Why Use The Belt?

Interesting conversation Kim (pictured here handling a PR deadlift) and I had today after she made her PR lift.  That involves the belt and why you use it.  Kim made the comment that the 205 she hit without a belt felt heavier than the 225 with a belt, and it definitely looked that way as well.  The belt obviously isn't the only variable that determines the "feel" of a lift, but it has been a general observation that the belt can make up to a 20 pound jump actually feel lighter.  So this is why we right now suggest the belt up in those high percentages, most people can get so far without one, and then once the belt is used it takes them to a level unnatainable without a belt.

Workout:

1RM Deadlift

50 Double Under
50 Sit Ups
200 meter run
40 Double Under
40 Sit Ups
200 meter run
30 Double Under
30 Sit Ups
200 meter run
20 Double Under
20 Sit Ups
200 meter run
10 Double Under
10 Sit Ups
200 meter run

Intimidation

I've heard about it a lot over the years and have experienced it myself when starting crossfit a while back.  And that is this idea of intimidation, or being intimidated to start or take a crossfit class.  One place this fear could stem from is the thought that everyone else is going to know the movements and I'm going to be the one lost up shits creek.  A helpful perspective to have especially when starting crossfit, is that we are all on this path of learning these movements, some people are just further down the road then others.  It may appear to a newbie that they are the only ones who don't have the movements "down," while everyone else seems to be flowing just fine, but the truth of the matter is, especially when looking at a movement like the snatch, even the most experienced crossfitters are still working on their craft, always trying to refine, improve, and progress their technique.  Over the years the refinement tends to be more fine-tuning, compared to a newbie who may simply be working on basic jumping an landing drills. 
The important thing to remember is It doesn't matter how far down the path you are, it just matters that you are on the path.

John was putting in a lot of good snatch work today, here he is looking solid in his overhead squat.  

Workout:

EMOM for 10 minutes:
1 Hang Snatch
1 Snatch

12 minute ladder:
10 Overhead squats (65/95lb)
10 Chest to bar pull ups
10 Overhead squats (65/95lb)
10 Chest to bar pull ups
12 Overhead squats (65/95lb)
12 Chest to bar pull ups
12 Overhead squats (65/95lb)
12 Chest to bar pull ups
14 Overhead squats (65/95lb)
14 Chest to bar pull ups
14 Overhead squats (65/95lb)
14 Chest to bar pull ups