How a Kickboxer Has Become a Crossfit Sensation in Spain
4 min
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Alexander Anasagasti is MrWeak. But you only need to look at his current position as 112th in the world and 35th in Europe, and know that his heaviest dead-lift is 220kg, weighing 75kg, to understand that this alias is, above all, a provocation: ” It comes from when I was living in the United States. I went with the goal of improving myself, and I realized that my marks were always the lowest. So I gave myself the name because it was funny, and also as motivation,” he tells foodspring. After many years of kickboxing and boxing, this athlete decided to start CrossFit training because he wanted to stay strong and was “bored of doing weights”. It seems that the decision was the right one, because he has become one of the leading names of this sport in Spain. He has just returned from the CrossFit Games 2022, in Madison, Wisconsin in the United States, and we have interviewed him to talk about his feelings after the competition, his training, nutrition, sport and life in general.
You have just participated for the second time in the CrossFit Games, how was the experience?
The experience was good overall, especially because I was able to get rid of the bad taste left over from the 2019 event. That year, after a lot of sacrifices to qualify, I had a series of problems that meant I wasn’t in my best shape. I had a hip injury and visa issues, and I wasn’t in good shape physically, let alone mentally. This year, I didn’t originally have the idea of going to the CrossFit Games, but the opportunity arose to create a team and take part in the competition.
It seems that not even an injury can make you stop…
I’ve had several injuries and, in the end, you just end up developing self-improvement skills. Even if I’m injured I never stop training. What you have to do is to know how to adapt and do exercises that aren’t painful. But in CrossFit we do so many different exercises that it’s easy to adapt a workout. If a soccer player injures a knee, they cannot play. If a crossfitter injures their hip or shoulder, they can continue to do CrossFit. That is the advantage we have.
How did you feel participating in a team as opposed to doing it alone?
The great thing about competing as an individual is that you are in charge of managing your training, your breaks and your own emotional state. When competing in a team you have to compete with the other athletes and this adds difficulty. But depending on the type of competition, participating in a team can take more pressure off you and you also enjoy the event with people. That’s cool!
Apart from training, how do you prepare yourself from a nutritional and rest point of view?
I count on the help of a nutritionist for my diet and I try to sleep 8 hours a day, not always successfully. I also attach great importance to supplements.
What supplements do you take?
I usually take supplements with creatine and I take protein after training, although what I like the most lately is the Endurance Drink. When it’s very hot, you sweat a lot and it’s very easy to get dehydrated and get cramps and the Endurance Drink helps me a lot with all of this, actually.
What would a typical week of training look like in preparation for a CrossFit competition?
We spent hours and hours in the gym. In CrossFit you never know what you’re going to find in a competition until the day itself. So we have to have lots of things ready. We can spend up to 8 hours a day in the gym. Not always training, sometimes warming up or doing strength work. We also spend time discussing the type of strategy we are going to implement in the test. I usually get to the gym at 9am and do a short session, have breakfast, do another session, eat, rest a bit and finish with a last long session in the afternoon. But this isn’t just to prepare for a competition, it’s my day-to-day life practically all season long.
And how do you manage your rest periods?
I train 6 days a week. On Thursdays I have active rest and do some kind of lighter exercise. Sunday is a day of total rest. I spend the day doing nothing and recovering. I take advantage and eat whatever I want! Pizza, ice cream, cereal with milk…
How did you get started in the world of Crossfit?
I had been kickboxing for 9 years and had also had some boxing matches. I wanted to do something that would keep me fit and strong while kickboxing training, and I was bored of doing weights. I started doing CrossFit on my own and then joined a gym. I saw that I was good at it and little by little I stopped kickboxing. I think if you’re going to do something half-heartedly it’s better not to do it, so after winning the first two competitions I entered, I decided to dedicate myself professionally to CrossFit.
Are there some exercises that you like more than others?
I am very good at the ones that have to do with body weight skills. Whether it’s hanging from the bar, doing the pike, burpees… I’m very good at all these types of exercises.
What do you find so engaging about the sport?
People get hooked on CrossFit for two reasons: it’s a lot of fun and it’s a quick way to get in shape. Besides, there’s a very good atmosphere and you make friends. It creates a special connection that makes people really like it. It is a very young sport, so much so that many people think it’s a fad that will pass, but it is going to keep growing.
And finally, what are your next career goals?
I’m going to follow my path as an individual. If the possibility of doing something as a team comes up, I will consider it, as long as it’s an ‘enjoyable’ competition. My priority now is to recover from my injuries and keep training just as hard. If I manage to qualify for the next CrossFit Games, that’s great. If not, then no worries, keep training and see where that leads me. But, above all, to keep progressing in all aspects of life.
Learn more about this topic at foodspring:
- Do I Need Weightlifting Shoes?
- Why Hyrox Should Be Your Next Fitness Challenge, According to One Athlete
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