Before reading what CrossFit is, I ask that you keep an open mind. I was close minded at first and it took me a long time to recognize my traditional ways of exercise were not nearly as effective as CrossFit for acheiving fitness and health. I had what I thought was a solid fitness education. Just remember, this is a fitness program built on solid real-life results, not only scientific theories.
So, what is CrossFit?
The standard answer is, "It's an effective fitness program consisting of constantly varied functional movements executed at high intensity". This is a good description yet can still leave you pondering what the heck crossfit is. Phrases like "functional movements", "intensity", and "constantly varied" are thrown around all throughout the fitness industry to sell stuff. The terms are broad and have different definitions depending on the person or industry defining them. CrossFit has specific explanations of the three terms, which are:
*Functional Movements:
- Natural movements with everyday life motor recruitment patterns. The movements were not invented by a trainer and have been around for millions of years. The squat(sit and stand), the deadlift(bend over and pick something up), the press(lift something over your head), run, jump, climb, throw...the list goes on and on. They are found everyday, everywhere in life.
- Essential to maintain independent living. At the point you can no longer sit and stand or pick something up from the ground, you can no longer live alone.
- Compound movements using many muscles, joints, and tendons. Isolation movements just don't happen in life. The only place you see them is in a standard big box gym.
- Get work done more effective and efficient compared to isolation movements. They allow you to move more weight for more distance fast.
- "LIFE'S MOVEMENTS"
- The rep scheme, timing, load, combination of movements, among other modalities is continually changed. Similar to everday life. For example, you know tomorrow that you sit down and stand up and pick something up and take some steps. You don't know how many times or how heavy or when.
- "LIFE'S WAY"
- Is exactly equal to average power. Average power is measurable - (Force x Distance)/Time.
- The catalyst for advantageous phsyical change.(how you get results)
- "MORE POWER OUTPUT = MORE FIT"
I guess another way to put it is, we intensely train life's movements in life's way to get better at life.
Coach Glassman(founder of CrossFit) says all humans ranging from grandmas to olympic athletes depend on the same movements and should train with these movements. The only difference is one end of the spectrum is looking for functional competence, while the other is looking for functional dominance.
The level of fitness you will achieve through CrossFit is unrivaled by any other fitness program available. Living "fit" opens up doors to many things you might want to do in life, extends the time you live independently, and ultimately makes your quality of life a whole lot better.
-CrossFit is widely used by police, fire, and military simply because of it's effectiveness to deliver true fitness and prepare for the unknown.
