16.3: Welcome to the Muscle Up Club

CrossFit Open 16.3

Every year in the CrossFit Open, Dave Castro likes to weed out the great athletes, only leaving room for the exceptional. He’ll program a workout that contains an advanced skill, a heavy weight or some ridiculous combination of the two, such that only the elite will prevail.

With the 2nd new movement this year in the CrossFit Open, the bar muscle-up was this year’s separator.

For the everyday athlete in gyms all over the world, however, it was more of a motivator—just what people needed to get their first bar muscle-up… or die trying.

Our gym, CrossFit Addict, saw a slew of athletes join the muscle-up club. To them, we offer our congratulations.

Welcome to the Muscle-Up Club

Drew muscle-upDrew not only got his first bar muscle-up, but they felt so easy to him that he felt the need to repeat the workout to see if he could get even more.

Juan also joined the club, and knocked out all 3 in the first round. They were not pretty (to say THE LEAST), but no one has ever accused the sport of CrossFit for being “pretty.” (the athletes on the other hand…)

Paul got in on some muscle-up action, too. I think he got a couple reps in.

Kayla muscle-upKayla performed a handful of reps that could barely be identified as muscle-ups, but somehow, her body was above the bar and her elbows locked out. Her technique is patent-pending.

Robbie got a few of his first muscle-ups in, but not before ripping his hands to shreds. I’m not even sure the guy feels pain.

Rachel—arguably, one of the strongest women in our gym—was searching for her first muscle-up. After about 6 minutes and 8 attempts, she nailed it. Ironically, Trey was even more excited than she was.

Rachel muscle-up

Still Searching

For those whom didn’t join the club this time around, keep your head up. It’s one movement. One workout. The muscle-up does not define your fitness. It’s not one of CrossFit’s 10 general physical skills. And by no means should it leave you feeling defeated after 16.3.

There are many movements in CrossFit to work on, and you are getting better & stronger every day. Continue pushing your boundaries and you’ll get there.

On a Personal Note

The battle between McCloud & me is heating up.

Warfel, McCloud & Trey embrace
Matt & Trey embrace as I keel over in defeat, immediately following 16.3.

We both came into the Thursday night announcement with the same idea: we’re not working out. He was overdue for a rest day. I had done some work 3 hours prior, during open gym. We’d both throw down on Friday, like the rest of the world.

Not so much. Honestly, I don’t even know how it happened. Someone started some chatter about the two of us. Trey’s name was also throw out. Then Trey loudly tells Matt & me that “the two of you could put on a show.”

I remember leaning over, hands on my knees, looking up towards Matt, shaking my head no. I remember Matt verbally saying no. The two of us then proceeded to do this little shark-like circling maneuver, where we would walk past each other, stop, and lock eyes, with an identical yet unexplainable grin.

After 3 passes, we stopped in the middle, and simultaneously said, “Let’s do it.” Then bro-hugged it out.

The Showdown

Despite us both being unprepared & tired, we managed to push each other to the 2nd & 3rd best scores in the gym.

Matt jumped out to a quick lead by going unbroken on both the snatches and bar muscle-ups in the first round. I stuck with my plan of 5 & 5, plus singles on the bar. I started gaining a little ground with about a minute left, but Matt held on to beat me by 5 reps. He’s even more gymnasty than I thought. Kudos, brother.

Matt leads the head-to-head battle 2-1, which means one more win for him & the rabbit prevails. I better bring it this week… and pray that a 1 rep max doesn’t get announced.

A Retest?

Matt retested each of the first two workouts, and I retested 16.1. Several others in our gym, and many around the world, retest Open workouts. I completely understand the desire, and reasoning, behind wanting to retest. I find the concept interesting enough to devote another entire article to it.

Read about my thoughts on retesting Open workouts »