So, a while back I slapped together some categories of exercisers that’s actually based on this. The idea is that people have an exercise style or personality, often a combo of two styles, and it’s interesting to think about what type someone is. The idea is also that putting people in boxes is fun, and analyzing shit and breaking it down is enjoyable for some of us. Like a personality test. Also that cupcakes are really important. I threw that last part in because it’s TRUE.
So in case you missed it way back whenever, here’s the types. And you can think if any of these apply to you. If you don’t ever work out in a group it may be hard to tell, but I’ve noticed lots of folks tend to fall into these categories, so maybe you’ll find this useful, or think it’s total crap, I dunno, I’m just very tired right now anyway, so let’s stimulate some discussion, people.
Fighter: Fighters are, well, competitive. They often think in hierarchical terms, and they like to know where they are athletically relative to everyone in the room. Maybe because of this, they are highly observant and can tell you all kinds of things about what most people are doing or saying. Not much gets past them. They tend to be fierce and given to feats of brilliance, especially when there’s going to be a clear winner in the end, and they often learn very quickly and work hard when the stakes are high. However, they can also get discouraged and be very hard on themselves to the point of veering into perfectionism, and they sometimes mentally give up and don’t try hard if they aren’t going to be number one. Often blunt and direct, they hate false praise and prefer concrete feedback to something vague like “good job!” Fighters have a presence in the room, and like attention and accolades.
Robot: Robots are most easily identified by one thing—you rarely know how tired they are or how hard they are working. Robots are outwardly emotionless, stoic, and determined. When in physical pain, they often disconnect from their feelings, which can be an asset and a liability (much like the fighter competitiveness.) They go into their own world when they exercise, and are almost unaware of many people around them, even if they have a partner or are on a team. They tend to have good endurance and almost never give up, but sometimes they have trouble knowing how hard to push themselves. They sometimes like to be distracted from their physical exertion, but can still work hard. Some are competitive, but rarely take competition personally. They like to be good at things, but they can fall into ruts easily.
Comrade: Comrades are classic team players. They are friendly and supportive and cheer and high-five others, but they also get scared of letting down their partner or their team. They are highly aware of how others are feeling, and again, this is an asset and a liability. The desire to win for others can spur them to athletic greatness, but they will sometimes hold back in their own performance to avoid making their partner feel bad. They are eager to please and and are often less competitive than types, preferring that everyone feels good to winning and losing. They are good coaches and have lots of encouragement for people, but they don’t like too much criticism of their performance, and they get discouraged if they think they can’t do well enough to make a coach or team happy.
Independent: Independents sometimes work hard, and sometimes they don’t. It depends on lots of things: How well they think they can do at something, or how much they respect the coach or team, but the bottom line is that they do what they want to. Often they’ll modify a workout or keep the pace they want regardless of instruction, and this independence is yeah, an asset and a liability. They are aware of their own injuries and can be hard to coach, but if they believe in you and themselves they will often do amazing things. Motivating independents can be tricky, but once on board, they’ll often be quite good at doing a slightly different workout than everyone else is doing. They are creative, rebellious, not easily swayed, and stubborn.
Most people aren’t just one thing, and I imagine most of us have moments of each of these. But my thought is that you have a style, and then often an underlying motivation, and that’s where the combos of these types come in. For example, I know some folks who are very friendly and hilarious and team-oriented, but when it comes down to it, they really like to win, they are fierce, and they know what everyone else is doing. Those are Fighter-Comrades—Comrade outside with Fighter inside. Get it? Well then there you have it.
The advantage of this is hopefully if you see any of yourself here, you know what your strengths and weaknesses are, maybe what kinds of scenarios are going to bring our your best performance and how you can improve, and so on. It sure helps me coach people—like I try to avoid riding an Independent, or giving unspecific praise to a Fighter, or assuming a Robot has lots left because they don’t look dead, or putting a Comrade in a head-to-head competition, and so on. Yeah. Did I mention I’m tired? Well okay, if any of this is you, feel free to share.
how much do i love this post? i’m definitely a comrade-coated fighter. definitely.
samin
October 7th, 2008
Cupcakes! This post needs more about cupcakes! Then it will be perfect. I love that poster
Merry
October 8th, 2008
I’d have to put myself in the fighter-comrade camp too!
This is really interesting, because I definitely see this whole range of people in my classes. There are the people who do whatever they want to do, no matter what I’m saying, which is both a good and a bad thing.
Lethological Gourmet
October 8th, 2008
I found your blog through your post about Gwyneth Paltrow’s trainer and I have enjoyed reading your blog ever since.
Keep up the hilarious and straightforward posting. Your approach to fitness is refreshing.
Oh and I am an independent-fighter, for better or for worse.
Kasey
October 8th, 2008
I’m definitely Independent, with some Comrade aspects. I’d like to pretend I’m a Fighter, but seriously I have so little competitive instinct that if I were a species I would have become extinct. I can set very ambitious goals for myself, but somehow I’m never interested in comparing myself to others - someone is always better, someone is always worse. Meh.
Marla
October 8th, 2008
Fighters know that they are fighters because they only read the description about fighters and skimmed (read:ignored) the other types.
Wendy
October 8th, 2008
Very interesting! I think I’m an Independent-Robot. When working out in a group/with a trainer, I sometimes catch myself having an inner dialogue along the lines of “Yeah, yeah. I know that’s what you want but here’s what I can give.” Sometimes I can give more and sometimes I hold back. I can be competitive but I tend to know my limits. This can suck though, because knowing your limits can translate to being fearful of failure which can prevent you from ever getting better.
keyalus
October 8th, 2008
Hee hee, I’m a comrade-coated fighter, too (it comes of being part of a large family!), with streaks of independent (um… I’m creative minded?), and I definitely like cupcakes.
Sara
October 8th, 2008
Yeah, I’m pretty much a comrade. With a little robot in there. Eager to please, mostly friendly. Not that competitive, though I can be. But I often find that flapping my jaw during workouts is a lovely distraction - even if I can hardly talk. Make me laugh and think about something else till its over.
Neat! I love over-analyzing the crap out of things!
Erin
October 8th, 2008
Fighter. O.k., fighter who has learned to be a comrade (sometimes).
But I wanna be a robot.
Ettamommy
October 8th, 2008
I’d say I am a robot coated fighter. Mostly I just work on getting myself into a zone of concentration and hope that my second wind comes before total meltdown…in which case, I motivate myself by telling myself what a loser I am… That is the robot part. Then, I like to use that extra bit of reserved energy that I have been saving to crank it up in the last set, and then I admit that I enjoy it, if I can whip past everyone else who can barely lift their kettle bell, after 8 rounds. That is the fighter part.
Lan-Ling
October 8th, 2008
I’ve never posted here before- but I am a frequent reader…
I’m an independent-fighter. I only want to do the type and pace of workout that I feel like doing at the time- and I hate having people tell me what to do… but if you imply that I can’t do something… well then you can just eat my dirt!
Oh, and I am pro-cupcake.
Jessica
October 8th, 2008
are there other people in the group when I work out? I don’t always notice until after I finish the workout. I rather die than show you how tired I am
very robotic.
surf mom
October 8th, 2008
In my team sport days - all fighter (while providing plenty of laughs) except for that part about not trying hard when not not able to be number one - NEVER GIVE UP! And that wanting attention - no thanks. Now (too many years later to count) with maturation - still EXACTLY the same.
MMom
October 8th, 2008
Hmmm..I think Im a combination of fighter and independent. Nice article
suddenlyslimmer
October 8th, 2008
This also applies to childbirth. In ultimate robot-fashion I birthed my children drug-free and in almost complete silence. My husband said it was scary.
Easy E
October 8th, 2008
A whole big shitload of the Independent… which is pretty much how I live whole parts of my life.
There is a bit of the comrade.. and just a touch of the robot. Oddly I don’t think there’s a bit of the fighter in me, except that I often wish my gym had a heavy bag to hit.
Deb
October 8th, 2008
Easy E, I never thought about my birth that way. In true fighter fashion, I birthed my 9+ lb. baby at home, drug-free. Just like when I pick up the big weights, I purposely made the situation difficult, refused to give up and was fucking fierce in the face of pushing for 4 hours. A feat of brilliance, indeed.
Ettamommy
October 8th, 2008
First time commenter also…
I’m be a fighter. I hated sports at school and only recently got interested in certain sports. Once I started, I realised that I’m actually super-competitive and goal-oriented, much to my surprise.
If I follow Easy E’s example, I guess the best way to speed up childbirth for me, would be to tell me that another woman in the ward was better at giving birth than I was.
Game on, bitches
Cheney
October 8th, 2008
lol cheney!
surf mom
October 9th, 2008
Cupcake lovin’ Robot here. With a splash of Fighter just for fun.
I don’t usually fit into these categories (my horoscope never makes sense) but this one got a little spooky. What rut?…oh…crap.
LG
October 9th, 2008
Definitely the fighter! That was a fun view of exercisers
Lori
October 12th, 2008
I am right there with you guys on the dead-calm drug-free childbirth scenario - two times so far.
But I think for me it was more than just Robot - it was Fighter (though I mainly get off on beating my personal best, not others’) and Independent (my way, my terms).
I think my Comrade would come out if I exercised with others and impede my performance and I don’t want to deal with that which is why I mainly work out alone. Which is pretty much how I go through life.
I think I need to get out and nurture my Comrade a bit, even if having other people around means I can’t get in my zone as easily and do as well or whatever. I could like, learn stuff and/or have fun.
nolafwug
October 12th, 2008
Im stumped
and fear Im a robot?!
could it be??
MizFit
October 13th, 2008
This is totally helpful. I teach group fitness classes, so thinking about different types of exercisers will (I hope) help me teach better.
And I’m an independent fighter, for sure.
Trihardist
October 13th, 2008
Independent Robot.
I may go to a class, but I dislike being told what to do. I judge the teacher and decide which parts to try. If something doesn’t make sense, you cannot make me do it. Also depends how I feel that day. But if I’m distracted, say by reading a trashy magazine while on a stairmaster, I can keep going for a long time (though probably not in the target heart rate range).
deedeebee
October 17th, 2008
I am surprisingly easy to define, lol! I am equal parts comrade and independent, straight up. Now, about that whole exercise thing…
c
November 9th, 2008
I always knew, that the author is very competent of this question! Thanks the Author! Has received weight of pleasure after perusal of clause. I would like to talk to you more in detail, on this question, but I have not found yours Icq or skype … :-[
Madonna
November 21st, 2008
Hello, excuse, I can bad speak on English… I have found yours blog through search google, I was interested with your texts, I could translate them on Russian, for the publication in the small edition of our company? I would be grateful to you. Thanks.
Anton Egorov
November 26th, 2008