What is CrossFit Training?

What is CrossFit Training? - CrossFit has been described as many different things. It has been labeled a fitness company, a grassroots health movement, a nascent sport, a fad, a publishing business, and a cult, to name a few.

Cross Fit holds classes at affiliated gyms and the daily routine typically includes a warm-up, a skill development segment, and a high-intensity workout that lasts approximately 10 - 20 minutes. Cross Fit affiliates create a new workout each day called the "Workout of the Day" or "WOD".

A scoring and ranking system is used to make working out more fun, and help create the illusion of sport.

Various affiliates offer additional classes not centered around WOD, such as Olympic weightlifting classes.

While highly contraversial, some CrossFit athletes use the free workouts and instructional videos located at the CrossFit, Inc. website, rather than physically attending an affiliate gym.

These free workout videos concern skeptics because people can train without any supervision and possibly get hurt.

Common Questions

There are lots of questions surrounding Crossfit. The most common we see are: Will CrossFit last? Is Crossfit any good? Does CrossFit work? Is it just the latest fitness fad, or will the hype disappear with all the others? Who is the founder of Crossfit? Is there any science behind the workout methods? Is CrossFit better than P90X? What are the differences in P90X and CrossFit? How much does CrossFit cost? Can I really lose weight with CrossFit? Are their testimonials real?

CrossFit Studies

Canadian Infantry School (Gagetown, New Brunswick) vs. CrossFit

In 2005, a seven week test was conducted at the Canadian Infantry School in Gagetown, New Brunswick to compare the CrossFit program to their current training program.

Vertical Jump Test

• CrossFit group showed a decrease of 0.7 cm on average
• Control group showed slight increase

Pull-Ups Test

• CrossFit group showed no increase in pull-ups
• Control group showed slight increase

CrossFit Health Benefits

While there has been no scientific studies conducted that prove the health benefits of CrossFit, editors of PureHealthMD found CrossFit "equals better fitness and stronger muscles in a more reasonable amount of time" compared to trying to "build muscle and get in shape by spending 60 minutes or more in the gym several days a week..." They simply concluded that the program had a different approach to fitness, without the need for fancy equipment, and offers a good variety of ways to keep people engaged and interested.

CrossFit Health Risks

The CrossFit workout has been associated with several health risks by critics.

Rhabdomylysis Claim

A U.S. Navy sailor who suffered injuries while participating in a CrossFit workout claimed that CrossFit poses an elevated risk of rhabdomyolysis (Rapid breakdown of skeletal muscle due to injury to muscle tissue) and was awarded $300,000 in damages in a lawsuit against CrossFit.

Risk of Injury Outweighs Their Benefits - Dr. Stuart McGill

According to Dr. Stuart McGill, a professor of spine biomechanics at the University of Waterloo, the risk of injury from some CrossFit exercises outweighs their benefits when they are performed with poor form during timed workouts.

Dr. McGill noted that the CrossFit online community enables people to follow the program without proper guidance, which increases the risk of injury.

Insurance Problems

Due to the increased dangers surrounding CrossFit, many trainers and affiliates have had extreme difficulty obtaining insurance.

To combat this negative issue, CrossFit established the (RRG), or Risk Retention Group, which is a form of self-insurance for individuals that engage in high risk activities. This is a common insurance among police officers, emergency medical workers, and other contractors.

CrossFit lacks accreditation standards for trainers and affiliates

This is a big one for critics. They claim that CrossFit doesn't have high standards for trainers to become CrossFit certified, and there are many CrossFit trainers who have no business being in a training position. CrossFit Level 1 trainers are certified through the American National Standards Institute, however, Level 2 trainers, and other specialty seminars have no certification.

Illogical Exercises

Other critics fault CrossFit for lack of periodization, illogical and random exercise sequences, as well as lack of scientific methodoligy behind their "routines" or programs.

CrossFit Store

At CrossFit.com the CrossFit Store sells an array of workout apparel that critics consider overpriced and undervalued. The store has Men's Black T-shirts (CrossFit T-Shirt), Men's Grey T-Shirts ("I Love Fran" T-Shirt, "Giant pukie" T-Shirt. The women's collection includes Womens Black / White WOD Pants, and Women's Black All-Weather Series Softshell jackets. Other apprel includes I Love CF "I love CrossFit" Stickers, and a Unisex Basic CrossFit Beanie.