Praxis Athletics/CrossFit Prescott is devoted to creating, implementing and nurturing properly constructed, developmentally approached, orthopedically sound, scientifically based, systematically implemented, and performance driven approaches to develop a more efficient human organism.  What has manifested through this constantly evolving thought process is a practice to bring about a maximizing of human movement potential.  This product, the Praxis Method, is the process by which we embody the bridging between increasing human performance and reduction in the probability of injuries throughout a lifetime.

Primum non nocere - “First, do no harm”

Continuous and countless hours of research, study and experience are the backbone behind the development of the Praxis methodology.  A careful fusion exists between our current protocols of human movement science with the latest finds in peer-reviewed research and up-to-date literature.  This symbiosis allows for the constant scaling, adapting, and modification of programs and protocols to elicit a desired result for the individual.  Praxis Athletics/CrossFit Prescott has held a common thread in the development of any program or complex we designed.  This bond is the careful reckoning in order to answer the question “Why?”.  “Why are we doing this?” must be supported by its justified and practical relevance towards the achievement of a desired adaptation and commensurate increase in performance. “What happened and why?” are constantly evaluated to sharpen our results.

From our viewpoint, it is important to exploit the preferred physical and neurological states for different training modalities with regard to fatigue level within a single workout.  This guides us determining which exercises and protocols are preferable to optimize the state of the central nervous system (CNS) and maximize the hormonal response. “Simply put, if stressors are too little, then you could be wasting your time. If the stressors are too much then there is either poor transfer of education or adrenal fatigue. However, if the stressors are sound, progressive and “just right”, the workload can then support the human body’s very efficient healing response through adequate rest and a good nutrition.”- Raphael Ruiz

As a result of a team-oriented, multidisciplinary approach to the design and application of a human performance program, our comprehensive systems have evolved.  A melting pot of many of the most effective and successful training systems is combined with current scientific research to produce a very intensive, well-rounded and effective curriculum.

A multitude of therapeutic modalities such as active Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (aPNF), Dynamic & Static Mobility protocols and Self-Myofascial Release (SMR) are integrated to allow for evolutions towards structural stability and mobility.  This allows for greater transfer of forces and proper dissipation of those forces through the entire body, in turn drastically decreasing the probability of injuries.

The use of free weight movements (powerlifting/strongman/highland games) and gymnastic/calisthenic (body-weight) movements are incorporated to develop a foundation of the 7 basic primal movement patterns: the Hip Hinge (Squat/Deadlift), Step, Lunge, Vertical Pull, Vertical Push, Horizontal Pull, Horizontal Push.

Olympic Lifts (Clean & Jerk, Snatch and all variations of), Plyometrics, and Assisted & Resisted movements are all methods employed as an effective means for increasing rate of force development, speed of movement, explosive strength and reactive ability.

Special Strength Training protocols in order to develop exlosive strength and reactive ability. Body Building principles are used to illicit the effects of muscular hypertrophy and to increase tensile strength of connective tissue.

Periodization models (linear, wave, parallel, concurrent and block) and Chaos Models are foundational methodologies that lay the groundwork of our programming.  This is a result of years of experience working with clients of all abilities and limitations in an attempt to minimize the development of plateaus, overreaching and overtraining, all the while encouraging optimal development with respect to the heterochonic maturing processes.

Through all of this and much more, Praxis Athletics/CrossFit Prescott maintains its reputation as the most comprehensive and effective training program in Northern Arizona and furthers the advancement of human movement science.