Athletic Development

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Does hitting a 100mph fastball or snatching 300# make you an athlete or is it a high level skill practiced by an athletic person? As a culture, we spend so much time idolizing people that have become experts in one specific sporting endeavor. We spend our whole lives growing up thinking that these people are the best athletes in the world. But what happens if you hand Adrian Peterson a surfboard? I am sure he would pick up surfing quicker than the majority of people but as soon as he begins to paddle out you will see that running the 40 has very little to do with duck diving a three foot wave.

To excel at a specific sport, you often have to acquire a specific skill set that allows you to carry out a specific function very well. A baseball player, for example, can be great at hitting a curveball but not necessarily be that athletic. Their feat does require athleticism, some speed, and quickness, but the main characteristic they have excelled at it is ridiculous hand eye coordination and tracking ability. When I think of the most athletic people I have met throughout my life, the most impressive athletes have rarely been the ones that excel the most at their sport. They, instead, are the ones that play every sport at a really high level, not specialists, but very good at everything. When you let them free, they can run like the wind, jump higher than everyone, and seem to be the first pick no matter what game you are playing. These are the people that play hockey, baseball, do backflips, all while shooting in the high 70’s on the golf course. So how do you train athleticism?

The goal of strength training to develop athleticism should have three main functions:

Progressively strengthen muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bone tissue by consistently overloading the body through multi-joint movements.
Develop musculature balance through accessory movements.
Practice agility, speed, and coordination through plyometrics, lateral movement, and unilateral exercises.

Not only is this the basis of our programming but adopting a mentality that focuses on the development of athleticism allows for continuous growth. By going out and learning new sports and activities you can train the skills that allow you to excel at specific sports. These training goals are universal across all athletic endeavors. Becoming more athletic will make you a better CrossFitter, just like it will make you better at beach volleyball, surfing, and dominating the Vavi-social-drinking-dating league. Athleticism is a real goal that can be developed like any other skill but applied to a broader range of activities. Your body wants to move freely, athleticism allows this freedom.

Maybe you need an example? Here is former D-3 wrestler, regional level CrossFitter, surfer, and master of freaky human tricks, Greg Kuchan.

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Anders Varner

Anders Varner has focused on fitness and sport since he was able to walk. At the age of 14 he left home to pursue his dreams of playing ice hockey. While obtaining his business degree in undergrad at James Madison University, much of his attention was still focused on health and fitness.

In 2007 Anders was introduced to the CrossFit ...