Comments on: Is Bodybuilding Relevant Anymore?

By: Adam

Adam — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:53:29 +0000

The post wasn’t meant the way you took it at all. If you read some of my other stuff, you’ll see what I mean.

Thanks for the comment.

Adam

By: Disbelief

Disbelief — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:48:27 +0000

You are kidding right? “A lot of good stuff has come out of strength building”? Everything you use , just about, comes from strength training, kettlebells are old school strength building, you do high rep cleans, and chins, all from strength building. What does crossfit actually have that isn’t mostly or in fact wholly derived from either new or old style strength training? Wow the arrogance of the Crossfit community never fails to amaze me.
Circuit training, was not originated by crossfit, they changed up some of the exercises generally used for a circuit and called it crossfit. I am so over the cult of Crossfit, what a load of arrogant prats. You use the ideas proffered by the rest of the strength training community then arrogantly disdain what they have to offer. And when you do half heartedly acknowledge their input, it is with this trite piece of writing. I am sure Louie is just chuffed to know that you think Powerlifitng has some small part to add to the amazing world of Crossfit.

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 01:41:33 +0000

Some people like smoking cigarettes or doing chewing tobacco and others like the air rushing thru their muscles and veins thats where bodybuilders come in.

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Wed, 06 Apr 2011 12:42:50 +0000

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By: Adam

Adam — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 20:48:55 +0000

Really good points, Mike! I hadn’t really thought of that.

Thanks for your input, man!

Adam

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 20:22:59 +0000

A bunch of the Crossfit people I know have backgrounds playing football or wrestling or some type of sport where a foundation of strength and size was built through the sport and weight training far before they even heard about CrossFit. So, people see a Crossfitter in the gym or in a picture on a forum and think, “Wow, that CrossFit really works wonders! I’m gonna get me some of that!” Wether it is the appearance or strength they admire, it is misleading because we don’t know how strong or fast or buff they were before they started. How many big time competitive CrosFitters are pure CrossFit with out starting with something else? I would bet it’s the minority.

Oh, and the whole–”it’s not about appearance. I only care about performance.” Is total BS. CrossFitters are just as vain–They are even vain about not being vain.

I got into CrossFit several months ago and saw great results. I’ve just been turned off by the church-like culture filled with so many drones. I think CrossFit is great, but I hate the snobbery by people who wouldn’t be half the CrossFitters had they not lifted weights and played sports for years and years before hand.

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1/8/11 « — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 05:21:53 +0000

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By: Adam

Adam — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 17:01:51 +0000

Jim,

I really appreciate the comment. My point wasn’t to put down bodybuilding at all and I think I made that clear. If I was putting anything down it was some aspects of the culture and I’ve been as vocal about issues in the CrossFit and other cultures that I think are destructive. I got my start in bodybuilding and spent a lot of time with that type training.

My MAIN POINT in the article was that we have a lot we can learn from EACH OTHER and CrossFitters can take plenty from bodybuilding just as bodybuilders can take plenty from CrossFit.

Adam

By: Jim

Jim — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 16:42:05 +0000

I still don’t understand people’s disdain toward bodybuilding. Here are people working their tails off with something physical they enjoy. Sure, it’s not what everyone chooses, but what place do we have to say what physical pursuit someone should enjoy.

Yes, there’s the drug issue, but you can point at any sport and find drug use (and I predict CrossFit soon too, if not already). Bodybuilding doesn’t automatically involve drug use, just the higher level guys.

To wonder about Franco Columbu’s Fran or Helen time is a waste of time. The dude pulled 750 lbs! He dedicated himself and achieved mind-boggling results! We should appreciate hard work, not just hard work in the areas that we deem worthy.

I’d agree that bodybuilding knows so much more about nutrition than most fields. They absolutely need to know to achieve their on-stage results. I feel that T-nation does a fantastic job of relaying that information to everyone.

I’d also argue the fact that isolation exercises have a purpose for all strength athletes and those looking for functionality. First, hypertrophy of the muscles using more traditional bodybuilding techniques can improve one’s levers for the lifts, which will equate to bigger lifts. Second, if someone’s exercises are held back by a particularly weak muscle (e.g., triceps for a press), then adding in a bit of extra isolation work for that muscle can prove beneficial when that new strength/size is reapplied back to the whole unit (a multi-joint, functional movement).

I’m starting to ramble a bit, but my one final thought on the topic is the put-down that bodybuilders are “vain” and “egomaniacs”. I hear this from the very people that are so quick to rip their shirts off in the gym and scream like they’re passing kidney stones. It’s hypocritical. If we are going to judge, we need to look at ourselves too. And what’s so wrong about looking good? Why is that villainized?

In the end, can’t we just let people train the way they want?