You, yes you.
You are an animal. You are a beast. You may drive around in cars and slouch in chairs and snooze on beds with more technology than my ‘65 Comet, but all that is just window dressing. What you really were made for is to run and jump and climb and fight. You were made to be a fluid, fast, strong, explosive animal. Just like our cousins the primates. So what happened? When was the last time you ran and jumped and fought and climbed? Probably a good ten thousand years. And don’t you think that is too damn long.
Look at an animal move. Maybe a cat or a gorilla or a cattle dog. Wouldn’t you like to have that kind of power and agility and speed and strength. Ah, but humans do, and you can. But you have to work at it, because as a species we have forgotten it, lost it in the depths of civilization and agriculture.
CF West should have a new slogan, “CrossFit. Taking you back 50,000 years.” Might even make a good t-shirt. The great thing is that the slogan is true. Training in CrossFit establishes a direct connection to your ancestors. It awakes an atavistic side of you that you probably never knew existed. Something deep inside of you recognizes and responds to the primal urge to throw, to climb, to jump, to move.
Have you ever heard the glib saying “use it or lose it”? Probably, but I am not talking about cell phone minutes at the end of the month, but something much more important and vital–your ability to intrinsically glory in movement. As a species, at least in the “developed world”, we have become so cerebral, not too mention de-conditioned, that we are in danger of losing our joy of movement. It just feels good to move.
Don’t for a second think that humans can’t move the way other animals can. Just watch the nightly highlights on Sports Center. Don’t for a second think that our bodies aren’t designed to move that way. Look at the human ankle and foot, it is a tiny catapult. Look at the way the wrist flexes to the forearm, and the bicep proximally, and the shoulder and the pectoral muscles and how all the other muscles of the anterior chain serve to launch an atlatl (or baseball). It is incredible. Every time you crumple a piece of paper and throw it towards the trash bin, you are making a mockery of greatness.
So run, jump, fight, climb, lift–move. It is what you were meant to do.
Please post thought to Comments.
Workout:
21, 18, 15, 12, 9, 6, 3
Kettlebell Swing 73/53#
Box Jump
After each swing/jump couplet:
7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Handstand Pushup
Do 21 swings, then 21 box jumps, then 7 HSPU and so on.
Post score to Comments.
I swear Sam despite my best efforts you manage to motivate me. The people at CFWSC are lucky to have you.
I swear Igor, coming from you that just made my day. Thanks buddy.
So absolutely true and ridiculously motivational! Looking forward to becoming the animal that I am! Thanks CFWSC you guys make me feel alive!
Thanks Sam, I know I’m a beast. Off topic, joc did you see the affiliate blog today? (duh Im sure you did since you know the walking CF encyclopedia nerd named Kyle Haynes) Anyway there was a link to Freddy C talking about range of motion. Funny how you were just yelling at me yesterday about that huh?
http://crossfitoneworld.typepad.com/crossfit_one_world/2009/06/fit-as-fk-out-and-about.html
Golden, I will have you know that I take that as a compliment…
Golden, you are a beast. Great job jerking 295 yesterday. I didn’t see Freddy’s video yet but I’ll check it out for sure. I’m super glad you finally made an appearance and even happier about your range!
Need more Mowgli buddy photos for inspiration
Matt
Sam, you should publish a book called “Reflections from the Box”…I would buy it for sure. I am always inspired after reading your posts, thanks for a great class today…
That, Tina, is a great idea. Thanks. Now I just have to write the thing.
…your your extra spare time…
woops i meant in your extra spare time….
[...] Humans are meant to move. To run, jump, climb, throw, lift, explode. Today I did cleans from the floor for the first time in months. Worked up to loads approaching my previous PRs. Ah, it was great. Just great. In the world of exercise, there is nothing like taking a weight from the ground to shoulder or overhead. If you have only sat on your ass and pulled on cables or curled dumbbells, you have no idea what you are missing. If you have only slowly pedaled a bike while watching Oprah or Sports Center, or climbed a thousand steps while turning the pages of a sweat-stiff Men’s Health or Cosmo, then there is a whole world of fun waiting for you. [...]