Ego - it gets your head into things that you can't pull it out of.
Here’s an ARTICLE that I co-wrote with Sam Kressin, another acupuncturist friend of mine who is also a black belt in Brazilian Jiujitsu, on preventing injuries for both BJJ players and CrossFitters alike.
Sam covered the neck and I covered the low back, but the advice for both groups has a lot of crossover between the two. A snippet of my section is pasted below. Of all of the warm up movements, stretches, alternative therapies, mobilization techniques that I know of and/or could have researched for the article, my stance is still pretty firm on what physically injures most CrossFitters, regardless of experience in the gym – their ego.
“What’s the number one reason that CrossFitters hurt their backs? Ego. Yep, it’s true. Yes, there are definitely people who come into the sport ego-less but with a preexisting weakness in their low backs and get hurt. Far more often, it’s the jump from a shaky 285 pound deadlift to the attempt of a 316 pound deadlift – all in the name of knocking off the fifth place guy on the leader board who’s holding strong at 315 – that leads to a couple of months of education on low back injuries.
Arbitrary numbers should never trump common sense and form. Never. No athlete should risk permanent injury in the name of ego satisfaction. Think long term always. The saying, “live to train another day.” is the best mantra that one can have for lumbar protection.”
Think about that the next time that you have to choose your weights. P.R.’s are great and should be gotten after, but only when the time is right and when your body is ready.
Today’s Workout:
Bench Press
5-5-5-5-5
AMRAP 7 Minutes:
10m Broad Jump
10 Burpees
