Skill: (n) the learned capacity to carry out pre-determined results often with the minimum outlay of time, energy, or both.

Ability: (n) the quality of being able to do something, especially the physical and mental power to accomplish something.

I was thinking about the difference between these terms earlier this week after watching Chris demonstrate some rowing techniques. It made me think about the way we structure many of our workouts, specifically the skill time. Taking the time to learn and refine skills gives us the ability to make something happen; but notice the definition above, the skill must be learned in order for us to have the ability.

How many of you came to the box on your very first day with the ability to do pullups?

Double-unders?

A basic snatch?

Very few, if any of us, right?

I once had a coach tell me,

“99% of coaching is in practice and preparation, very little of what we do happens at game speed.”

This is especially true in CrossFit. If you were thrown into a WOD without being taught how to do anything, chances are you wouldn’t be very successful; so it’s important to take time to learn and refine the skills. If not to be better at CrossFit, then for safety’s sake at least. By gaining abilities, though, you will get much more than just a good workout.

I challenge you: every time you come to the box, no matter what type of class you are taking, make the goal to walk out with more ability than when you walked in.

Sure, to come in and do a brutal, exhausting workout is great. Anyone who wants to badly enough can do that, though.

What’s really worth your while, what will really give you a return on your time and effort, is gaining ability.

If you do this consistently, you’d be surprised by how far you’ve come.

By: Casey