If anything Jacob Heppner knows how to get people talking. The 6th fittest man on Earth has beef with both CrossFit and Open Workout 20.3.
Is Heppner bending the rules or breaking them here? Over the weekend, Heppner said he would complete the workout but instead of doing handstand push-ups, he would use his fists.
A quick remainder of 20.3 entailed.
Equipment Needed
- Barbell
- Standard bumper plates (18-inch diameter) to load to the appropriate weights for your division
- Collars to secure the plates on the barbell
- A heel mark for the handstand push-ups
- Floor marks for the handstand walk
Men
For time:
21 deadlifts, 225 lb.
21 handstand push-ups
15 deadlifts, 225 lb.
15 handstand push-ups
9 deadlifts, 225 lb.
9 handstand push-ups
21 deadlifts, 315 lb.
50-ft. handstand walk
15 deadlifts, 315 lb.
50-ft. handstand walk
9 deadlifts, 315 lb.
50-ft. handstand walk
Time cap: 9 min.
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Also, remember the notes given from CrossFit HQ: “Prior to starting the workout, the athlete will need to mark a line on the wall for the handstand push-ups. Lengths on the floor will also need to be measured and marked for the handstand walk.”
Posted to his YouTube channel, Heppner explains his decision.
“They’re (CrossFit HQ) in charge. I learnt that the hard way in 2018, I was irritated, I was mad, I was really upset.
The one thing I have learnt about CrossFit is that you pay to play their game. You pay to play their game … It doesn’t matter how much I complain … They (CrossFit) make the rules and whether or not we agree with it, it’s their rules.”
Heppner continued.
“It took me a while to realize that it doesn’t matter how much I complain, it doesn’t matter if I go onto Instagram and be a keyboard warrior…I realized that I wasn’t going to be good at it, so I made it a point in fact that if it came up again next year…that I could circumvent it, I could find a way around it.”
If you’re not good at something or you don’t like the situation you’re in then you have to go out and change it…One way I can stick to the standard is to do them on my fists.”
Will CrossFit HQ allow Heppner a pass? Heppner using his fists instead of his palms presents a question on whether this movement will be accepted by CrossFit upon review.