Gym Jones vs Crossfit 081409 F

Moving the debate and following up on the comments started in the "Jonesworthy" post....

Crossfit works, there’s no question about it. In the Salvation site Twight explains that going hard for time is the best way to get individuals GPP up the fastest. After that time period, shorter for some and longer for others, it’s likely that a person will hit some sort of plateau. Their potential in the arena of speed and strength can go no further based on that type of training. Pure randomness over a long enough timeline is by definition no longer random. Another stimulate needs to be introduced IF a person wants to focus on something other that GPP.

Gym Jones’ focus is on a sport specific training plan tailored to the individual who wants to take their training one step further. At the highest levels this can’t be achieved thru a varied and random plan. Focus in one area at the cost of another is intentional and can’t be avoided if one needs sport specific training. Many of us don’t have a sport to train for or a physically demanding job where the penalty for lack of conditioning can be serious injury or death. So, we become casual Crossfitters, that were Gym Jones inspired, and Mountain Athlete coached. There’s nothing wrong with this. What works for one does not work for all. That being said, pretty much any type of “hard” exercise over time will result in a mental and physical change if the original product hadn’t done anything truly physically demanding for 8-10 years. It doesn’t matter if it’s The Shop, Paper Street, the YMCA, your garage, or at a Crossfit Affiliate you’re going to get results if you get off the couch.

The other part, that many of us admit is closer to 70% of the equation, is diet / nutrition. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing if drive thru and chocolate shakes make up the majority of your caloric intake. A caloric intake that is 2-3 times what your body actually needs for its sedentary lifestyle. We’ve all been there and we’re glad not to be. My point is doing something in regard to nutrition and exercise is far superior to nothing. After that, based on personal goals and sustainability, you determine how far you’re going to take it.

As far as pricing goes, cost does not equal value. Crossfit is a STEAL of a deal. You don’t even have to pay the $25 a year to get more than enough info. The Journal is an incredible resource for information that is reliable and scientifically backed up. At $500 a year for the salvation site there is no question that Gym Jones is not worth 20 x the cost. That doesn’t mean there isn’t value there. Here are a few questions to consider, how much would you pay to be motivated in a way you know works for you? What’s it worth to have more than one source of information regarding training? The Knowledge section is only a small part of the new site. The Q & A section is loaded with relative information regarding diet, recovery, training methods, and general info. The schedule has an in depth explanation of why they are doing what they are, leading to less “deciphering”. There are tons of videos that show an alternative training method for days when you don’t want to go for “time”.

Speaking of that I only know one person who by definition truly Crossfits, 3 on 1 off, indefinitely. There are no 5/55’s, Grinds, etc in Crossfit. I personally can’t go for time, ALL THE TIME. Given, Crossfit has some heavy strength days thrown in on regular intervals to break up the timed efforts but not enough for many. Again, it comes back to sustainability and personal goals.

I personally don’t think Crossfit or Gym Jones is benefiting from the current back and forth. I think they both look bad. There really is no argument to win so why should either side feel threatened? Its two different methods for two different goals. If they were both trying to train athletes for a timed workout like “Fran” or “Murph” where GPP is number one, then you could quantify who was getting better results. Or, conversely, if the desired result of both was to get your OHS at 2 x bodyweight (power to weight ratio) comparison would be valid. The fact of the matter is that the goals of Crossfit and Gym Jones are not the same, and interestingly enough the methodology and beliefs are just as different as each groups stated goals. It’s obvious when you think about it in the simplest terms, things are as they should be.

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