Knowledge is POWER !
Knowledge = Options = Power
When we educate ourselves, we learn new things that we were previously unaware of. This gives us the ability to make better decisions, come up with more evolved and intelligent thoughts, improve the lives of ourselves and those around, and thus makes us more valuable people in our society as a whole.
This creates and leads to more options. The more valuable of a person you are, the more people will want to be around you, the more they will want to work with you, the more they introduce you to others who need your help or can help you, and the more doors and opportunities open in your life.
It is important to really dig deep into the things that you are doing in your life that intrigue you on multiple levels. At work you do continuing education credits as part of an ongoing learning experience to keep you up to date on the current events that are happening. So how does this translate into CrossFit? When you are at your Box or local CrossFit affiliate, you have the right and SHOULD be asking WHY ! If something is on your mind or if you have questions, it’s important to ask. Knowing the why behind what you do is important for you because then you are comprehending the information and really getting in tune with your surroundings. I actually ENCOURAGE that you ask me questions and challenge things that you are curious about.
Working out is an amazing thing but knowing how to properly complete and exercise as well as why you are doing it is just as important so you can mimic these motions on your own in good and safe form. It’s also great to have friends that are knowledgeable and also do research so you can bounce ideas off each other. Even though class sizes are smaller, having a training buddy can be great so you learn as you go and both of you can learn to critique and help each other !!!
So how can you become more knowledgeable ? Glad you asked !
First off take some time to read and research. There is so much material in the forms of books and magazines out there that you should invest some of your time reading them. With anything, a little research goes a long way in regards to the relevance of what you’re reading. Make sure that if you are following a blog or site, the author is not giving you theoretical advice, which can be dangerous. Always do some research and look to someone with some quality background and diverse experience in training methodologies related to CrossFit.
Second, watch technique videos if you are more of a visual learner. I know that I learn better by reading, seeing and then performing the action. Everyone learns differently and for some, seeing the action puts it into perspective. Knowing what type of learner you are can help your coach when assessing and giving you cues. It’s always best to inform them on what helps you understand movement patterns better. There are many great sites that show awesome videos like Barbell Shrugged, the CrossFit site on YouTube, Mobility WOD and Breaking Muscle. Plus learning the The Burgener Warm Up from Mike Burgerner himself can be a great tool for your success.
And finally, attend seminars. Research the presenter and the staff before making the commitment to attend, and make sure that this is something that you’d have to pay to learn and not something that your own coach could be helping you with if you’d just taken the time to ask him or her. Whether it’s for nutrition, programming, gymnastics or lifting, a seminar can definitely add quality to your training experience. Taking the time to learn about what you are doing is the best way to feel confident in your abilities.
Take the time to really think about how you can expand your knowledge of learning and take your fitness to the next level.
references
http://library.crossfit.com/free/pdf/53_06_Burgener_Warmup.pdf
http://uncommonsense.is/post/19861932097/knowledge-is-power
http://www.theboxmag.com/article/3-ways-to-become-a-more-educated-crossfitter-9399