CrossFit

CrossFit Trainer Certification, 2007

CrossFit is a strength and conditioning brand that combines weightlifting, sprinting, gymnastics, powerlifting, kettlebell training, plyometrics, rowing, and medicine ball training.^[1] CrossFit contends that a healthy, fit person requires proficiency in each of ten general physical skills: cardiovascular/respiratory endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, agility, balance, coordination, and accuracy.^[2] It defines fitness as increased work capacity across all these domains and says its program achieves this by provoking neurologic and hormonal adaptations across all metabolic pathways.^[3][4][5][6]

CrossFit athletes run, row, jump rope, climb rope and carry odd objects. They frequently move large loads quickly over short distances, and use powerlifting and Olympic weightlifting techniques. CrossFit athletes also use dumbbells, gymnastics rings, pull-up bars, kettlebells, and many bodyweight exercises.^[7] CrossFit is used in nearly 2,000 gyms worldwide and by many fire departments, law enforcement agencies, and military organizations including the Canadian Forces, and the Royal Danish Life Guards.^{[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]}

Description

CrossFit practitioners may train at gyms affiliated with CrossFit (often referred to as "boxes") or on their own.^[16][17] CrossFit workouts are commonly centered around a "Workout of the Day" or "WOD".^[18] Affiliates typically create a new WOD each day, while those who follow the CrossFit methodology without attending an affiliated gym often follow WODs posted on the main CrossFit website or that of an affiliated gym.^[17]

Classes at affiliated gyms typically include a warm-up, a skill development segment, and a high-intensity workout that lasts around ten to twenty minutes.^[19] Affiliates often use scoring and ranking systems in an effort to transform workouts into sport. Some affiliates offer additional classes which are not centered around a WOD, such as Olympic weightlifting classes.^[20]

CrossFit Inc. certifies CrossFit trainers and licenses the CrossFit name to gyms. Affiliates are free to develop their own programming, pricing, and instructional methods. Many CrossFit athletes and trainers see themselves as part of a contrarian, insurgent movement that questions conventional fitness wisdom.^{[17][21] [22]} CrossFit is noteworthy for its use of a virtual community Internet model.^[23][24] The company says this de-centralized approach shares some common features with open source software projects and allows best practices to emerge from a variety of approaches,^[25] a contention that is disputed by some subject matter experts, competitors, and even affiliates who have parted company with CrossFit.^[26] CrossFit adaptations include programs for children, pregnant women, seniors, football players, military special forces candidates, and endurance athletes including triathletes, runners, swimmers and rowers.^[7] CrossFit has been adopted by U.S. and Canadian high school physical education teachers, high school and college teams, and a major league baseball team.^{[27][28][29][30]}

CrossFit Games

Competitors from around the world have competed in the annual "CrossFit Games" since 2007. In July 2010, the male and female champions each won $25,000.^[31] CrossFit asserts that the Games are a laboratory for human performance that may suggest which variants of its methodology work best.

Beginning in 2011, the Games were opened up for competitors all over the world by turning the sectional event into an online format. Athletes will have six different workouts to complete in a week-to-week manner, with only one workout being released at a time and the next workout being released following the close of the previous workout. Athletes are able to submit their scores by either completing the workout at a registered affiliate, who will then submit the score, or by sending in a video of themselves completing the workout which would then be reviewed.

Thirteen different regional divisions in North America and South America (North West, Canada West, Canada East, North Central, Central East, North East, Mid Atlantic, South East, South Central, South West, Socal, Norcal and Latin America) and four regional divisions in the rest of the world (Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia) have been set up to find the best in each region to compete in the Games. The top athletes from the sectional event will face off in a regional event, based on the region that they register in, held on a designated weekend. The top athlete(s) from each region will then be eligible to compete in the CrossFit Games. Past winners and the top five athletes of the previous years Games are automatically eligible.

Different divisions are also available in the Games. The divisions include men, women, masters men, masters women and teams. Masters men and women are split up into age groups (45-49, 50-54, 55-59, and 60+). Reebok is the current sponsor of the CrossFit Games and has increased the total purse to $1,000,000 ($250,000 for male and female champions).

Annie Mist Þórisdóttir

Champions and Categories from 2007 - 2010

Year	Male champion	Female champion	Affiliate Cup	Masters Men	Masters Women
2007	James "OPT" Fitzgerald	Jolie Gentry	CrossFit Santa Cruz
2008	Jason Khalipa	Caity Matter	CrossFit Oakland
2009	Mikko Salo	Tanya Wagner	Northwest CrossFit
2010	Graham Holmberg	Kristan Clever	CrossFit Fort Vancouver	Brian Curley	Laurie Carver

Champions and Categories from 2011 - present

Year	Male champion	Female champion	Affiliate Cup	Masters Men (45-49)	Masters Women (45-49)	Masters Men (50-54)	Masters Women (50-54)	Masters Men (55-59)	Masters Women (55-59)	Masters Men (60+)	Masters Women (60+)
2011	Rich Froning	Anníe Mist Þórisdóttir[32]	CrossFit New England	Scot DeTore	Susan Habbe	Gord Mackinnon	Mary Beth Litsheim	Steve Anderson	Shelley Noyce	Greg Walker	Betsy Finley

History

CrossFit was founded by former high-school gymnast Greg Glassman and his ex-wife Lauren Jenai.^[30][33] The first CrossFit affiliated gym opened in Santa Cruz in 1995, the same year Glassman was hired to train the Santa Cruz police department. The number of affiliated gyms grew from 18 in 2005 to almost 1,700 in 2010.^[6][34] Weightlifting coaches associated with CrossFit include Louie Simmons, Bill Starr, and Mike Burgener. Former NFL player John Welbourn developed the CrossFit Football program. Other CrossFit subject matter experts include Dr. Nicholas Romanov, inventor of the Pose Method of running and Dr. Barry Sears, originator of the Zone diet. Fitness experts formerly associated with Crossfit include Mark Twight, Mark Rippetoe, Robb Wolf, and Greg Everett. CrossFit offers speciality certification seminars in gymnastics, Olympic weightlifting, powerlifting, running and endurance, kettlebells, mobility and recovery, CrossFit Kids and CrossFit Football. In the past, Crossfit also offered a Jump rope certification.^[35]

Discussion

Support

Dr. Tony Webster of the Pacific Institute for Sports Medicine at Camosun College in Victoria, British Columbia suggests CrossFit be used "safely and sensibly" and finds some support for the program in current academic research: "It’s safe to say that a CrossFit-style program performed three-to-five times per week will almost certainly provide a weekly dose of “vigorous” aerobic exercise that will easily satisfy current public-health guidelines. More and more research studies are demonstrating the efficiency of shorter high-intensity exercise bouts in improving not only fitness but also a whole range of health markers. In fact, plenty of scientific evidence suggests vigorous activity has inherently greater health benefits than moderate activity. Used safely and sensibly, I believe CrossFit has potential not just to change people’s lives, but also to change the fitness industry for the better."^[36]

The editors of PureHealthMD writing for Discovery Health Channel 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..." Their conclusion was that the program "is a different type of exercise routine ...a well-rounded and very efficient way to achieve a higher level of fitness ...that does not need a whole lot of fancy equipment, but does offer a nice variety to keep the interest level up and provide the challenge needed to keep the exercise fun."^[37]

Criticism

A person, who had suffered injuries while performing a CrossFit workout on Dec 11, 2005, at Manassas World Gym in Manassas, VA under the supervision of an uncertified trainer,^[38] claimed that CrossFit poses an elevated risk of rhabdomyolysis. He successfully sued his trainers and was awarded $300,000 in damages.^[39] 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 in timed workouts. He added there are similar risks in other exercise programs but noted that CrossFit's online community enables athletes to follow the program without proper guidance, increasing the risk.^[40] Because of the perceived risks of Crossfit, it has been difficult for many trainers and affiliates to get insurance.  As a result, Crossfit has established a risk retention group (RRG). An RRG is a form of self-insurance that is common among professionals that engage in high risk activities, such as law enforcement officers, emergency medical workers, and contractors.

Articles on many websites criticize CrossFit for lack of periodization, illogical or random exercise sequences, and lacking quality-control accreditation standards for trainers and affiliates.^[41][42][26] Crossfit Level 2 and other specialty seminars are not yet certified.^[43][44]

Response to criticism

CrossFit vigorously disputes the criticism of its exercise methodology. Crossfit Level 1 trainers are certified through the American National Standards Institute. Starting in May 2005,^[45] CFHQ has published numerous free articles in the online CrossFit Journal about Rhabdomyolysis,^{[46][47][48][49]} three of which are also included in the CF Manual provided to all prospective trainers.^[50]

References

1. ^ Barker, Jill (2006-02-14). "Crossfit is fast and furious". Montreal Gazette. http://www.canada.com/topics/lifestyle/fitness/story.html?id=a5a28fa9-2973-47c3-a4cc-60ce020f309e&k=19281. Retrieved 2007-11-21. 
2. ^ CrossFit instructor manual
3. ^ Glassman, Greg (February 2009). "CrossFit’s New Three-Dimensional Definition of Fitness and Health - 1". CrossFit. http://journal.crossfit.com/2009/02/crossfits-new-definition-of-fitness-volume-under-the-curve-1.tpl. 
4. ^ "A Concept for Functional Fitness". United States Marine Corps. November 9, 2006. p. 8, footnote 13. http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:NyTel-RQn0IJ:www.quantico.usmc.mil/download.aspx%3FPath%3D./Uploads/Files/CDI_Functional%2520FitnessFinal%2520signed%2520concept.pdf+functional+fitness+usmc&hl=en&gl=ca&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESh8h39gt0R6WhoPifdYAmj9kic2h1zUCpJlpiYMFqyuxtla024E2FviHA9vG5davaAXHZRFAiqrDEP1FAU-ywLAD-557EBvnJKPjx906QvoyxaA8jIBN0WJJS4yYqyX8DsvLROw&sig=AHIEtbR4A6Y6eL6jAuqENf1gVJb7CUr7bA. 
5. ^ "Army Fitness Manual Supplement: Combat Fitness Program". Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of National Defence. January 1, 2008. p. i, page 1-1. http://www.scribd.com/doc/25296001/B-gl-382-003pt-z01-army-Fitness-Manual-Supplement-combat-Fitness-Program-2008-01-01. 
6. ^ ^{a b} Wagner, James (February 2, 2010). "Fitness as a Full-Time Pursuit". Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703837004575013350262520066.html?mod=WSJ_Small%20Business_IndustryNews. 
7. ^ ^{a b} Scott, Paul (October 23, 2007). "A no-nonsense look at the often nonsensical world of fitness clubs". Best Life. http://67.192.124.28/cms/publish/health-fitness/Is_Your_Workout_Wasting_Your_Time.shtml. 
8. ^ Wallack, Roy M. (2009). Run For Life: The Anti-Aging, Anti-Injury, Super Fitness Plan. Skyhorse Publishing. p. 65. ISBN 978-1-60239-344-8. 
9. ^ Hoffman, Michael (March 7, 2010). "More want combat element in fitness test". AirForce Times. http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2010/03/airforce_combat_fitness_030710w/. 
10. ^ 2Lt Andrew Hennessey (June 9, 2009). "A new approach to physical training". LFWA-JTFW, Canadian Forces, National Defense (Canada). http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/lfwa/feature_physical_training.asp. 
11. ^ Martin, Grant (2009). "Do you Worship at the "Church" of Crossfit?". Kansas City Star Midwest Voices. http://voices.kansascity.com/node/3736. 
12. ^ LeCappelain, Josh (January 26, 2009). "CrossFit conquers physical complacency". Task Force Mountain. http://www.taskforcemountain.com/top-stories/2369-20090126-p1-3. 
13. ^ Svan, Jennifer H. (January 13, 2009). "CrossFit Workouts are Rarely Routine". Military Advantage. http://www.military.com/military-fitness/air-force-fitness/crossfit-workouts-are-rarely-routine. 
14. ^ "Welcome to The Royal Life Guards Sports Association". Royal Danish Life Guards Sports Association. http://forsvaret.dk/lg/om%20livgarden/livgardens%20idrÆtsforening/pages/default.aspx. 
15. ^ Mitchell, Bryan (June 25, 2008). "CrossFit workout craze sweeps the Corps". Marine Corps Times. http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/06/marine_crossfit_062208w/. 
16. ^ Wadyka, Sally. "CrossFit: The Fast, Furious Workout Craze". MSN Health and Fitness. http://health.msn.com/fitness/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100217215. 
17. ^ ^{a b c} "Working Out (CrossFit)" (Video). Business News Network. November 2, 2007. http://broadband.bnn.ca/bnn/?vid=21430. 
18. ^ Wadyka, Sally. "CrossFit: The Fast, Furious Workout Craze". MSN Health and Fitness. http://health.msn.com/fitness/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100217215. 
19. ^ Wadyka, Sally. "CrossFit: The Fast, Furious Workout Craze". MSN Health and Fitness. http://health.msn.com/fitness/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100217215. 
20. ^ "Prairie Crossfit". Prairie Crossfit. http://prairiecrossfit.com/. 
21. ^ Scott (13 July 2009). "A Day At The CrossFit Games". Fight Gone Bad. http://www.fgb4.org/2009/07/13/a-day-at-the-crossfit-games/. 
22. ^ http://finance.boston.com/boston/news/read?GUID=19173590
23. ^ Walsh, Bob (2007). How People Blogging Are Changing The World and How You Can Join Them. Apress. ISBN 978-1-59059-691-3. 
24. ^ Godin, Seth (2009). Tribes. Piatkus Books. p. 160. ISBN 0749939753. 
25. ^ Velazquez, Eric (May 2008). "Sweatstorm". Muscle & Fitness. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0801/is_5_69/ai_n25358358. 
26. ^ ^{a b} Shugart, Chris (November 4, 2008). "The Truth About CrossFit". Testosterone Muscle. http://www.tmuscle.com/free_online_article/sports_body_training_performance_investigative/the_truth_about_crossfit. 
27. ^ Rodriguez, Juan C. (March 2, 2010). "Florida Marlins: Cameron Maybin’s improved swing/miss numbers encouraging". South Florida Sun Sentinel. http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_baseball_marlins/2010/03/florida-marlins-cameron-maybins-improved-swingmiss-numbers-encouraging.html. 
28. ^ Stewart, I.A. (December 14, 2007). "UCSC Notebook: Men's rugby getting fit for the season". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Archived from the original on 2007-12-23. http://www.scsextra.com/story.php?sid=51274. 
29. ^ King, Al (February 10, 2010). "Ashland’s Tinney tops the D-II nation field in 400". Norwalk Reflector. http://www.norwalkreflector.com/articles/2010/02/10/sports/doc4b72bd4c221d7022905365.txtref. 
30. ^ ^{a b} Sanderlin, Rebekah. "Commando-create workout has cult following". Fayetteville Observer. http://www.dcpaleo.org/Leisure/CrossFit.html. 
31. ^ "Doing the grunt work". Los Angeles Daily News. March 14, 2010. http://m.dailynews.com/ladn/db_/contentdetail.htm;jsessionid=03DB53FEF20F302A53C569DE884A1534?contentguid=FZXMlruq&src=cat&full=true#display. 
32. ^ "Fittest on Earth". CrossFit. July 31, 2011. http://games.crossfit.com/features/fittest-earth. Retrieved 2011-09-14. 
33. ^ Stephanie Cooperman (December 22, 2005). "Getting Fit, Even if it Kills You". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/22/fashion/thursdaystyles/22Fitness.html?_r=1. 
34. ^ Anderson, Mark C. (January 21, 2010). "Fit for Change". Monterey County Weekly. http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/archives/2010/2010-Jan-21/much-of-crossfits-exploding-global-movement-was-first-flexed-locally/1. 
35. ^ "Certifications". CrossFit. http://www.crossfit.com/cf-info/certs.shtml. 
36. ^ How We Got Here: CrossFit vs. the Fitness Industry, CrossFit Journal, August 27, 2009
37. ^ the editors of PureHealthMD (June 2010). "CrossFit". Discovery Health Channel. http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/diet-fitness/information/crossfit.htm. 
38. ^ Mummolo, Jonathan (October 7, 2008). "Gym's High-Intensity Workout Left Me Disabled, Man Testifies". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/06/AR2008100603032.html. 
39. ^ Mitchell, Bryan (August 16, 2006). "Lawsuit alleges CrossFit workout damaging". Marine Corps Times. http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/08/marine_crossfit_081608w/. Retrieved 2008-08-16. 
40. ^ Dube, Rebecca (January 11, 2008). "No puke, no pain - no gain". Globe and Mail. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080111.wxlcrossfit11/BNStory/lifeMain/home. 
41. ^ 5 Reasons Why CrossFit is Crap macssistance.com
42. ^ Firefighter Strength and Why Crossfit Sucks! nunnsperformancetraining.blogspot.com
43. ^ ANSI website
44. ^ ANSI "ANSI Directory Details"
45. ^ "Lawsuit alleges CrossFit workout damaging - Marine Corps News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq". Marine Corps Times. http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/08/marine_crossfit_081608w/. Retrieved 2011-06-30. 
46. ^ Savage, Phil. "The Truth About Rhabdo by Dr. Michael Ray - CrossFit Journal". Journal.crossfit.com. http://journal.crossfit.com/2010/01/rhabdo-pdf.tpl. Retrieved 2011-06-30. 
47. ^ Ray, Mike. "CrossFit Induced Rhabdo by Greg Glassman - CrossFit Journal". Journal.crossfit.com. http://journal.crossfit.com/2005/10/crossfit-induced-rhabdo-by-gre.tpl. Retrieved 2011-06-30. 
48. ^ Glassman, Greg. "Killer Workouts by Eugene Allen - CrossFit Journal". Journal.crossfit.com. http://journal.crossfit.com/2005/05/killer-workouts-by-eugene-alle.tpl. Retrieved 2011-06-30. 
49. ^ Starrett, Kelly. "Rhabdomyolysis Revisited by Dr. Will Wright - CrossFit Journal". Journal.crossfit.com. http://journal.crossfit.com/2011/06/rhabdomyolysis-revisited.tpl. Retrieved 2011-06-30. 
50. ^ Embed Video Subscribe to comments Post Comment. "Crossfit Instructor Manual v4". Slideshare.net. http://www.slideshare.net/leeshouse/crossfit-instructor-manual-v4. Retrieved 2011-06-30. 

External links

• The official website of CrossFit
• 2009 Critical review by Testosterone Nation