CrossFit Open 19.4: Ultimate Workout Strategy for Rx, Masters, Scaled
CrossFit Open 19.4 is here, and it’s a great week for a first bar muscle up…. or maybe a pull-up, if you’re going after 19.4 scaled. In week 4 we have three movements, and some programmed rest. Let’s take a look at the workout, and then talk strategy, courtesy of WodPrep.
CrossFit Open Workout 19.4:
For Time (12 minute time cap, this includes 3 min rest!)
3 rounds:
- 10 snatches 95/65 lbs
- 12 bar facing burpees
Rest 3 minutes then…
3 rounds :
- 10 bar muscle ups
- 12 bar facing burpees
Looking for a complete breakdown of 19.4 workout standards? Head to the official 2019 CrossFit Games Open website.
19.4: Snatches
- If the snatch is light for you (~50% or less), go touch & go, try to stay unbroken.
- If the snatch is heavy (~ 60% or more), it’s OK to do quick singles – but make sure to move quickly on burpees!
- Don’t rest unless absolutely necessary. Remember, you have a huge 3 minute rest after part 1 that you can take advantage of.
- Especially if you’re going unbroken, keep a hook grip the whole time your hands are on the bar. Start with wide feet and try not to move them at all. Power snatch for most people is going to be ideal here.
19.4: Burpees Over The Bar
- Go fast – no excuses here since you’ll have time to recover. The key is not “as fast as possible”, which would make you redline, but instead it should be “what pace will make it so that I have absolutely no resting?“. Go at that speed, and try to push your tempo.
- I personally plan to do my burpees by jumping down and stepping up. Last year step-down/step-up burpees were not allowed, but apparently they are now okay in 2019 – check out the full CrossFit 19.4 Open standards on the Games website.
19.4: Bar Muscle Ups
- Bar Muscle Ups are going to depend on your abilities. Personally, I will try this unbroken, then move to 6/4, but this is because I can do 20+ unbroken when fresh.
- Most people should HIGHLY consider breaking up into singles. If you can’t do 5+ BMU’s unbroken, DO NOT try multiples, as it will only hurt you and cause you to rest too much.
- Using the “box drop-in” will be a HUGE win for anyone trying to learn their first reps. At the very least, make sure you are jumping into the first rep of each set (or each single) to ensure that you utilize the precious momentum.
- “Find the floor” and make your transition AGGRESSIVE. (watch this for more details)
19.4: Burpees Over The Bar (Round 2)
- I wouldn’t push the pace too much – at least not as fast as part 1… the goal is to be slightly recovered for the BMU so you can crush them! If you go max effort on these burpees, you’ll more way too slow on the BMUs and might start failing reps.
CrossFit Open 19.4: Scaled
Scaled needs to do pull-ups in the 19.4 scaled workout! Oh snap!
- Guess what… you need to be working on these ALWAYS and it should be a priority for your fitness, and is a fundamental part of being a fit person.
- Check out the above advice on snatches and burpees – similar coaching pointers apply!
- If you are trying for your first pull-up, I WOULD NOT suggest kipping wildly just to try to get a rep, but since that will inevitably happen… here’s what I suggest – use the “box drop in” method to develop momentum to get your chin above the bar.
55+ Scaled (CrossFit Open 19.4)
- On the jumping pull-ups – USE YOUR LEGS and don’t let go of the bar. Embrace the burn because your rep cycle time will be fast!
CrossFit 19.4: Masters
Like past 2019 Open workouts, the standards are going to stay the same here until we hit Masters 55+, where the BMU’s change to Chest to Bar pull-ups.
- The same rules apply for C2B’s as they do for BMUs… trust your abilities, but don’t go unbroken if your max set is only 15 reps.
- Instead, take short, quick breaks and get back on the bar ASAP. Singles are totally OK as long as you keep moving. Don’t waste time!
- As previously mentioned, push the burpee tempo, but not so much that it burns you on the pull-ups.
- Check out this WodPrep video on the ‘hip pop’ if you plan to do either bar muscle ups – or chest to bar pull-ups.