Technique vs. Intensity - Keeping Your Training In Perspective (Part II)

TUESDAY, MAY 31ST, 2011

4:00pm

NOTE: There will be no class this Thursday or Friday as I will be travelling to San Jose to compete in the Reebok/CrossFit 2011 Regionals as a member of the CrossFit Redding team. It appears that there will be a recap or video update of each of the day's events, which will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday. You can view these updates at http://games.crossfit.com/regions/northern-california.

Today was Jazmin's (Jazzy) first day back from a very successful track and field season in which she broke the school record in the Hammer at 165', placed 2nd in the State in Hammer and 1st in Discus! Great job Jazzy...welcome back.

Also help me in welcoming Ryan who is a former D1 offensive lineman from New Mexico and is pursuing a career in the military. Ryan will prove to be a valuable addition to our team. If you weren't present to witness the abuse he gave the tire today you missed out!

Technique vs. Intensity - Keeping Your Training In Perspective (Part II)

By Coach Justin

Continued from the Previous Day…

The flip side to this intensity however is often accompanied by a tradeoff in form. This tradeoff is compounding against your efforts two-fold! Not only are you opening yourself up for injury, but you’re also not training the specific movement patterns and musculature that you’re supposed to be training to prevent said injury. For example; if I don’t go below parallel in a weighted squat not only am I placing undo amounts of pressure and strain on my knees, but I’m also NOT recruiting the same muscles I’m supposed to be recruiting to protect those same knees! (For more on this see “Going Deep” by Mark Rippetoe)

This interplay between intensity and technique is a very fine line that is interpretively set by both you and I. And the breakdown of technique when you push intensity is what makes training so fun and ultimately is the goal of training. That is to say, to reach the next level of intensity (whatever the type of intensity it is that you are training) proficiently/competently without a breakdown in form previously successfully recognized.

Coach Justin
PerformanceQuestFitness@gmail.com