064 Why I Don't Program Odd Objects

Vital with Paul Weber

Bottom line – SPECIFICITY

Less specificity than simple barbell training

When you have multiple training priorities (when you’re trying to improve in multiple disciplines simultaneously) then specificity becomes even more important.

For a CrossFitter, the training effort you can give to any one discipline is less than it would be if you were just a weightlifter, just a gymnast or just an endurance athlete.

When you have a scarcity of training effort, you need to be even more selective how you spend it.

You want that training effort to produce the highest possible performance improvement. That is usually the thing that is the most specific.

Preparedness

Preparedness needs to be brought up

e.g. bending with lumbar flexion

We have to consider preparedness for that position, knowing that loaded lumbar flexion is more risky than bending with a neutral or extended lumbar.

It’s not that you can’t do it or should never do it, you just have to build preparedness before you go take a maximal stone for a ride.

Compatibility

High axial loading and fatigue – means odd object strength training is incompatible with other high axial fatigue movements, like squat and deadlift, which are more specific to CrossFit.

If you challenge yourself in this style of training, it must displace some training effort that you would otherwise put to barbell squatting and deadlifting.

I would rather have my athletes doing the thing that is most specific. Especially if it’s high fatigue.

Summary

I prefer standard barbell strength training to odd object strength training.

Reason #1 Specificity

Reason #2 Preparedness – takes time to prepare for novel positions

Reason #3 Compatibility – high fatigue, axial loading, so displaces training effort you could be putting into the barbell