The 10 General Physical Skills
1. Cardiovascular/respiratory endurance – The ability of body systems to gather, process, and deliver oxygen.
2. Stamina – The ability of body systems to process, deliver, store, and utilize energy.
3. Strength – The ability of a muscular unit, or combination of muscular units, to apply force.
4. Flexibility – the ability to maximize the range of motion at a given joint.
5. Power – The ability of a muscular unit, or combination of muscular units, to apply maximum force in minimum time.
6. Speed – The ability to minimize the time cycle of a repeated movement.
7. Coordination – The ability to combine several distinct movement patterns into a singular distinct movement.
8. Agility – The ability to minimize transition time from one movement pattern to another.
9. Balance – The ability to control the placement of the body’s center of gravity in relation to its support base.
10. Accuracy – The ability to control movement in a given direction or at a given intensity.

Above, are the 10 general physical skills of CrossFit. The idea behind CrossFit is programmed such that an athlete doesn’t specialize in one of these skills but achieves a balance through engaging in workouts that consists of constantly varied, high intensity, functional movements. But do you know of the 11th skill?

Some athletes have true talent at this skill while others may always be working to achieve it. (Before I move on and explain this skill in depth, understand that Sunday posts are very light hearted, this is definitely something to have fun with.) So what is this 11th skill? Fashion! Now this isn’t official by any means. But I challenge someone to tell me that they haven’t, at least once, exercised the 11th skill while preparing to do a workout.

There is a whole site dedicated to ptting outfits together, sometimes down to the jewlery. It’s pretty entertaining to browse through. Pretty hilarious right? And guess what, it’s not just for women. I’ve seen plenty of men at competitions and gyms, both globo and boxes, who regularly exercise this skill. Sometimes being shirtless with just compression tights on is a fashion, somewhere. And it is fun, in true CrossFit form. I’m sure some days you might pack for your day and think ‘I’d like to wear my favorite shirt and favorite long socks for deadlifts’. And maybe those colors happen to be complimentary. Boom! 11th skill engaged. I am guilty of overusing this skill. My obsession with red is borderline unhealthy, but mentally it makes me feel stronger. Don’t be afraid to practice this skill all the time! Have fun with it and if it makes you feel stronger, faster or more agile, why not?

06.30.13 REST DAY