21/11/2023
The obvious association speaks to the quality of movement, but it's also so much bigger than that.
Standards speak to accountability and integrity...in life.
Inside the gym we want our athletes to know their bodies, and hold standards of movement that will serve them well now and for years down the road. These standards will create a structure that allows them to do more "x", whether it be increased loads, speeds, complexity, etc. This is important! We will not overload something that isn't structurally sound. That would be irresponsible and an example of not holding standards.
But, the second (and perhaps most important) adaptation that occurs when we hold standards, is the level of integrity it builds to do the right thing outside the walls of the gym. We don't just get to do what we want all the time, and sometimes the right thing, although hard to accept, is the way forward. Using less intensity to improve the squat, even though you can do more, is the way to better health and fitness in the long term. For some, this feels like a backward step, but for those who hold standards in high regard, not only will they see better results in the gym, but they will also act with more integrity and take accountability for their actions outside the walls of the gym. That's the powerful ripple effect of doing CrossFit with standards. We become better humans for ourselves and others.
Yes. Standards matter! They matter very, very much.
-Coach Denise
