in CF's case that's Rhabdo.

Not sure about the "core values" comments... seems like that could get a guy in power into some hot water, but it probably won't, because he'll say that CF naming workouts after women is somehow exploiting them.

Whatever. Screw that guy. If he doesn't like CF, he doesn't have to do CF.

Why do I have a feeling this guy's going to come back to work in the morning and have sixteen thousand seven hundred and thirty two eMails in his inbox?

Hasn't the navy always affectionately referred to their ships as "she" or "her"? Why should a WOD named after a woman be against their Core Values?

When the navy starts customizing a program to individuals that is half as effective as CrossFit, then he'll have something to say. Haven't all the military's programs always been structured for the masses anyway? Best to take the best one ever--CrossFit!

So far as I see his comments having an impact on Crossfit, is that it's going to keep out all the wimps from trying something that's just too hard for their poor heart to take. It's been said before, only the strong survive.

Yea this Capt. doesnt know what he is talking about i think ill stick to the tips form cross fit!

Also, I'd be honored as hell to have a workout named after me, as I'm sure all the women here would. This guy obviously doesn't know the background of some of the names...

Besides, I'm always entertained by the offhand comments about the Girls...and how they're like a bad ex...you know she'll hurt you, but you just can't stay away... :)

Oh, and one more thing... you know what's another excellent way to get a musculoskeletal injury?

GETTING SHOT BECAUSE YOU CAN'T RUN FAST ENOUGH WITH 50 LBS ON YOUR BACK!

Leave it to the Navy (HQ) to say something like that)I have no issues with Sailors (disclaimer),

I tell you what, we in the Army need a program like XFIT because we are in the fight (like the Marines) and we need the core exercises to maintain the operations (OPTEMPO) of all the deployments. Ware our body armor for a day and you will soon find yourself in a world of hurt after about 10 minutes in 130 degree temps. Ask all the civilians that we gear up and take on patrol. I think the Navy is missing the boat........................

The good CAPT forgot about the HERO workouts, Michael comes to mind. My wife is reading over my shoulder and is offended at the suggestion.

I doubt the Capt. has done any real PT in quite a while. Love the post by #13...who gives a flippin crap how many full sit ups I can do in 2 minutes? I prefer to know that if I EVER need to get a person out of a situation, I am fully capable of doing it.

"Hold on there shipmate, I can't lift that heavy object off of you because the Navy says sit ups are all I need to keep me squared away!" Sheesh. I'm prior Navy, married to Navy...I see active duty personnel every day that are pitiful excuses for service members. Most of them I see sitting at the fast food drive thru. I play softball with about 17 active duty women...I am smaller and stronger than every one of them. I still get asked if I am active duty, especially in the gym. It makes me sick. CrossFit is an awesome program that has changed my life and my only problem with it is that I didn't find it sooner!

What does the name of a workout have to do with "Core Values"? Are they afraid it'll make the sailors horny?

What's next, CrossFit...don't ask, don't tell!

This is going to be indeed an interesting discussion.

My favorite part of the quote is:
"Granted, anyone can develop a program that's very intense".

I would never want to say anything against any of our heros in uniform, but... this guy ain't bright. I know a number of active military and LE and they all swear by it - if anything, they want more of their colleagues involved!

Perhaps he wants to open a 24 Hour Fitness in Iraq? :)

My chiropractor was trying to tell me a lot of the exercises I do are not very safe. And that sit-ups were never safe, same with knee-to-elbows, back extensions, and some other exercises. He said shoulder press should be a seated military press, and much more. I said he did not understand the program and that the goal was to make the body function well as a whole. Hopefully he isn't right...

I think we all need to just be very aware of our limitations and exercise caution when maxing out or at the end of a tough workout when fatigue sets in.
If anyone is in the medical field and can give us honest, non-biased opinions (i'm not sure if that is possible for crossfitters like myself) on whether crossfitting with correct form is dangerous, it would be appreciated even though i'd probably keep doing crossfit regardless of the said consequences on my body. I'm young and possibly foolish. But i know I love crossfit.

Seriously, he just said named workouts as females is contrary?!?!?!

ROFL.

They name tactical areas in Iraq after women who have had sex with President Clinton. They name them after porn stars. They name them after some of the dirtiest women (granted quite good looking) on the planet. Yet that can slide, but naming a workout "Mary" is so contrary to what the Navy stands for he has to say something.

CrossFit also names Hero workouts off people who have made the ultimate sacrifice, but of course, no balls to say that.

And people wonder why I wanted to get out of the fighting command in the Air Force and head on over to the training command. I'm really tired of out of touch higher ups.

If your ancestors were gatherers that picked berries and ran to survive you will always be a pathetic creature that runs from adversity. To all those who come from hunters and warriors keep on fightin! Crossfit will take you to levels you never thought you could go.

Technically, I shouldn't say anything because I'm sure that this Captain is somewhere in my potential Chain of Command. But I don't understand how calling a workout "Fran" distracts me from "my" core values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment.

Pretty sure I've still got the Honor to say, "I didn't complete that pullup, do one more." The Courage to even attempt half of these workouts and the Commitment to keep going and push myself harder.

In fact, it seems pretty sexist to me to even say something like that.

And by the way, for references since I saw it mentioned, the Navy Physical Readiness Test (PRT) expects roughly a 10 minute mile and a half, 50 pushups and 50 sit ups in order to score a "passing grade" for a male, age 20-25.

I've seen and done the mandotory PT sessions that the Navy has it's sailors do... the only reason anyone breaks a sweat is because they insist on doing it while we're crossing the equator. That's safe and better somehow? I think not.

I tried looking up the article in Encompass, but I couldn't find the July issue of it.

I'll be damned the day one of my Chiefs tell me that I'm not allowed to do Crossfit. This is the most fun I've had working in my entire life.

Sweet video.

I read that article and it is plain to see that the Capt. is a weak b*tch to say the least. I have been doing crossfit for over 2 years now and have adapted it to my increased levels of endurance as time progressed. Not only did I increase the harshness of these workouts, but made them almost unbearible. My muscles didn't explode into my bloodstream and I don't have any negitive long term effects, other than being jacked. I will continue to promote this under-vauled and misunderstood means of exercise to all military and civilians alike. Take it for what its worth.

Ref comment by Capt Picker

CrossFit is not a "commerical off the shelf" program. As this web site testifies:

There are no advertisments or popups. There are no fees required to use this remarkable resource. Free of charge a daily WOD is posted that anyone can use as guidance for working out. Need information on a technique for a lifting exercise, nutrition, injuries? Anyone can ask a world of amatuer athletes for information on the message board. CrossFit encourages an individual to establish his/her own garage gym, hardly a commerical enterprise. And, people are told to scale a WOD to their capabilites. In fact, it is one of the most remarkable aspects of CrossFit that it's commerical potential is so great, but Greg Glassman has never exploited that potential.

Capt Picker's comment that naming a WOD after a women is contrary to the Navy's core values is puzzling. Hasn't the military including the Navy named planes, bombs etc after women? Remember the Enola Gay? or pictures of pin-up girls painted on the sides of planes flying off aircraft carriers?

Injuries are a concern and I would like to see more emphasis on injury prevention. Never-the-less, the ability of CrossFit to pull the best out of people, beyond what they would do on their own, makes CrossFit in my opinion a valuable assest to the military and one the Navy should take full advantage of.

CrossFit is fuctional and has saved many great men and womans lives in combat and on the streets as a law enforcement officer. I have been doing it now for 3 months and have never felt stronger, faster, or in better condition. For a Capt in the Navy to make those remarks is pure ignorance. Thanks CrossFit for keeping our great sheepdogs safe from the wolves.

Steve M/35/5'7/167

Ex Navy here, though it was a long time ago. My guess is that this officer has done none of his own exploration of Crossfit, he is simply parroting what an underling told him. Said underling doesn't understand Crossfit, or fears their ability to compete, or somehow has their own identity/rep tied to the current workout programs.
I hate condescending commentary from ill informed people. STFU.

Sounded like some pretty un-informed comments to me. I've likewise been extremely dissatisfied over the years with the majority of Army PT I've done. Like so many things that are great, there will always be doubters, usually backed up by little or no facts. Scaling will prevent the injuries he mentions. The comment about WODs named after girls is laughable. Maybe he should try a few and then comment.

Regardless if the Army (and obviously not the Navy) ever adopts Cross Fit, I'll continue to push hard and try to live up to the standards of the elite athletes on this site.

That guy doesn't understand CF. If he did he would understand the "Girls", he'd get that jumping right into CF is a bad idea for almost everyone and he'd get that his sailors would be better prepared physically then your standard Military PT would/could get them.

and that video is awesome... one of the best I've seen in a while.

I guess I really should ask my mom's permission before I continue with crossfit...

Yeah! check out Jon Picker's idea of a good workout for sailors. Navy News June, 30th 2006. Page 2 features a pic with him and Gilad from Bodies in Motion. Clearly, very intense, but hey! low risk of injury! lol. whatever.
yeah, i was going to post a clearly thought out reply but figured "why waste my time?" I think these pics say enough. i'm gonna try to post this link. hope it makes it in the post, and isn't against the rules. if it doesn't you can google search it. seems like may be called RIMPAC as well or something. i don't know. its funny.
https://www.cnic.navy.mil/HAWAII/Newsroom/2006/HNNIssuesfrom2006/ssLINK/CNIP_012052

I suppose everything he said is true. It may fit the definition of a COTS program (I don't know). Several SME's probably have addressed the cited concern, and the program may very well therefore not be supported by CPPD (no idea what that is). I'd be interested in knowing why he thinks there "is" (an awfully definitive word) a "safer way of doing this".

Also, I do not know the Navy's Core Values, and I therefore do not dispute that "exercises" (meaning "workouts", presumably) named after women is against them. I wonder, however, if it is within the bounds of the Core Values to have acronyms for workouts that would, by coincidence of course, spell words that some people use to name their daughters.

All I have to say is that the Navy PT I am forced to go through is the worst crap ever

I am a Drill Sgt. in the U.S. Army and have worked with all the branchs of service. The reason the Capt. made the uninformed comments that he did is because the PT programs in the military are designed to keep individuals from getting hurt. Do to the fact that most of the individuals joining are over weight or extremly out of shape from years of sitting on there ass playing video games. So they need a program that will get soldiers in shape with out a high risk of injury. But has I said before the comments are uninformed if you lokk at the Army's new PT program for soldiers in basic training Standrdized Phyiscal Training (SPT) you see a very scaled down crossfit style of workout.

When I was active duty NAVY I got into quite a bit of hot water when I wrote the top dog a letter outlining how I thought it was ludicrous that my Command Master Chief had a medical waiver precluding him from partaking in the annual fitness test but who was still allowed to go on deployment, work his normal duty hours and even retire with full benefits. Having also been the lead physical fitness instructor for the Federal Air Marshal Service (I won't tell you which office but it was one of the big ones...) I can tell you that the people in charge are VERY hard to convince that change is needed. The old standard of judging fitness according to government standards is...well, a joke. It is still broken down by age and gender and waivers are available to anybody who pursues hard enough. I always thought it was a joke that a 40 year old man needed to run half as fast as me but would receive the same paycheck as me (No thanks buddy, I'll drag YOUR partner out of the line of fire...)
The Captain in question is doing nothing but holding up the old guard in his quest for promotion. I say, "Ignore him, keep CrossFitting, and don't forget to pat him on the ass when you pass him on the run, and ask him how fast he did Linda"

I will get in the 10k on Sunday am as that is a run day for me.

So today did one from Crossfit Victoria BC:

C & J (75#) 21-18-15-12-9-6-3
Burpees 3-6-9-12-15-18-21
Time=40:03

This is now definitely a favorite of mine! What a workout :)
Erin

Navy core values-
Honor,Commitment,Courage
I think everything about Crossfit sums up these values.

I actually live in Navy Housing next to NS Great Lakes where the Navy does all their basic training. This is probably universal in all services (as well as everywhere else) but whatever standardized training the military offers (I'm ex-Army) just doesn't cut it. The Sailors/Soldiers who are in good shape are those who take personal responsibility for their fitness and do their own workouts in addition to organized physical training. Those who don't, especially those not in primary combat specialties tend to get a little chubby.

To use myself as an example, I had about a 225 average Army PT score before I ever heard of Crossfit. After just 2 months of WODs, I lost 22 pounds and scored my first 300 (328 extended scale).

Like we say in med school, medicine is based on EVIDENCE.

viva la crossfit!

One more reason the approach of retirement doesn't bum me out as much as it used to. Contempt prior to investigation and quick dismissal of new (and, btw, excellent) ideas is one characteristic of poor leadership....not to mention mindless adherence to the doctrine of political correctness.
FEP'ers are a drain on my time and resources, and our taxpayer dollars. I'm all for a way of better way of forcing them out of their welfare status.

Navy Core Values? Does anyone remember Tailhook '91? Gimme a break...

I don't know about the Navy. But the Army's PT program is sorely lacking. I have never heard any negative feedback from anyone in the military until now.I have however seen the Navy's pt test(Not too terribly different from the Army) and if anyone thinks that 2 minutes of Push ups, crunches, and a 1.5 mile run are indicative of overall fitness, they are sadly mistaken.

You want to decrease instances of musculoskeletal injury? Start certifying all NCOs and overcome the ignorant mentality of push as hard as you can with little attention to form. I've seen guys blow their shoulders doing Army-style push ups. I want to see hip pocket classes on proper snatch technique,or the benefits of adding motions and exercises outside of your normal needed range, or the concept of a rest day. Teach a man to fish. Don't just feed him.

Honestly, if I hear the words, "two minutes of-the situp" one more time, I am likely to lose my friggin mind. Our Army's(I'm talking about the field manual, not anyone's pt plan in particular) pt program is archaic at best. I know I'd rather fight with 1 strong capable crossfitting soldier, than any three ate-up marginal passing Army pt test takers. Strong body, strong mind, strong heart.

I think the brass would do well to listen to the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen. If they did listen, they would hear one word. Crossfit.

Very interesting Capt? Didn't we end WWII by dropping an Atomic Bomb from an aircraft called the Enola Gay? I don't think that really affected both of my grandfather's "core values". If fact i remember them telling me stories of how thrilled they were.

Were there any incidences of rhabdo at the Crossfit games? I suspect not.

If there were none, experiment over, injury theory is shite.

Brad Hirakawa

I almost feel sorry for the guy because he just made himself look like a moron and completely ignorant in front of potentially thousands of service men who regularly do CrossFit.

The thing is, you can't argue with results. You can ignore them as he did, but you can't refute empirical evidence that CrossFit is among the top fitness programs out there.

Just last week I got a new PR in a 5k race (21:36). Someone asked me how much I run a week. I just kinda laughed. The only running I ever do is in a CrossFit workout.

Thank you, CrossFit!

Capt. Jon Pickler is a douche, since when does the military individualize anything, you are GI once you hit Basic. O well, we have real officers like Lt Col Dan Wilson USMC, that realize it works for most personnel in this line of work. I would like to see the full article that the quote came out of though.

I am a Drill Sgt. in the U.S. Army and have worked with all the branchs of service. The reason the Capt. made the uninformed comments that he did is because the PT programs in the military are designed to keep individuals from getting hurt. Do to the fact that most of the individuals joining are over weight or extremly out of shape from years of sitting on there ass playing video games. So they need a program that will get soldiers in shape with out a high risk of injury. But as I said before the comments are uninformed if you look at the Army's new PT program for soldiers in basic training Standrdized Phyiscal Training (SPT) you see a very scaled down crossfit style of workout. But still is no where near intense enough to prepare soldiers for todays battle field.

Couldn't resist, sent the good Captain the following email, thought I would post it here. First time I was ever able to shoot my mouth off to a Captain and get away with it.

Old corpsman here Captain, honorable discharge 1975.
You called Crossfit an off the shelf product not tailored to individuals. Nothing could be further from the truth, and your statement makes me think you have taken some bad info from someone and not looked into it yourself.
Any program, including CF, can hurt someone if not done properly. I am 53, I guarantee you I have to scale both weight and reps to be appropriate for my age and fitness level. I have been doing this since April 08 and have not been in this good of condition since boot camp, and I have never had more fun.
I don't know why some workouts are named after women, but the women I work out with don't even notice. I hope you also know that some workouts are named after soldiers who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan and we proudly do every rep no matter how long it takes.
I will tell you what I tell all my runner and bodybuilder friends: try this for a month and tell me if you are more fit, more completely, in less time compared to anything you have every done.
Last point: too many military guys are sold on this already, the lack of your endorsement will have no effect.
Best of luck to you.

Ken Smithmier

Capt who?????
Notice the guy is from the Personal Development area. He's into head games & probably forgets the physical. Any one of us who's thrashed out a WOD at intensity knows how much you have to use your head to push your body through it.
CF is the type of training a lot of elite forces (military, polices & fire etc) use in many parts of the world so in that regard he's out of step with a hell of a lot of people.
If I was under attack in Afghanistan, I couldn't give a crap what my buddies run time was if he couldn't carry his weapon & use it as well.
As for girls - it's only in the last 30 years or so ships had guys names. Traditionaly sailors always gave their ships female names.
Captain whatever should crawl back under his desk & stay nice & safe.

Guys like that CAPT are exactly why I went USMC out of the Naval Academy 7 years ago. The navy is full of such weak minded and bodied people these days that their forefathers who actually did fight turn in their graves. They are slaves to the status quo and the biggest self-licking ice cream cone in the history of warfare (the carrier-centered surface navy).
I'm on my third tour to Iraq and the only Navy I've seen are SEALs, docs and SeaBees. Funny, I see pleny of rivers and lakes around dying to be patroled by some boats. Nice warfighting organization CAPT! I say we name another dirty girl workout after Capt Picker. Wait, that would be demeaning to our awesome ladies and be against Crossfit values of being strong in mind body and spirit. Have a fine, fat and weak Navy day CAPT!
RSB

let's be sure and remaing politically correct while canada's army gets better, stronger, faster. maybe they'll bail us out when we run out of gas on the frontlines. good lord. do we not name hurricanes after women???

I am a former Marine and personal trainer, I have recently got into crossfit and it will definitely be my next certification, it blows away anything I have done so far. You would think all the military services would seek the best training possible for their troopers, at least individual soldiers can access the site and hopefully spread the word to their brothers and sisters in arms.

That is just plain ridiculous, Capt Picker. But we Marines appreciate the transportation nonetheless. We'll let you know how the fight goes.

Additionally, it is common military naming convention to assign street and other TRPs alphabetic names, often with female names running in one direction and male names in another. I guess everyone in Fallujah was bucking your core values, too..

No stressing about it. I can't remember who said it, but "You have to do it to get it." Don't worry about pushing it on people, the ones that you want in the community are the ones who discover it for themselves and internalize the "core values" of Crossfit.

There will always be naysayers, just keep doing what you are doing fokls, you are all an inspiration.

He clearly mentions how he dislikes the workouts named after Women and CrossFit is somehow bad because of it, but what about the workouts named after fallen Hero's? As a former Marine, CrossFit has always inspired me greatly on many levels and is in no way against any values I hold dear.

Jeff, post #4, right?

Soccerman #29, I've never been an actor on TV but I play a doctor in real life every day. If you explicitly follow all of the suggestions here at CF, or even better visit an affiliate, CF is safer than most, if not all other significant training programs, and clearly has a lower injury rate than such adult sport activities as soccer, tennis, etc.

Boy, wouldn't now be the perfect time to hear from Colonel Dan? How about an invite to the Crossfit Military Games? And you know, I just bet that Dale Saran (Marine) and Apolloswabbie (Navy) will have a thought or two.

Oh, Captain Jon Pickler, you are MINE.

First off, I welcome you to come to DC and try to square off against me in a WOD. Bring your best game. I'm ready for you, and will remove your dubious little manhood in an almost undetectable slice of my rock hard CrossFitness. Contact me, challenge me, but just be a man & own it in public when I kick your flabby posterior chain.

I MFG learned CrossFit from two Navy SEALS and two Army Green Berets. Those guys literally depended on X-Fit for their lives. And, yes, they were enlisted, and scoffed at moronic Occifurs like Captain Picker. Jon, don't be an old man. Try something new. Sushi isn't disgusting. Mojitos are fun, and beer is ordinary. And dude, it's okay not to tuck your shirt in, and for God's sake, don't wear a belt with your jeans.

I started CrossFit as a weak sorry woman with "rape me" written across her forehead. The USAF scored me at 100% on my fitness tests. Idiots. I deployed and had the worst time of it. I started hiding behind the meanest, toughest and strongest men I could find. Low & behold, they introduced me to CrossFit. Now, not two years later, people hide behind me.

And, I'm still a tiny little beauty. Come on, Jon, try me. Show me you have a pair like the big CrossFit Tango Killers I deployed with. Or, admit you are a pink plastic swiss ball bouncing, cardio spin sissy in spandex "workout" clothes that you bought way back in the 80's. Such jackassery is rare, and I'm dying to meet you. lets get it on film. If, for some viral hemmoragic fever complication I don't make the workout, I'll send my 14 year old superior, Kallista.

poor old guy. i'm going to hand him his @$$. And the funniest part? I'm in the bottom 2/3rd percentile of the fittest crossfit women at the Games. yep. I'd love to see what fellow tiny girl hottie Jolie (or Jodi Bainbridge) would make of him. Let alone what the giant CrossFit beastie monster women that won the games would do to him.

I'm cracking up at someone telling Tonya Wegner that what she's doing is hurting her. Jeezis??? did you SEE that woman? INVINCIBLE. She just gets stronger and fitter every day. Gillian? Caity? The top 3 grrlz would crush Jon. And, frankly there's no need to pull out any of the men on him. Poor ol' Capt Jon would soil his trousers at the sight of Jeremy Thiel. That dude's a tiger in a human suit.

In the 1.75 years I've done CrossFit, I've never been hurt. Yes, I'm injured, but that was from running. Not CrossFit. I've never met anyone who was injured from CrossFit. I do know guys who are down for the count. They got tooled by gunfire, rugby or severe blunt trauma. But, CrossFit isn't going to kill you. It's going to make you amazing, beautiful, timeless, strong, invincible, and indefatigable. Who doesn't want that?

oh, yeah, Jon doesn't. he likes spin. he likes wearing a heart monitor. he likes whatever little tiny measurement that makes him feel like a better man than he is.

there is no excuse. there is no weight class. there is no age class. fight like your life depends on it because it does. jon only wants to be honorable mention in the short bus category of 50 year olds in the clydesdale division. there is no excuse. jon, you are inexcusable. leave the rest of the Navy alone so they can be fit to fight.

Coach is redefining each and every possible parameter of fitness. He's the genesis of every single blessing of my life, and the reason why my friends survive. I love you, Greg.

i also loved being with my CrossFit brethren this weekend. I felt anguish that my time with them was over. As my beloved & smart as hell coach Russ Greene said upon our entering a civilian restaurant for a post-games meal and seeing how hideous and fat and weak the every day
American clientele was: "Karen, we've re-entered the real world, and I don't like it".

I don't like worlds where the Capt Jons get to tell us, the beautiful super fit super athletes, how to train, or tell us how to measure ourselves. I hate their yardstick, and find them repulsive. Jon, for God's sake, shut up and try to do no more harm than you've already done.

Pathetic. This guy has no clue. I have done 6 years active duty and a total of 12 including Reserve time in the Navy and I have NEVER found the Navy PT program to be challenging let alone effective. If he thinks this way about CrossFit then what does he say about BUDS training?!? Seriously...these guys at BUDS are FORCED to do more than what their bodies can probably handle safely. What's the difference between that and CrossFit for some fat Navy Chief Petty Officer that carries around a coffee mug with 3 spoonfuls of sugar? Okay, maybe a SEAL candidate is a bit more physically fit than that fat ass Chief but really, come on. I get tired of seeing my fellow sailors bitch about the PT standards then go out and eat a double quarter with cheese at McDs and then complain further when they're put on mando PT.

I love CrossFit and I DARE the Navy to punish me for doing a workout that is named after a woman and say that I'm guilty of damaging government property (ie my own body) when in fact I'm PROTECTING it. When I score my first 300 on my next PT test in October I'll be sure to send Capt Picker an email and say that I did it at the age of 35 because of CrossFit and NOT the so called physical training that the US Navy offers.

And God help the Chief's Mess when I make E-7. All I know is that they better be prepared to make a move in the right direction when it comes to setting the bar for our junior sailors and the officer community.

With all due respect...get a life Captain.

PO1 Craig DeMattia
NR NIOC Greensboro
Navy Surface Rescue Swimmer class of 1996

...that's why i joined the Air Force

Awesome video

Just like a typical Navy Captain who has spent too much time hiding out in the halls of the Pentagon, instead of in the dirt where that policy is implemented. Drop him off in the middle of Baqubah and see how well his "I run three miles a year, a mile and a half at a time" PT program works out for him. I'll keep drinking the Kool Aid so I can keep Soldiers alive.

I would like to see what kind of shape this O-6 is in. I do the WODs, just before I do navy PT. PT makes for a good cool down. When it is my days to lead it, other folks are glad that I started Crossfit, cause I am too tired to smash 'em.

I might give this CPT the time of the day if his life depended on fitness i.e. a SEAL. I ask coach to share his emails from the Doctors who support the SEALs, Green Berets, Rangers, and other Special Ops guys who life ABSOLUTELY depend on fitness. These Doctors and their commanders have written to thank coach personally, I am sure of it.

People are always afraid of what they don't understand because it forces them to face the fact that they don't know it all. Clearly based on his response he never truly investigated CF outside reading a NY Times article from a few years ago and glancing at the website. He might need to speak with Dan Wilson.

That video was AWESOME. I love the wide variety of people and the intensity. I'm totally pumped!

For maybe the first time ever, I actually feel like doing Thrusters! Like, right now!

He is talking about fleet sailors. If you're on the fleet, chances are you're working your ass off and don't have any energy or interest in crossfit.

"black shoe black shoe, I'm in doubt, what's that fat gut all about

is it whiskey

is it wine

I think it's lack of PT time"

old BUD/S song.

Awesome video. Hope to attend next year.

i wonder if this Captain has ever done crossfit. as an army CPT i strongly recommend this workout to everyone i come across. i guess that's why the navy isn't "ARMY STRONG!"

This is the email I sent him. I am not sure if he will return it. I'll let people know if he does.

-Bryant

Aloha Captain Picker,

I think that you a been given a poor presentation of what the Crossfit Program is. I understand you must be a very busy man and cannot do in depth research on every topic that comes across your desk. I truly understand the importance of fitness in the military being a veteran myself and I also train many members of the Navy here at my facility. If I could get your phone number I would love to donate my time to quickly answer any of your questions on what a professional strength and conditioning coach does so that you may have a clearer picture of Crossfit to base your decisions on what ever they may be. Thanks for you time and you can read my qualifications here-
http://www.crossfitoahu.com/about/our-facility/

I just started CrossFit and it looks like i chose the right day to do it. Can't wait until tomorrow for a workout.

The concern of the good captain is well intentioned I believe. Like so many he seems incompletely informed, particularly around the idea of scaling the workouts to address his very concerns. He also virtually invalidated any reasonable argument he might have had by the crack about girl-named workouts.

From a spreading-the-gospel, I would go right at this gentleman to show him the true meaning and benefits. Nothing like a former heathen for a convert....

When I made Crossfit the base for physical fitness in my company I first ensured my leaders understood what fitness means to our soldiers on the battlefield. My argument for those who opposed the program was this—you are fit as a soldier when you can pick your wounded brother off of the ground (in all of his kit), throw him over your shoulder, sprint the 100+ meters to safety, toss him in the back of an ambulance, and then hop over a fence and continue engaging the enemy with effective fire. After my leaders experienced their first Crossfit workout they understood why it is the company standard for physical training in the mornings. There is no better physical fitness program than Crossfit for soldiers.
As leaders we have to teach our superiors and subordinates the importance of this program and how it translates FUNCTIONALLY on the battlefield. The more level 1 certified leaders we can saturate the military with the better. I believe we (the Army) need to get every team leader level 1 certified or start a “train the trainer” across the service. Crossfit is growing, we’ve started it where I am stationed, but this program needs to be adopted at a much larger level.
Coach, and everyone at Crossfit, thanks for changing my life and helping me better prepare my soldiers for our next deployment.

Wow. Great video. Hey Dale, Apolloswabbie, and Spidey, check our your star turns! Ken C. drippin' blood, Anthony and Jodi...man, everybody was there.

And hey, did you catch that small clip of Jacinto, all 69 years old of him locking out that 30th C&J at 14:30? Chills, man, it still gives me chills.

"Tiger in a human suit." As if it's not cool enough that Coach is here you get Spider Chick with each Zone block...

Great video.

I have seen the Navy Times "Miss" quote people several times. Grain of salt people.

Not defending anything he said, but the rest of the world is also slow to change their ways (see its not just endemic to the Nav!).

Three months in to Crossfit and I am a changed man.

Qualifier: Naval Resereve LT.

That guy makes me proud to have been a Marine...SEMPER FI

Until I retire, I'm going to not engage 0-6s in debates, but somebody should tell him that 37.5 % of named workouts are named after males and also that it's unlikely he's going to get one named after him. Also Honor, Courage, Commitment. How are WODs named after women in violation of that?

Captain Picker IS what's wrong with the Navy these days. The whole statement about the women named WODS being against our core values is ridiculous. I'm in the same Navy as him, but I don't mix up political correctness with my core values. Maybe if the good captain studied up a little more he'd know that having a named WOD is a thing of honor. He's a tool...

If this is coming from a Navy officer does he realize that the most elite group in his organization (the SEALS) use CrossFit to train with? Maybe the SEALs should do push ups/sit ups/2 mile run for PT?

This knee jerk type reaction to crossfit displays the resistance to change that all large organizations suffer from. Keep in mind this will pass and the USN will spend millions coming around to a very crossfit type program with an impressive acronym name. Nay sayers get freaked out by as Rx workouts and miss the point ( scale to suit your ablity and be well rounded). In my 15 years of service crossfit is the best way I’ve seen to train troops for real world operations. The troops will sometimes over do it that’s why Sr NCOs exist . stay safe and train hard.

That was the best shot and edited video I have ever seen on this site. Who ever did it definitely knows their shit. A+

Will lay my thoughts on the article later.

A statement like that astounds me on so many different levels. I am sure Capt. Picker is an intelligent man, but why do so many intelligent people make broad authoritative statements about subjects they clearly know nothing about?
I think it is fair to say that many Crossfitters spent time at this website reading the articles and posts,watching the videos, basically learning as much as they could before beginning the program. Drinking the kool-aide requires education and there is no shortage of material(at times it is even overwhelming). The fact that so many different Certs. are offered speaks to the fact that Crossfitters want to learn.
So, when someone speaks about Crossfit and does not even realize the honor of having a namesake WOD, well...it is mind boggling.
I feel sorry for the uninformed,they miss out on so much.
I would encourage Cpt. Picker to start with Dave Castros videos in the past 3 months of the CFJ.

Wussing out is "contrary" to my "core values"...
Psalm 18:42

Great video Tony!

Some people don't get it, that's all. Remember when you first heard about it - weren't you scared to leave your bench presses and curls - afraid you might get small - what about abs you said... but after you tried it is when you got it...probably because you couldn't stand up and you couldn't believe you could do something so simple and hurt so much. The good Captain must have a buddy who knows a crossfitter. Get him to try it. Bet he'll believe then! Or not!

folks,

i would advocate NOT e-mailing the captain. it's not going to do anything but convince him we're a bunch of crazy cultists. he clearly has missed the point, but i don't think anything short of tasting the kool-aid is going to change his mind.

I'm surprised that any military officer would be against functional fitness. It is apparent that the CAPT has not taken the time to educate himself by investigating the CF home website. We had an article that ran in the Army Times that was 3 pages long that described the CF program. So far I have not seen any negative reactions from the Army leadership, quite the opposite. The Army is looking at moving closer to a CF type program due to the overwhelming enthusiasm of deployed and conus based soldiers who have seen the positive benefits. Frankly, I have been preaching CF to my office full of government contractors and the guy who picked up on the idea was my 06 boss and not the young guys! You can teach old dogs new tricks.

As for the names, the good CAPT must still be gun shy from tailhook. You could call the workouts anything you want but the bottom line is that functional fitness is key to our business. I'll continue to preach the gospel until I physically can't do it any more.

MAJ Glenn Hodges
U.S. Army

NAVY Core Values = Honor, Courage, Commitment. What the f*ck does naming WOD's after women have to do with any one of those things? it's like they told me in basic training: "Look at the guy next to you. If he's dumber than you, he'll be your boss one day".

I don't usually comment on these kind of things, but today I had to or I would explode. As a Navy veteran I am embarassed to be associated with this "Captain." The "Captain" has obviously not done his research. He completely missed any reference to scaling wods. His comment about naming wods after women is just pathetic. It makes the "Captain" sound like an officer interrested in advancing his career by pushing political correctness to the detriment of the men and women of the US Navy he is suppose to be taking care of.

Coach - Thanks for the best fitness program I have ever experienced. I am sure you do not let uninformed opinions such as the "Captain's" affect you, but as my Dad used to tell me, 'You know you are doing something good and worthwhile if you have both loyal fans and strong detractors." (not his exact words - but I didn't think his exact words would make it through the filter). Thanks again for a Great program.

This kind of thought process just makes me even more embarrassed to be in the Navy. He obviously forgot that more and more SEAL's are incorporating CF in to their program. What a shame. I utterly agree with James from post #16. I myself have tried pushing a watered down version of CF at my command, and the reply I get is basically "We have better things to do".... so sad....

I think we are all getting to defensive, granted, i think the guy is probably a tool, but hey that is for him to deal with. The problem that he couldn't adequately address is that the Navy Times DID make Crossfit out to be for everyone, and there are alot of tubby-tubbies in the Navy and they are not ready for Crossfit, We use exercises that if not done properly with the right training can cause serios injuries, Navy Times made it appear that ANYONE can do it ... this guy can't and probably shouldn't until he gets himself into better shape. As far as the girls named WOD's, GET OVER IT, thats how we roll and if my Navy doesn't want to do Angie then they shouldn't play in our raindeer games.

# 87

I was just waiting for the, "My service is tougher than yours," comments. In my humble opinion both Navy and AF should avoid that argument.

Another example of the senior leadership of the services being out of touch with reality and the ground truth. This goes to prove that the we as a military may not be a thinking, learning, adaptive organization.

Are you that person that got mad at me for sweating and making to much noise after doing "G.I.Jane" for the first time?

The Captains comments are the typical swabbie attitudes!

NAVY, NAVY, I'M IN DOUBT
WHY YOUR BELLIES ARE HANGING OUT

IS IT THE WHISKY OR IS IT THE WINE
OR IS IT A LACK OF CROSSFIT TIME

SINGING LO RIGHTA LEYO...

#64 Karen (Spider Chick),

You rule because:

1) You are ridiculously hardcore and eloquent.
2) You use words that even I have to look up, and that is, if I say so myself, fairly impressive.

I am calling you right now to tell you how awesome you are.

I'll break the rules and toss out an ad hominem attack.

Tool!

Glad I'm in the Army. My guys and I have been doing CrossFit for PT the past 7 months solid. We have had no injury due to the program (only individual stupidity) and our section PT average is 285 out of 300.

Our workouts are not COTS because we have created our own calendar based on Coach's workout programming methodology and equipment we have available.

We log results for every workout and compare as each one comes up. We have yet to see where there was not progress from the time prior.

CrossFit is THE standard for fitness, period.

Of course if you are on the site reading this you probably already know that.

Reminds me of how, in the '70s, I was constantly getting yelled at for doing pullups from the various pipes and angle irons aboard the USS America and USS Arthur W. Radford (dd-974?). I also got yelled at for doing inverted pushups w/ feet up on the chairs. Sigh. I would have hoped that things would have changed. Maybe this guy isn't representative of the real Navy. I hope not.

Hi, I know everyone is fired up about this officer's comments, but I thought I would include this link I came across in my hometown paper ...and maybe we could turn some of this negative energy into some positive impacts that crossfit always seems to make, not only in the physical fitness realm, but in communities worldwide. I know what type of community we are, so as much as I would have liked to have donated all the money to help out, I still got to put some food on the table and am asking anyone who may be able to to possibly help out.

A little background, this young man was a promising basketball and football player from my high school (granted I graduated about 10 years ago), but I still worked out with these kids and the coaches when back home on leave. While playing in a summer AAU basketball tourney, he passed suddenly from a congenital heart disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The article fills in the rest.

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1049118,6_1_NA10_ZAMARRI_S1.article

Respectfully

Mr. Picker

Sounds like you have never pushed yourself to the limits on anything. It is easier to have an excuse than to try to accomplish something that is extremely challenging.

I do not think that you do the military any favors with statements like this

Posted by Ricardo of CrossFit HEL/Oakland

This is a copy of the letter I sent to John Picker, Captain who made those comments:

"Attention Captain John Picker:

I read some of your comments pertaining to the CrossFit way of exercise. It is natural to have a concern, as should anyone about exercise programs because we rely on our bodies a great deal on a daily basis. I however respectfully disagree with a few of the comments that I read that you had made.

"Another item I want to touch on pertains to a cover story in a recent
Navy Times on Crossfit, "the new fitness craze." This is a commercial
off the shelf (COTS) program and is not tailored to an individual.
Several SMEs in the sports medicine field (military & civilian) have
addressed a concern that the program has the potential for causing an
increased incidence of musculoskeletal injuries and even muscle
breakdown (rhabdomyoloysis) and therefore is not supported by CPPD.
Granted, anyone can develop a program that's very intense but there's a
safer way of doing this for our Sailors. Additionally, any program that
names exercises after women is contrary to our Core Values."

- Captain Jon Picker, USN, Commanding Officer, Center for Personal and Professional Development, in the July issue of ENCOMPASS.

This program is not a fitness craze. It is founded on some very important military principles:

1. drive
2. discipline
3. mental toughness
4. competition & teamwork
5. pushing past your limits

There is so much more to gain from this methodology than strength & physical results. I used to HATE going to the gym, but now I go 5 times a week and I LOVE it! That is a major breakthrough that if I have had, I am sure many Americans have had the same breakthrough.

As far as SMEs saying the program has the potential for causing an increased incidence of injuries, I say this:

1. What are their credentials?
2. Have they tried Crossfit or seen anyone for a lengthy period of time to back their claims?
3. Have you considered that everything in CrossFit is scaleable so that injuries can be prevented?
4. It is not the program or intensity that hurts people, it is their decisions to go against what their body is telling them.

As far as the naming of workouts after women being against the Core Values of the Navy, well, it is good that they have core values, it is unfortunate that this is an important enough issue to even bring up.

I respect all that the military has done for our country, especially in these times of war, but I must voice my opinion on this matter. There is far more valuable beyond what you are willing to see at this point.

Best of luck,

Ricardo Linnell"

What I wanted to say but didn't was: Have you considered that there are many females that are more fit than some of your sailors?

SpiderChick
"Oh, Captain Jon Pickler, you are MINE."
"Such jackassery is rare, and I'm dying to meet you. lets get it on film. If, for some viral hemmoragic fever complication I don't make the workout, I'll send my 14 year old superior, Kallista."
"there is no excuse. there is no weight class. there is no age class. fight like your life depends on it because it does. jon only wants to be honorable mention in the short bus category of 50 year olds in the clydesdale division. there is no excuse."

Wow that was impressive, that may have not been neccessary, but wow those were some classic quotes!
Spiderchick, I have a favor to ask:
Do you think you could inspire my two very out of shape and loving parents, to get off their butts and get moving? I have been trying for years, but they just think I am crazy.

Does Mr. Picker know that they do Crossfit-style WODs in BUD/S?

Nope, we wouldn't want a little thing like effectiveness get in the way of COMBAT READINESS.

Guess what Sir, all your Sailors who have a "PAIR" (metaphorically speaking) will be doing CrossFit after your sorry-assed PT program is over to make sure they can do the jobs they volunteered to do. I am guessing you will not be participating dure to missing "resources". (I also doubt you ever tried it.)

Get over yourself and start looking out for the troops.

The SOF community lives it, the Marine Corps all but adopted the name, and all the other combat arms are charging as fast as they can to learn it. Canadians even adopted it a couple of years ago.

This is one of the best reasons why it pays to go SOF, right here. Avoiding this kind of arbatrary crap, push down by people who have no intention of ever seeing the elephant.

REMF's!... Rear Echelon Mother F#ck*rs!!

Coach,
I know you know this, but please don't take the CPT's word as representative of the military. No bullsh!t, I believe CF has done more for the survival of warfighters than any technical device or tactic. If the total adoption of CF within the SOF community is not proof enough of its value for CPT Picker - then no amount of emails will convince him otherwise. CF embraces inherent risk with pushing the human body to its limits, as SHOULD all worthwhile military training.

CPT Picker,
Sir - your portrayal of CF is f@cked up beyond belief. Your effort to erode CF gains in the military community is dangerous, and if you are more concerned about the names of workouts than getting your men functionally fit and combat ready then you Sir are selfishly incompetent.

I am currently an officer in the Air Force and echo all the comments noted here. Many of my Air Force colleagues have turned to Crossfit and have seen outstanding benefits. I am pushing this from a voluntary standpoint in my squadron.

As has been noted, any program has potential for injury. Crossfit, with a higher intensity, also has potential for injury, but I've found the only pain I encounter is soreness. I feel very confident in the exercises and am perfectly comfortable with understanding how to scale workouts. In fact, I think the type of exercises involving intense repetitions and full body actions are doing an excellent job of preparing my muscles for the max lifts, especially the smaller muscles that are most prone to injury and are not exercised in exercises tailored to isolate muscle groups.

Be honest Cap, you're afraid of the "girls!" It's okay, they kick my tail most everyday, but I'm better prepared to fulfill my duty because of it.

Thanks Cross Fit!

I disagree with the Captain. Conventional sports medicine in the military is behind the times. I would think that if preventing injuries were at the forefront of a commander's mind, we would not see road marches with full packs. We would see soldiers walking short distances in the coolest part of the day in athletic shoes. We don't see that though. We see soldiers training for the environments and conditions in which they will be operating: the hottest part of the day carrying what they will be carrying on a foot patrol (or more). My opinion may not matter to any one other than myself, but I will give it anyway: Crossfit is better suited for preparing military, law enforcement, and others for the unforseen physical challenges of their jobs. We should be glad that the opportunity exists to participate in Crossfit and that the program is free online. Time will show the results of the Crossfit experiments that we all participate in daily. I know that my level of fitness increases with every workout. I think we will see these comments proven wrong in short time.

The Captain has the right to make comment as he sees fit. However, he obviously hasn't taken the time to understand CF fully before passing comment.

#115 Shane
lol

I think they misinterpreted that there is scalability & the art behind tailoring the workload individually comes with the Trainer. As a senior in college that's about to graduate with a BS in Exercise Science, and applying to Navy OCS, the current PT programs are vastly outdated & limitly uneffective. Especially for guys preparing for BUD/S.
I believe the face picture is a misrepresentation, because the art is deeper than online posts.

FOLKS, BREATHE. GROW UP.

lighten up. the guy is off base but he's trying to do his job. he wasn't personally attacking you. wow, some real holier than thou narcissists out there. for all you know the capt is a decorated SEAL or something, someone who you may not agree with on this issue but not the f@ing devil. he's not a crossfitter, but that doesn't make you better than him...or worse.

IN THE INTEREST OF FULL DISCLOSURE i am a 20 year military officer -- flew F-14, F-18, F-16 and was originally commissioned through the USMC. little bro is a SEAL. i have flown for the USN and USAF. they ALL have great people and they ALL have not so great people. let's stop the internecine warfare huh? and for goodness sake, show some class when dealing with someone you disagree with (spider chick, i know you can do better than 'occifur' when making a point).

It is a simple thing to understand, The Navy is highly commercialized and so is it's fitness and so are the people who come up with the fitness standard. The Navy fitness program, which is out of date, is run by the people who are intimidated by CrossFit and how it is slowly and methodically taking over. It is a turf war in the Military, not just in the Navy. The fitness programs are contracted out to so-called experts. I tried to offer my services for free on the base gym. I met with the fitness coordinator on Camp Pendleton to pitch her the idea. It was clear that she new nothing about CrossFit but was highly against it for some reason and the only reason it can be is that she was threatened by it. She said the usual things about it being dangerous and being trendy...blah blah blah , nothing convincing. She had an opporitunity to attend the level 1 certs on CP along with her staff and she blatently lied to me and told me that coach denied her access.
The point is that this is a war over money, and this Capt believes that Sailors are stupid and mindless drones. It is a smear. I think that he is intellectually challenged to say the least. CrossFit is the smart thing, and smart people do get it. The military fitness coordinators are contractors who are afraid of being booted for being incompitent. That is who these so-called experts are. Pitiful fools

Thank God I didn't settle for second best!!!
USMC Combat Engineer

The guy must be bucking for a slot in an Obama ad-menstruation.

Here we go, the "kinder, gentler" military thing all over again. Get out your stress cards.

For once...can the warriors please run the military.

Best quote, "and is not tailored to an individual."

Like standard military PT is??? At least CrossFit Scales. Military PT is just herding Cattle. (literally)

I know what it is. He won't be able to run at the front with his Guide-On.

hi guys.

recently started cf and love it. Just after some advise regarding training in mornings. Due to work i can only train ealry mornings. Problem is i find that i lack energy at this time as such my workouts are less intense,

Can anyone recomend supplements / tactics that may give me a boost at these early hours??

I just reread this, and this more seems like a legal statement than a denouncement.

Liability wise

I am getting out of the Navy...embarassed, embarrassing, discusting, discusted. I should have joined the coasties instead.

I'm an Air Force officer, so I feel qualified to say this: while I personally (respectfully) disagree with the captain's viewpoint on the issue, I don't feel that we should make his work email address public. I can assure you that as a senior officer his inbox is quite full and by inundating him with email we are impeding the execution of his official duty. I'm not by any means implying that you don't have the right to email him, certainly you do. However, he is certainly aware by now that his statement regarding crossfit is being discussed on this website. In my opinion, deluging him with email on the subject is not the best way to convey what crossfit is about. I would like to respectfully ask the webmaster/moderator not to post contact information like that without the individual's consent in the future. Decide for yourself how best to impact the issue, but I would be stepping out of line by contacting the captain directly on the issue. However, feel free to email me if you have questions regarding my position on the issue.

Does anyone have a good guess why naming WOD's after women is bad? I really am curious. Maybe there is a good reason out there, although I highly doubt it.

Oh I forgot to add, that video was AMAZING!! I love it! One of my favorites so far :)

Another example of cutting edge Navy thinking,

Thank god I was in the Marine Corps!

it's sad that a guy like picker would take that view of crossfit without understanding it. sounds like his decisions effect how the navy trains and thereby combat readiness. if a candy ass lawyer like me can do this stuff then all combat troops should be doing it. it really matters for them.

It is days like these that I am ashamed to be an officer and therefore linked to this ill-informed man.
The Marine Corps Times had nothing but good remarks in regards to the "CrossFit Craze". Also, functional fitness was one of the major points identified in the Marine Corps last look into redoing their PT program. Paraphrasing here, but one of the quotes was "if a Marine pulls his back lifting a 155MM artillery shell, the he is out of the fight. How did the 3 mile run, pullups and situps prepare him for that?"
I echo the previous posts about Capt Pickens not getting into the details enough to know what he was talking about. I know one of the things I was taught at OCS was the less you open your mouth, the less likely you were to say something stupid. Guess he missed that pearl of wisdom...

Just have to say I am a 1SG in the Army who recently took over a company whose PT Average was below 230. I have done CrossFit with the unit non-stop for the past 8 weeks and the units Average is now 270. 8 Soldiers who were over weight are now within Body Fat standards. CrossFit changes the Basic Push-up Sit-up Run of normal units and gives something new for the Soldiers to look FWD to every day. So to the CPT I have to say come join us for a day and see if you can hang.

29 yom 225#

Can't believe that a member of the armed forces would denounce any physical program that would make troops better.
"If I have to explain it, you wouldn't understand"

Made up my own workout today
warm up of 10 min easy rowing
4 min tabata rowing (8 rounds)
2 x 25 of 135# deadlift
2 x 25 of 135# deadlift from a 3" step
4 min tabata rowing (8 rounds)
22 minutes

Let's name the rest day after his weakness!

who's the big fat guy in the background of the picture today???? Nice!

Uhhh... as a Navy veteran and drilling reservist, just another confirmation that I joined the most pathetic service, mostly based on the leadership such as pickler, who don't know how to push themselves at all; Strange that the some of the toughest military training/Units is in the Navy's BUD/s Seal teams. I can only be thankful that I got to experience BUB/s at 19 and go through 1st and 2nd phase. Even though i didnt graduate the lessons I learned about true discomfort and pushing yourself past known limts, have served me well in my law enforcement career. Pickler is like many overeducated people with no true experience, they will talk out ther a@# about subjects they have no experience on, such as fitness. What qualifications does a navy physician hold about fitness, to comment about it? The fact the SEAL teams have embraced it, and other special ops units whose lives depend on their physical performance where second place is awarded posthumously, says everything. The problem with our country is too many people follow weak minded, fearful people such as Pickler who advise a lifestyle of moderation and safety. If you don't push the limits you'll never improve and push past old boundries. As a cop, I get exhausted with professional victims, such as Pickler.

God Bless America and Crossfit

Mick #128,

Coffee

With the rates of diabetes and obesity in our ohh so fine nation it always amazes me when individuals, especially in "high positions" say anthing negative in regards to movement! We have the unhealthiest country on the planet yet Mr. Tits McGee is goin to comden people for exercising! It just shows how full of donuts he is!! I am going to ponder his remarks when I do my 10k!!

As a former armor officer, it's shameful to see another military officer make a statement based obviously on not having done better research. Drive On Soldiers! Drive On!

They linked to his email address, hah!!!

Hey man, I am in the Navy and learned this excercise from a Navy Doctor, you all may know him as Dr. Ahmik Jones. ??Don't we name our Navy ships she?? or her. Sexist my ass! I don;t think he has ever even tried the program.

Well no one has ever accused the Navy of being fit or inclined to meet a physical challenge. The Army Times had also had an article about Crossfit this week but instead chose to sing its praises. It was hailed for its popularity amongst soldiers, because it combines minimalism, variety, and fun all into one package. I agree. I have heard of Crossfit before deployment. But the limited fitness equipment, a few bars, plates, and dumbells, has truly turned me onto the unique daily challenges Crossfit provides. From one Army soldier: thank you Crossfit.

It almost makes me angry to read that. It does make me laugh. I have never seen a program that is more personalized, that is why it is scaled to the individual. I have seen 70 year old men do CrossFit and I have seen 10 year old kids doing it, all at there level. I think a lot of boats are named after women as well as hurricane. I would think him being in the navy would appreciate that.

Another reason I will be going Marines not regular navy.

I am a sailor who's life very literally depends on being physically fit. I have been a believer for 18 months now. My first workout? Murph. Named after a MAN and REAL Naval officer. Not one that got his exercise jumping to conclusions or flying a desk. No exercise program has helped me develop personally or professionally like crossfit and I wouldn't be able to do many of the things my country asks me to do. Of course it is hard. That is what makes it fun. If you are happy having the appearance of fitness rather than truly being fit, then stick with your program. I'm going to stick to mine.

So should we rename the rest day "Captain Picker"? Just curious.

It's people like Jon Picker who I am glad don't know anything about Crossfit! Keep it for people who embrace change and challenge in their lives....not old, out of touch navy captains.

Spider Chick:

That was a great post, I'm still laughing about the belt with jeans comment!

GET A GRIP Crossfitters! Dissing your own service because of the comments by the Capt? Now there's commitment.

Lots of really sad, ugly comments today. A nasty side of Crossfit IMO. some of you sound like you joined a cult!

wow...sad to see that your so uneducated about crossfit. i work for San Diego Fire and have seen that every single person who has adopted crossfit as their choice of fitness, has increased gains in all fields of physical fitness. and guess what...some of those people are woman. hopefully youll get over yourself soon.

I'm a Navy Doctor, and I've been doing Crossfit for a couple of years now. The Captain has a pretty typical response. I've heard similar responses from Marine Corps Colonels. They are pretty much scared of Crossfit to be honest. It often comes across as a program designed for the fittest of the fit and is some crazy thing that Navy SEALs do. Once you sit down with them and explain how the workouts can be scaled they usually come around a little. Crossfit doesn't need to be sanctioned by the military; we just want them to let us modify the gym a little. Set the good example, try not to get injured (that's their biggest concern), be a good Sailor, Soldier, Airman, or Marine, and always ace their PT test. They'll come around. That being said, the comment about workouts named after girls kind of came out of left field, so this guy may be hopeless.

I'd like to see some of the Navy Brass do a "girl" exercise.......lets say "Nasty Girls"

I am pretty sure they wouldn't be able to do the muscle ups.

Naming workouts after women is not contrary to our Core Values, eh? What about ships? Do we not do that?

In the words of a great man: "Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man"

-The Dude

I thought the girl named WODs were named after hurricanes?

Naming workouts after women is contrary to our Core Values, eh? What about ships? Do we not do that?

In the words of a great man: "Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man"

-The Dude

i believe if good old skipper took a look at the crossfit community and the navy community he would see that in the navy there are much younger people in much worse shape than crossfitters.
Using navy pt caused me to gain 30lbs and altogether lose interest in working out. since discovering crossfit i am in better shape and stronger than before despite a "career ending" wrist injury.
thanks crossfit

I am chanting crossfit over and over... Crossfit ..CrossFit.. I can't stop. Wait a minute sachem, you are right! I am in a cult! Heya ye ya Crossfit ye ya.

What a pitiful comment and argument. Am I wrong or are there not women serving in the U.S. Navy and other services? Disgusting.

Thanks for the awesome video with one of my favorite rock songs!

Mick, on the training in the AM; make sure you have a small 2 block meal and make sure you get you good fats before you train. I like some egg starters with a good carb and a small handful of almonds and macadameas(sp) before I train in the AM.
I am rarely run down during the training session, then I will have a good 4block shake and more nuts, afterwards.
Hope that helps.

Soccerman,

I'm an Australian chiropractor with 15 years experience.

My primary fitness approach since I was 16yo has been running. I've been exploring and experimenting with Crossfit since another chiropractor buddy recommended it to me in Jan 2008.

I've been doing the WOD's without fail since June 25th. Body fat has dropped from 14% to 10%. Strength has improved markedly, yada yada yada ... you know how it goes for Crossfit newbies!

Crossfit exercises use multiple muscles and joints in harmony. Reduced risk of injury from this type of training is just ONE of the many benefits. Crossfit teaches to scale exercises to avoid injury. There's nothing on this website that I've seen that is "dangerous".

I recommend (appropriately scaled) Crossfit exercises to all of my clients, from 8yo kids to 80yo grandmothers.

Tell your chiropractor to do some reading in the exercise physiology and sports science journals. There's some cool stuff in there to support the Crossfit approach. Indeed, it's the foundation of Coach G's approach to training the human body for performance. Some of it (eg Tabata's work) has been in the public domain for 12+ years.

As for the Navy guy? Those who can't do, teach. Those who can't teach end up in administrative positions of great power!

OK ... off to do my 10k in windy rain.

Kallista leaves me nowhere to hide!
3,2,1 ... Go!

i don't know any girls called Fight Gone Bad...

Had a stomach-bug the past couple of days and just didn't have the energy to finish this one... walked across the finish line at just over 1 hour. I walked the last mile or so... wasn't keeping much of a hard pace to begin with but wanted to attempt and complete the WOD. I managed to eek out a PR on the CFT yesterday but knew this would be a bit more intense. I'll make good use of the rest day tomorrow...

Jon Picker needs to show some respect to a program he has obviously never tried. Maybe he should meet a scaled version of Fran!!

Haven't posted in a long time but this brought me out. Maybe someone should remind the good Captain that life isn't safe sometimes. I mean at any time that swivel arm chair of his could snap causing great musculoskeltal injuries. Not sure what his point is to be honest. Crossfit makes you strong, fast, and most importantly TOUGH. Mentally and physically. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people complain about how tough X is. I just look at it and go, "Ain't as tough as Fran so let's get going." The Core Value comment is intensely curious as well.

I found the Captain's comments interesting. He is repeating the same baseless ideas that I hear from my fellow co-workers at the firehouse i.e. don't squat past 90 degrees, three days lifting two days cardio, back and bi's, chest and tri's, your going to hurt your back doing: deadlifts, cleans, jerks, etc. All of it, as coach says based on conjecture.

I have been doing Crossfit for about a year and recently opened an affiliate. When I started I had a severe problem with my right shoulder I thought I needed surgery and have issues with range of motion. I too had second thoughts about some of the exercises that Crossfit prescribed, but I did them anyway as best I could. As I continued my shoulder got better and now I have no pain and full range of motion. I am sure there are many of you and others that have had similar experiences.

I believe The capt. would be well advised to try Crossfit for a month before he comments again and he will see for himself the benefits of the program.

There is a reason why the most fit, most elite units in all of the nations military are moving towards CrossFit (Special Forces, SEALs, CAG (if they really exist), etc.). It is the greatest method of producing the fitness one needs on the battlefield (functional movements, metabolic conditioning, insert any CrossFit fundamental here).
Nearly all the Soldiers in my company believe that CrossFit is what the Army needs to go to, even though most of them dislike CrossFit because it sucks.
It is nothing but completely apparent to my platoon (Infantry PL) to understand that CrossFit will prepare them much greater for the rigors of combat than any other program they have seen.
Rest assured, no one will be able to prevent the Platoon Leaders of fighting units from switching their men onto CrossFit.
Although it will take time for the military to embrace CrossFit (what it needs to do to have Soldiers truly physically prepared for combat), us junior leaders need to do all we can to encourage our subordinates, peers and leaders to incorporate CrossFit into our standard regimen.
"The goal of training can be summed up in one phrase: To make yourself as indestructible as possible." -Mark Twight

In reference to the quote, my answer is a swift

"whatever" to its author

Well, am I glad Im in the Army. I wonder if they had the same guys working on this project as the ones who correctly identified that the cold war was going to end when it did. Oh wait, they didnt have a clue about that either. Makes me wonder.

Best games video yet!!!!! Awesome job on that!!

#144

LOL I just looked at the pic again and the guy in the denim long sleeve on the far right is looking pretty hot to me!!

It's funny how some military branches can't make up their minds about a fitness routine. There are just as confused about fitness physiology and exercise as I was when I was reading Men's Health and Muscle and Fitness trying to formulate a master plan. The closer they think they are getting to real fitness, the further away they are getting.

Everything is too isolated these days, isolate your muscle groups, isolate your vitamins, isolate your cardio from your resistance training. Ehhhhh.

I'm currently active duty and recently registered as my unit's Health Promotion Coordinator. As far as what they taught, it was somewhat dancing around the whole aspect of CrossFit without coming out and saying it. Even the nutrition.

It's sad because they said this is what we would like to have our military branch up to par with but they told us at the end of the class, it will never get there, and it is a constant uphill battle.

It's also sad to see that there is a trend of those with decision making power to come up with excuses why they can't give the go-ahead and making the entire branch (and lets face it, you joined the military to support your country no matter what, it would behoove you to at least be fit enough to do so. And don't give me that crap that you have a desk job and are in no need of fitness or being at least having less body fat percentage than your own age. When someone attacks your facility, I doubt you will be sitting there still typing away at your e-mails.) have scheduled PT that everyone can do, with progression, an instructor, and plan that will keep you from over exerting (over training) yourself... i.e. CrossFit.

I can't stand it when someone like this Commander will make a decision that this workout idea is too demanding, too dangerous, and causes diseases, and is against your core values. What about all those B/S smoke breaks you give your members? You know that it is the cause of the no. 1 killer in America?? Yet you do nothing about it, but something you don't even take the time to look into that could better outfit your members you discard with haste.

What is it with this FEAR of fitness? Why are so many reluctant to make a change in that area? Not only that area, but things like tobacco usage while at work or on duty. You are supporting cancer, and heart disease, and the big tobacco industries when you let them smoke at work.

Basically there is one answer:

There is no money in healthy individuals.

...Hope to see you for the WOD tomorrow, nice touch #156. HOO-RAH!

Any test that offers a "minimum passing score", or even a "maximum points" will inspire only mediocrity and minimum effort. Will I ever come close to beating OPT, or Lucas Brainerd, or Jimi Letchford on a workout? Doubtful, but the possibility is enough to push me to my maximum every day. Without a challenge there is no training, and "working out" can get you or your buddies killed. Just my two cents, THANKS CROSSFIT!

I agree with Sachem -- the vicious, name-calling tone of some of these comments is not the good side of CF. Nor is a flood of hate mail likely to be helpful to your friends who are trying to improve fitness in the Navy.

#41 Kevin and others
CPPD: Center for Personal and Professional Development, of which CAPT Picker, USN is the CO.
Navy Core Values: Honor, Courage, and Commitment currently. They were changed in 1992 in response to Tailhook scandal. Previously they were: Professionalism, Integrity, and Tradition. At the time it was felt that the Navy's blind and firm Commitment(;-)) to Tradition had allowed the Tailhook scandal to occur thus necessitating the change to show Congress that the Navy is able fix itself.

This is neither here nor is it there because CAPT Picker, USN is merely showing his lack of understanding of CrossFit or the Navy Core Values or both since Honor-ing anyone with Courage and Commitment by naming a WOD after him or her is not only NOT out of line with the Navy Core Values, it and everything CrossFit stands for is what the Navy wishes the Navy Core Values meant to its people. Unfortunately, the Navy Core Values and their "implementation" were designed by committee and mean so little to the average sailor or officer in their day to day lives except for that annoying 10 seconds when the CMC stops to ask how the Navy Core Values informed the way they combed their hair that morning, etc. Carry on, Shipmate!

§889 of the UCMJ (and my Navy Core Values, of course) prevents me from writing anything untoward of the good CAPT Picker, USN. But I will say that I am deeply disappointed. Not surprised, just disappointed. I have yet to see a sea-going Navy command that even has a PT program. The shore commands (rather, command) I've seen that do (does) have one, it's given all the Commitment of a check-in-the-box.

The Navy is talking a big game about remaking its culture of fitness. Beyond unveiling a cute, shiny new PT uniform ( http://usmilitary.about.com/od/navy/a/newnavyptu.htm ), well... I have yet to see the "way ahead" in the rest of that plan. Me? I'll wait until even 10% of the chiefs I see DON'T have that characteristic "chiefly" shape complete with rolls of fat and hidden belt buckle and trademark waddle before I'll admit any significant change to the Navy's culture of fitness.

But you know what? That's not how it's going to change, not while senior officers like CAPT Picker, USN are in position to tell FEPers (FEP:Fitness Enhancement Program AKA Fat Boys (and Girls)) that constantly varied functional movements executed at high intensity are going to hurt them. Meanwhile, quietly growing legions of sailors and officers throughout the fleet are politely ignoring the earnest, if misguided, opinions of CAPT Picker, USN and his peers and increasing their work capacity across broad time and modal domains. The Navy's culture of fitness will change virally, until the opinions of CAPT Picker, USN and his ilk are the screaming-red-faced-obsolete variety and it won't matter what they say. Knowing the political nature of senior Navy leadership, I'm pretty sure they'll change their minds before it gets to that point.

Nick Hoel
LTJG, U