CrossFit

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

CrossFit is a strength and conditioning fitness methodology. Its stated goal is to create "the quintessential athlete, equal parts gymnast, Olympic weightlifter and sprinter."[1] Crossfit promotes broad and general overall physical fitness. It is not sport-specific. CrossFit features varied workouts based on functional movement performed at high intensity. Workouts are brief (often 20 minutes or less) and do not use weight machines.[2]

Contents

[edit] Description

CrossFit maintains that proficiency is required in each of 10 fitness domains: cardiovascular/respiratory endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, agility, balance, coordination, and accuracy.[1] CrossFit uses free weights, kettlebells, gymnastics rings, pull-up bars and many calisthenics exercises. CrossFit may call on athletes to skip, run, row, climb ropes, jump up on boxes, flip giant tires, and carry odd objects. They can also squat and bounce medicine balls against walls.

CrossFit workouts typically call for athletes to work hard and fast, often with no rest. Many CrossFit gyms use scoring and ranking systems, transforming workouts into sport. CrossFit publishes its own journal and certifies its own trainers. Many CrossFit athletes and trainers see themselves as part of a contrarian insurgent movement that questions conventional fitness wisdom.[2] [3]

[edit] History and growth

CrossFit Trainer Certification, 2007
CrossFit Trainer Certification, 2007

CrossFit was created by Greg Glassman, a former gymnast, in the 1970s. For many years the program existed only in a single gym in Glassman's garage in Santa Cruz, California. Glassman launched a website at crossfit.com in 2001 to spread word of his program. CrossFit has grown to an international movement, fueled by an open source and virtual community model.[4] Much of CrossFit's intellectual property, including exercise demo videos, [1] is freely available on its website. There are now more than 450 CrossFit-affiliated gyms worldwide.[5] The affiliate model rejects franchising, requires few start up expenditures, and allows for a diversity of approach. According to Canada's Business News Network, CrossFit is "one of the fastest growing fitness movements on the planet."[6]

Some Crossfit athletes perform the "Workout of the Day" posted at the CrossFit website and never visit a CrossFit gym. Others formulate their own workouts based on CrossFit's principles.

In 2007, the United States Marine Corps began a shift in its physical training program. The Marine Corps is moving away from its emphasis on distance running and towards "functional fitness training" by incorporating CrossFit-inspired workouts into its recruit training, Officer Candidates School, and other unit physical training sessions.[7][8] Many US and Canadian police and fire departments, US Navy SEALs, US Army Special Forces and the Canadian Forces now base some of their physical training on CrossFit principles.[9][10][11][12]

CrossFit is also being adopted by a growing number of high school and college sports teams. [13] [14]

[edit] CrossFit adaptations

CrossFit adaptations include:

  • CrossFit for Kids
  • CrossFit for Seniors
  • CrossFit for Endurance Athletes
  • CrossFit for Soldiers in Austere Environments
  • CrossFit for Combat Athletes
  • CrossFit in the Park
  • CrossFit Commandos

Most CrossFit gyms also offer "Boot Camp" or "Elements of CrossFit" introductory classes for beginners.[15]

[edit] Summary of Concepts

Crossfit summarizes its program in a statement of "World Class Fitness in 100 Words":

"Eat meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch and no sugar. Keep intake to levels that will support exercise but not body fat. Practice and train major lifts: Deadlift, clean, squat, presses, clean and jerk, and snatch. Similarly, master the basics of gymnastics: pull-ups, dips, rope climb, push-ups, sit-ups, presses to handstand, pirouettes, flips, splits, and holds. Bike, run, swim, row, etc, hard and fast. Five or six days per week mix these elements in as many combinations and patterns as creativity will allow. Routine is the enemy. Keep workouts short and intense. Regularly learn and play new sports."

[edit] Criticism

Some writers [1][16] and fitness professionals [2] [17] say Crossfit workouts require so much technique and intensity that participants risk injury. CrossFit responds by citing an essential element of its methodology: workouts should always be individually scaled and varied. Critics also fault CrossFit's high drop out rate (up to 80% at Glassman's Santa Cruz gym). CrossFit responds that its high intensity and competitive atmosphere are not for everyone. CrossFit says the drop out rate is also high at conventional gyms -- where many clients rely on machines, record few performance gains, and pay in advance for annual memberships they quickly abandon.[18]

[edit] Charity

As part of the Athletes For a Cure program of the Prostate Cancer Foundation, 880 CrossFit athletes raised over $277,000 on September 29, 2007.[19]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Jill, Barker. "Crossfit is fast and furious", Montreal Gazette, February 14, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-11-21. 
  2. ^ a b c Wallack, Roy. "A workout that is fast, furious and not for the faint of heart", Los Angeles Times, April 10, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-11-21. 
  3. ^ Best Life Magazine: Health & Fitness: A no-nonsense look at the often nonsensical world of fitness clubs
  4. ^ globeandmail.com: No puke, no pain - no gain
  5. ^ Virginia Heffernan - The Medium - Television - Internet Video - Media - CrossFit.com - New York Times
  6. ^ BNN - The CTV Broadband Network
  7. ^ The United States Marine Corps has for many years taken pride in the level of physical fitness of its members
  8. ^ Military PT and CrossFit - CrossFit Discussion Board
  9. ^ GET SEAL FIT | NavySEALs.com - Experience the SEAL Edge
  10. ^ http://www.crossfit.com/cf-journal/Large-group_CF-training.pdf
  11. ^ Inf Sch Brief to Other Schs
  12. ^ http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/land_force_doctrine_training_system/ex_aita_trg/acim/courses/acim/acim.swf
  13. ^ http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/story.php?storySection=Sports&sid=51274
  14. ^ Strength & Conditioning for High School Track - CrossFit Discussion Board
  15. ^ Sanderlin, Rebekah. "Commando-style workout has cult following", Fayetteville Observer, December 18, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-11-21. 
  16. ^ Virginia Heffernan - The Medium - Television - Internet Video - Media - CrossFit.com - New York Times
  17. ^ globeandmail.com: No puke, no pain - no gain
  18. ^ http://media.crossfit.com/cf-video/CrossFit_OpportunitiesPart1.wmv
  19. ^ http://www.athletesforacure.org/news/100107

[edit] External links