CrossFit Level 1 Certification: Reflection

CrossFit Level 1 Certification: Indy Shield

I had a great time this weekend at the Level 1 Cert. CrossFit put on a great program with solid instructors. The progressions they went over for olympic lifts and gymnastics moves were very educational and I look forward to using them in my practice. The test at the end of the certification was a bit on the easy side, especially since they taught to it the entire weekend; throwing out hints like "this is important" and "you should remember this" made the test passable by nearly everyone there. I don't see anything wrong with this method EXCEPT when people take this weekend certification with no prior background, education, and/ or experience and attempt to train clientele. This throws up major red flags for me. Training someone without the above mentioned "credentials" puts that person at a higher risk for injury. Not to mention the lack of quality in training for such an expensive monthly habit. My hat goes off to those who spent the time and money to improve their own level of fitness and looked at this weekend as an opportunity to increase their knowledge base. I wish them luck and and safe training. Don't get me wrong, there are people out there who are accountants by profession yet have dedicated years to studying the sport of weight training. Countless seminars and clinics have put them in a place to give advice and maybe even train some people. But to take one weekend certification without proper "credentials" and experience and open your own affiliate or become a quote "trainer" is ridiculous and disrespectful to the profession.  

WOD 1

FRAN

21-15-9

Thrusters(95)

Pull Ups

TIME 3:19 * NEW PR

*Fran felt great! A new PR by 9 seconds! I have to attribute this to the amazing atmosphere set by the people I was around. It turns out 3:19 was the fastest time at the certification this weekend, myself and Shawn, from Evansville CrossFit, finished at the exact same time. He and I were face to face on the wod (literally facing each other and next to each other on the pull up system) and pushed each other up until the last second. It was great! I'm looking forward to traveling down to Evansville for a summer competition or just a day of hellish wods!