[Thriptic]

As a powerlifter, my beef with crossfit is that people think they can learn how to be expert lifters in a weekend in a class of 20 people. Learning to deadlift properly takes months even under personalized instruction; learning to squat with perfect form takes much longer; and learning to properly perform olympic lifts like the clean and jerk takes the longest. This also assumes that the new lifter is even capable of performing the movement (many have weak lower backs and mobility issues which need to be addressed on an individual level before they can start performing powerlifts or olympic lifts).

The notion that you will be able to immediately perform these lifts competently is absurd as the author points out, and putting new lifters in scenarios where there is minimal personal instruction with a goal of speed and high repetition instead of proper execution of the lift is a recipe for injury. As someone who has gotten injured even when performing powerlifts with proper technique, seeing other people put themselves in situations where they are going to get hurt + advocating that others do so actively annoys me.

Also, I take issue with the fact that you assume that my dislike for crossfit is rooted in some sort of powerlifting elitism. This couldn't be farther from the truth. I fully support almost any lifting modality which gets people in the gym and lifting safely (bodybuilding, powerlifting, olympic lifting, weight lifting, strong man, general strength training etc), but I can't abide by the popularization of a program whose implementation frequently leads to injury and incorrect form.