What is CrossFit?

CrossFit begins with a belief in fitness. The aim of CrossFit is to forge a broad, general and inclusive fitness. We have sought to build a program that will best prepare trainees for any physical contingency — not only for the unknown, but for the unknowable. After looking at all sport and physical tasks collectively, we asked what physical skills and adaptations would most universally lend themselves to performance advantage. Capacity culled from the intersection of all sports demands would quite logically lend itself well to all sport. In sum, our specialty is not specializing.

The Sport of Fitness:

In implementation, CrossFit is, quite simply, a sport—the “sport of fitness.” We’ve learned that harnessing the natural camaraderie, competition, and fun of sport or game yields an intensity that cannot be matched by other means.

Evidence-Based Fitness:

CrossFit is empirically-driven, clinically-tested, and community-developed. The methodology that drives CrossFit can be supported only by measurable, observable, repeatable facts. We call this approach “evidence-based fitness.”

Constantly Varied, High-Intensity, Functional Movement:

•    Variety: The CrossFit program embraces short, middle, and long distance metabolic conditioning, and low, moderate, and heavy load assignment. We encourage creative and continuously varied compositions that tax physiological functions against every realistically conceivable combination of stressors. This is the stuff of surviving fights and fires. Developing a fitness that is varied yet complete defines the very art of strength and conditioning coaching.

•    Functional: Functional movements mimic motor recruitment patterns that are found in everyday life. These natural movements typically involve multiple joints. Squatting is standing from a seated position; dead-lifting is picking up an object off of the ground. The bulk of isolation movements are non-functional movements. Functional movements are mechanically sound and elicit a high neuro-endocrine response, meaning your body gets stronger, faster.

•   High-Intensity: We work with shorter high-intensity cardiovascular sessions. Why? Because compound or functional movements and high intensity or anaerobic cardio is radically more effective at eliciting nearly any desired fitness result.

The Capacity to Move Large Loads Over Long Distances, Quickly:

No aspect of fitness is more important than the capacity to move large loads over long distances, and to do so quickly. This is our definition of Fitness. By this definition you are more fit if you have a greater work capacity.  Work=Force x Distance / Time.

Increased Work Capacity Across Broad Time and Modal Domains:

What this means is that you have functional capacity in all different types of movements at a variety of durations of effort. If you are increasing this broad work capacity, you will be competent at both short bursts of activity and extended longer workouts.

A Broad, General, and Inclusive Fitness Program:

Our program delivers a fitness that is, by design, broad, general, and inclusive. Our specialty is not specializing. Combat, survival, many sports, and life reward this kind of fitness and, on average, punish the specialist. We sought to build a program that would best prepare our athletes for any physical contingency—prepare them not only for the unknown but for the unknowable as well.

Optimization of all Ten Fitness Domains:

We have designed our program to optimize physical competence in each of ten recognized fitness domains:

1.    Cardiovascular and Respiratory Endurance
2.    Stamina
3.    Strength
4.    Flexibility
5.    Power
6.    Speed
7.    Coordination
8.    Agility
9.    Balance
10.    Accuracy

Gymnastics Crossed with Weightlifting:

We train our athletes in gymnastics movements teaching both dynamic and static body control while maximizing strength to weight ratio and flexibility.  We also place a heavy emphasis on Olympic Weightlifting having seen this sport’s unique ability to develop an athletes’ explosive power, control of external objects, and mastery of critical motor recruitment patterns.

www.crossfit.com

Courtesy of CrossFit Inc.