I dig the CrossFit program and basic ideas, and thought it might be decent to get their certification as an extra credential -- considering lots of their workouts are similar to my own. When I checked the cost to register, it was $1,000!!! That's practically what I'll be paying for my ACSM AND CSCS, combined.
I'm going to pass on it, but just wanted to get everyone's take on it. How and why would they charge such a high amount AND be sold-out at nearly every event? Any info? Does anyone here have one? Etc...
Probably because it's a fad and there is demand for it. Not saying the fad will die down anytime soon, but I can see how the current momentum would justify that price.
I'm wondering what you get for the 1K? The right to open an affiliate?
They also have a number of others, KB (rehashed RKC), O-lift, and jump rope (huh?) certs.
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Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
I'm sticking to my plan: first, get my ACSM-PT and then, going for the CSCS. I thought CrossFit would be a nice marketing niche, sort of like being a certified yoga instructor, but after seeing the cost -- yeah right!
Thanks for the response, folks. (Especially liked the jump-rope cert. HA!) Until next time. Peace.
I agree it is probably because of their non-franchising BUT license criteria. Also, just the supply demand fad thing like Cappucino said.
Smart choice to get ACSM since crossfit seems to be an augment to a good foundation.
I've had the same trouble with Poliquin Cert. Passed it up because of the amount of cash that needed to be laid out and the chances of me ever wanting to go further for even more cash.
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TC Luoma
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I've had the same trouble with Poliquin Cert. Passed it up because of the amount of cash that needed to be laid out and the chances of me ever wanting to go further for even more cash.
Not to mention, Poliquin has a penchant for dabbling in unscientific crap.
Can you make your money back? Do you feel like Crossfit corresponds to your beliefs, practices and what you want to teach people? If they do, then go for it and make your cash back making people "cross-fit". There's education and there's also business decisions and that's one of those.
But what if those beliefs have no scientific basis concerning getting clients the best results safely & in an efficient manner?
I'd like to see more professionalism in this industry.
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Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
Yeah, there are some SCARY crossfit vids out there. Some of the oly lifts... holy shit. Lawsuit waiting to happen, I don't care what kind of waiver you sign... a weekend course is not going to teach someone how to SAFELY instruct on technically demanding things that require years to master.
But what if those beliefs have no scientific basis concerning getting clients the best results safely & in an efficient manner?
I'd like to see more professionalism in this industry.
That's up to whoever is asking the question to decide, otherwise we would be pushing our own opinions and beliefs. Why do they need to get Crossfit certified if they can get education through the NSCA. I would not go to Crossfit for education, and this is where things differ. I don't think it's a matter of education, but rather a business model thing that we are looking at here.
And it's a business model that's raking in some cash for those at the top of the pyramid right now.
But one certainly doesn't need to pay them thousands to incorporate circuits into their training. It was around many years before Crossfit and it'll be there long after they are gone.
I'll add that there are more logical ways to incorporate metabolic and strength work in a manner that's better in many respects.
btw I saw Mike Boyle speak with past weekend and let's just say he had some fun with Xfit during his talk.
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Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
I'm glad someone else said something about the Crossfit "oly" scary training stuff. Crossfit is like a young form of T-Nation. I remember when those mad-hatters were making up programs that were for advanced stunt gymnast (Kind of linking to Alan's comment on Poliquins "head tilting" logic), but marketed to the average joe and jane who want to be "hardcore".
If you want the Crossfit just for endorsement purposes, maybe you should affiliate some of your circuit training ideas with the Crossfit head honchos. I talked to a few guys who work with York Barbell Company. They provide equipment (like bumper plates) to the Crossfit folks and have an affiliation with them. Maybe you can workout a cheaper deal for use of the Crossfit name.
__________________
"If you do most of your training on a balance board, a Swiss Ball, or a Bosu ball, you'll have a tremendous core and a small, weak body that we'll all laugh at."
TC Luoma
I dig the CrossFit program and basic ideas, and thought it might be decent to get their certification as an extra credential -- considering lots of their workouts are similar to my own. When I checked the cost to register, it was $1,000!!! That's practically what I'll be paying for my ACSM AND CSCS, combined.
I'm going to pass on it, but just wanted to get everyone's take on it. How and why would they charge such a high amount AND be sold-out at nearly every event? Any info? Does anyone here have one? Etc...
Thanks, all!!!
Hi all,
First post here and I chanced on this forum last night when I searched for CrossFit. I like to say that it has been a wonderful experience digesting other professional trainer's insight and opinions about CrossFit. Non-CrossFit certified trainers tend to be more objective of the CrossFit business model and philosophy. That objectivity is something I value greatly. I am CrossFit certified, CrossFit Oly certified through a weekend seminar with Mike Burgner, CSCS, and have my BS in Kinesiology. I will try to answer the questions in this post about the certification.
I became involved in training and fitness back in 96 through HS football. Studied Kinesiology in college and got my degree in 2001. Did not professionally pursue an exercise science related profession until now. Since 2001 have been connected to fitness training through journal literature, coaching collegiate Ultimate Frisbee, training and competing myself. Summary, it's always been an interest of mine. I started CrossFit in March of 2007 and it rejuvenated my interest in training as a profession again. I attended the September CrossFit certifacation and also took my CSCS exam around that time as well.
All the info about the CrossFit certifications are listed on the main site, left menu bar, under Certs and Seminars. After attending one, the description is pretty true to form. In format(not in content), it is very much like attending a weekend seminar with some famous trainer in the industry (i.e. Mike Boyle perhaps. I've only seen the DVD series). During the Lecture, Glassman and his trainers talk about the philosophy and specifics of the basic movements in the CrossFit movement pool. Glassman is very clear that CrossFit didn't invent these movements(i.e. Muscle Up). How do you invent the squat??? After about 10-20 minutes of lecture and questions, everyone breaks up into smaller groups of 10 and a certification trainer works with everyone on the lectured movement and makes sure attendees get the key ideas and is doing the movement as well as phyiscally possible considering their physical condition. Repeat this lecture/hands on format throughout the weekend. During the certification, every attendee will also do one WOD over the weekend. The WODs are different at certs and is an exciting and community building aspect of the certifications. If you believe CrossFit is a cult, then this would be considered a time of "worship".
There is no exam currently but I bet it is heading towards that direction. At the end of the Cert, an attendee has learned the basics of a fairly large selection of movements and learned some good cues to teach the movements. More importantly, and this is what continues to drive CrossFit IMO, is that attendees are now deeper into the CrossFit community. You are now CrossFit Level 1 certified which means you can train people in CrossFit and can start an affiliate(which lets you use the CrossFit name to promote your business). Oh, you also get every CrossFit journal/newsletter as well.
What you don't get for $1000:
1) No exam to test your knowledge but like I said, that probably will change.
2) No certification that has been accredited by a formal outside institution.
3) 99% sure, still can't use the "CrossFit" name in promoting yourself. For that, you need to affiliate. As of 1/01/2008 that is now $1000/year. It was $500 before.
There are postives and negatives with every certification. For instance, my BS degree did not necessarily train me on the movements that I would be teaching clients. My NSCA CSCS cert didn't do that either. Sure, it's in text book but no hands on training. What I did receive was a much better understanding of anatomy and biomechanics through the academic study involved with both. My CrossFit cert experience gave me that hands on experience and gave me actual cues and pointers I could use and look for in my clients. I value that. On the other hand, there was no requirement to be more knowledge about the body and how it would respond to a program like CrossFit.
The CrossFit cert is more expensive than the CSCS exam. But the CSCS cert and experience didn't have any hands on time and it was just an exam in some community college classroom. It's like the difference between paying for a monthly gym membership vs. personal training IMO. Thousands of others were taking the exam around the country and it concerns me that there are "trainers" out there who's only credential is that they passed an exam. It also troubles me that some CrossFit "trainers" have limited knowledge of exercise science.
All the info about the level 1 certification is online at CrossFit. They have videos of Glassman lecturing the philosophy of CrossFit, in depth cert notes taken by attendees and now freely available for download and review. You can basically attend the informational part of the cert online for free.
Okay, this post is getting way long and I wanted to respond about teaching O-Lifting as well. When can someone teach somebody else O Lifting? Is knowledge and teaching ability based on credentials or method and end client results?
I don't agree that you can't teach someone a complicated movement after a weekend seminar. I probably can't coach someone to be an Olympian after a weekend BUT, depending on my abilities as an instructor, I could teach someone the very basics of the movement with very low weight without injuring them. An in no way does Burgener have us leave the O-Lift cert with our heads pumped up thinking we can teach the lifts like a pro. I left the cert with much more hands on experience with the lifts and hands on experience about what to look for in the movements then I would have ever received from reading and watching videos of the lift on *insert accredited certifcation here* or from the CrossFit site itself.
More than happy to answer any questions about the CrossFit certs I attended.
double x, wow! thanks for all the info! that was extremely well-written, answered all of my questions, and i think just might of sold me on attending a seminar next year (after i've received my ascm-pt & cscs). i like the idea of hands-on training and could see how it might help with my business model. i don't want to be an affiliate, but can see the benefits of taking the additional training.
first, i have to get my certs, then i'll worry about the other. i'm sure as i develop, lots of changes with myself and my goals will occur. after that, i'll make the appropriate decision, i'm sure.
xx, thanks again for the info. hope to see your responses in the future.
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I had to dig up this thread when I read these words from Dan John today:
Quote:
I still think what originally got me banned (from @fit), beyond the fact that I use a Darwinian (Maffetone's) definition of "fit," was my discovery that using these methods were: 1. hurting my athletes and 2. making them weaker.
Those are, among others, important things to consider for the Strength and Conditioning Coach.
__________________
Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
__________________
Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
i don't want to be an affiliate, but can see the benefits of taking the additional training.
I would think the affiliation would be more beneficial business wise then the cert. With all the traffic that crossfit.com gets, people looking in your area would find your business that may not otherwise could have.
CrossFit cert. worth $1,000?
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