What is Crossfit?

In order to open the vault of Crossfit-inspired greatness, I have to introduce Crossfit itself. Its "guru," the "Coach" - Greg Glassman explains it thus:

"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, C&J 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 day 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 play and learn new sports."

In practice, how does this look? Please view video:

Crossfit can be done in your garage or a gym. It now markets itself as the "Sport of Fitness" and is  very poular in the USA. Hundreds of "boxes" (Crossfit term for gym, also termed an affiliate) have appeared all over the USA and we even have about a dozen or so in the UK now.

Class based gym instruction is the norm, with the emphasis on community, competition and a healthy team spirit. The evolution of Crossfit is very interesting with many different experts being involved in its progress. There has also been the advent of the Crossfit Games to find the "fittest on the planet."  

A recent affiliation to Reebok has turned Crossfit into a corporate force, a long way from the garage-gym based movement of the first years. The 2012 Crossfit Games will offer $250,000 to the male and female winner. Its evolution will continue to be very interesting for strength and conditioning enthusiasts.

Train Smart, Charlie.