Put repetition and boredom asside. This is different everyday. Different Workouts, different movements, different challenges
Cardiovascular and Respiratory Endurance . Stamina . Strength . Flexibilty . Power . Speed . Co-ordination . Agility . Balance . Accuracy.
CrossFit is not a specialised fitness program but a deliberate attempt to optimize physical competence in ten varied domains (listed above) which, in our view, make up fitness. The CrossFit program enhances an individual’s competency at all physical tasks using running, rowing, gymnastics, Olympic lifting, skipping, band and tyre work to name just a few.
Our members are trained to be successful at multiple, diverse and randomized physical tasks so as to be better prepared for the different challenges encountered in everyday life. CrossFit 2600 members are trained to work all aspects of fitness not just strengths, which is the key to achieving results. CrossFit training caters for everybody. It meets the training demands of the military, police personnel and fire-fighters and is applicable and beneficial for athletes in any sport yet can be scaled to also be suitable for a complete beginner.
Regardless of fitness or training background, all members perform the same workout; the load and intensity is scaled to fit each member’s ability allowing people at all fitness levels to train together. The sense of community that this creates is indescribable and second to none; it is an amazing catalyst for setting and achieving new fitness goals.
In simple terms you will be part of an amazing group of people and will be the fittest and healthiest you have ever been!
Olympic lifting
CrossFit has helped make Olympic Weightlifting a popular choice for many who are looking to get stronger and improve their athleticism. There are many benefits of training the Olympic lifts that can help people of all ages become more athletic.
- Improved Mobility — The Olympic Lifts require a great degree of mobility so those who regularly incorporate the lifts into their training program have improved mobility.
- Improved Body Composition — Performing full body, explosive lifts will help improve a person’s body composition by building muscle while improving athleticism.
- Improved Core Strength — It is shocking how much midline strength is needed for the Olympic lifts. Holding positions for technique work and finding stability with the clean & jerk and snatch all require a tremendous amount of core strength.
Rowing
What makes rowing popular with elite athletes and CrossFitters is exactly what many in the general fitness population dislike about it: your weaknesses cannot be hidden on the rowing machine. It is a human polygraph of physical and mental performance. Stroke for stroke, you are provided with feedback that both reveals any weak spots and very visibly demonstrates the relationship between performance and proper technique.
Gymnastics
In CrossFit, body-weight movements are considered gymnastics (e.g., air squat, push-up, pull-up, etc.). We are taking skills from the sport of gymnastics and applying them to workouts. In CrossFit, the gymnastics label is applied any exercise in which you move your body through a range of motion (ROM) or extended range of motion (EROM) without an external load. Isometric holds are also considered gymnastics. CrossFit uses short parallel bars (“parallettes”), the floor, still rings, pull-up bars, dip bars, climbing ropes, and other equipment to implement gymnastics training.
Plyometrics
Plyometrics is a category of exercises that I would define as high-powered jump training. I keep the definition of “high power” fairly loose in this article to allow me to include more sport-specific, high-rep bounding elements from the Sport of Fitness (e.g. Double Unders). Although upper body exercises (med-ball slams, rotational hits, flying push-ups, etc.) aren’t technically jumping, I include them into the plyometric umbrella. The way I see it, these exercises are basically the upper body equivalent of jumping; they are overspeed and the joint angles accelerate through the entire range of motion. Constant acceleration through the entire range of motion is the most accurate way I can describe plyometrics. It’s the reason why running is plyometric and rowing is not. It’s why wall balls are plyometric and thrusters are not. It’s why box jump overs are plyometric and box step-ups are not.