Sharpening your skills
The Importance of Focusing on Skill Development in Your Workouts
As a CrossFit coach, I can tell you that fitness is more than just about building muscle and getting ripped. It’s about honing your skills and becoming the best version of yourself. That’s why I want to talk about the importance of focusing on skill development in your workouts.
Think of it this way: if fitness were a video game, skill development would be like leveling up. It’s the key to unlocking new challenges and becoming a more well-rounded athlete. Not to mention, it’s a lot more fun than just doing the same old exercises day in and day out.
So, why exactly is it important to incorporate skill days into your routine? Here are just a few reasons:
1. Improve Existing Skills
First and foremost, skill development workouts allow you to improve upon skills that you’ve already acquired. Whether it’s perfecting your squat form or refining your pull-up technique, these workouts help you to identify areas where you can improve and work on them in a focused way.
2. Learn New Skills
On top of improving existing skills, skill development workouts also give you the opportunity to learn new ones. This is important because it not only helps you to become a more well-rounded athlete but it also keeps things interesting and exciting. Plus, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of nailing a new skill for the first time.
3. Prevent Plateaus
Another benefit of incorporating skill development workouts into your routine is that it helps to prevent plateaus. When you do the same exercises over and over again, your body eventually adapts and stops making progress. By switching things up and focusing on different skills, you continually challenge your body to become a better athlete.
Now that you know why skill development is important, let’s talk about how you can incorporate it into your routine. Here are a few tips:
1. Set Goals
The first step to improving your skills is to set goals for yourself. Identify which skills you want to work on and what you hope to achieve by focusing on them. This will help you stay motivated and on track as you work towards your goals.
2. Take Specialty Classes
One of the best ways to focus on skill development is to take classes that specifically target the skills you want to improve upon. For example, if you want to get better at handstand push-ups, look for a class that focuses on those specifically. This will give you the opportunity to work on your skills in a focused environment with guidance from a qualified coach.
3. Practice Consistently
Just like with any other aspect of fitness, consistency is key when it comes to skill development. Make sure to incorporate these workouts into your routine on a regular basis and practice consistently in order to see progress. We usually have 1 to 2 workouts a week that allow for a slower pace to work on skill development.
You always have permission to turn any training day into a skill development day if that's what is best for you.
4. Have Fun
Finally, don’t forget to have fun! Skill development workouts can be challenging, but they should also be enjoyable. Find ways to make it fun, whether that’s by working with a partner and celebrating each milestone or setting mini session goals to work on. Remember, fitness should be something you look forward to, not dread.
In conclusion, skill development workouts are crucial for overall fitness and can help you achieve your fitness goals. Whether you’re looking to improve upon existing skills or learn new ones, incorporating these workouts into your routine is a great way to challenge yourself and stay motivated. So go ahead, level up your fitness, and start focusing on skill development today!
