What is CrossFit?
Maybe you've heard about CrossFit, but you don't really know what it is.
In this article, you will learn the basics of the sport of fitness.
Definition
CrossFit is a method of strength and conditioning training in which the following functional exercises are performed at high intensisty and constantly varied.
It is also a lifestyle characterized by safe and effective exercise and a healthy diet.
It can be used to achieve any goal, from getting fit to weight loss and better performance. The program works for everyone: people who are just starting out and people who have been excercising for years.
Combines exercises of:
- Power
- Flexibility
- Strength
- Resistance
- Agility
- Coordination
It mixes different disciplines such as:
- Sports gymnastics
- Weightlifting Olympic lifts
- Triathlon
CrossFit in 100 words
The founder of CrossFit, Greg Glassman, defined this training method in 100 words.
You will see that it is not limited to the workouts in question, but also includes references to nutrition.
CrossFit is linked to the paleo diet because its creator always wanted to go beyond a training method and create a whole lifestyle.
Eat protein, vegetables, seeds, nuts, some fruit, and no sugar. Ingest amounts to maintain exercise and not body fat.
Practice and train the main lifts: cleans, deadlifts, squats, presses, and snatches. Also the basics of gymnastics, pull-ups, dips, rope climbs, rings, crunches, inverted balances, pirouettes, and cartwheels. Go cycling, running, swimming, rowing, strong and fast.
Five or six days a week, mix these elements in as many combinations and patterns as possible. Routine is the enemy. Keep workouts short and intense. Regularly learn and play new sports.
Brand objectives
The CrossFit brand believes its training base is key to maximizing your health and fitness.
It is totally legal to enter this sport because great physical results are obtained.
There are many people who lose weight quickly with CrossFit, but it is not a sport whose primary goal is aesthetic.
CrossFit is functional. This means that what you do in the gym carries over into real life:
- Training deadlifts will help you lift heavy objects from the ground without hurting yourself.
- Doing weight-bearing exercises will help you carry your groceries more easily.
- Being in good physical condition will make it easier for you to play with your children or grandchildren.
It's just one example of how the effort you put in the box translates to real life.
Skills practiced in CrossFit
At CrossFit we're good at a lot of things, but we're not the best at anything.
What does this mean?
For example, we are not stronger than those who practice power lifting. We are not better gymnasts than Olympians, or faster than runners... It is not a sport that specializes, but it improves your overall skills.
If your goal is to improve your capabilities, CrossFit will help you improve the following skills:
Cardiovascular / respiratory capacity: The ability of the body's system to absorb, process, and deliver oxygen.
Resistance: The ability of a body system to process, deliver, store, and use energy.
Strength: The ability of a muscle or combination of muscles to generate and apply force.
Flexibility: The ability to maximize a joint's range of motion.
Power: The ability of a muscle or group of muscles to produce a maximum force in the shortest possible time.
Speed: The ability to perform a repetitive motion in the shortest possible cycle time.
Coordination: The ability to combine multiple movements with different patterns into a single movement.
Agility: The ability to minimize the transition time between one movement pattern and another.
Balance: The ability to control the position of the body's center of gravity in relation to its base of support.
Accuracy: The ability to control movement in a particular direction or intensity.
CrossFit Frequently Asked Questions
And despite all that has been said, it is common to still have many doubts. We solve some of the most common ones.
What exercises are performed?
The variety of movements performed is very extensive and is not limited to the following:
| Weightlifting | Gymnastics | Metabolic |
|---|---|---|
| Snatch | Pull-up | Row |
| Clean | Chest to bar | Ski |
| Clean & jerk | Toes to bar | Running |
| Deadlift | Bar muscle up | Bike |
| Shoulder press | Ring muscle up | Jumping rope |
| Sit-up | Burpees | |
| Push up | Kettlebell swing | |
| Handstand push-up | Box jumps | |
| Rope climb | ||
| Handstand walk |
Since the technique is very important, you can consult here some free tutorials .
Why is CrossFit so successful?
In recent years, CrossFit has become popular due to its success. Those who practice it achieve great results thanks to
- We obtain major results. In a short time you can see your physique improve.
- This in turn promotes adherence to the program which is key to seeing results.
- The environment of companionship The result is that no one finishes until the last teammate finishes, and the last teammate is the one who gets the most encouragement.
- Improve mental toughness by seeing how you are capable of overcoming challenges you set your mind to.
Is CrossFit or Cross-training the same thing?
CrossFit is a registered trademark and may only be used in affiliated fitness centers.
Affiliation to the brand costs around $3000 per year and these centers receive the support of the brand along with permission to use the word CROSSFIT in their establishment.
It may be that other sites offer sessions that pretend to simulate CrossFit classes but are not official and use pseudonyms such as Cross, cross-training, crosshit...
If you want to know what a class is like, I suggest you read the following article:
And if you have any doubts about how dangerous the practice of this sport can be, here we talk about this myth:
