CrossFit is a fitness program that was created by Greg Glassman. He is the founder and the CEO of this branded Fitness Company. Glassman was the first one ever in the history to define the term “fitness” in a measurable and meaningful way – fitness is growing work capacity across modal domains and broad time. Later, he designed a program specifically for improving health and fitness.
Along with his wife Lauren Jenai, Glassman founded CrossFit Inc. in the year 2000. The original gym of CrossFit is situated in Santa Cruz, California; the first ever affiliated gym of this company was opened in Seattle, Washington and was named CrossFit North. Within a span of 5 years, there were 13 gyms and today the number has shot up to as high as 13,000 gyms. Several renowned coaches are associated with CrossFit such as Mike Burgener, John Welbourn, Bob Harper and Louie Simmons.
After their divorce, Glassman has acquired complete control over CrossFit. He has bought his ex-wife’s share at a price of $16 million.
According to the website of CrossFit, “CrossFit is the principal strength and conditioning program for many police academies and tactical operations teams, military special operations units, champion martial artists, and hundreds of other elite and professional athletes worldwide.”
CrossFit mainly involves a full-body workout that is a combination of weightlifting, cardio, core training and gymnastics. Apart from these, it also prepares the body to deal with what they term as the “unexpected”.
CrossFit involves different functional movements which are performed constantly and at a high intensity. All the workouts of CrossFit have their base laid on the functional movements; these form the core movements of our lives. These exercises move the biggest loads at the longest distances and hence they are the ideal ones for doing the maximum amount of work in the shortest possible time. Intensity is the basis of this workout plan to get the desired results. The more we work in lesser time, the more intense is our effort. With a constant different approach to the training, intensity and functional movements result in achieving dramatic gains for the follower.
CrossFit gyms have equipment from various disciplines such as dumbbells, barbells, pull-up bars, kettlebells, jump ropes, plyo boxes, medicine balls, rowing machines, resistance bands and different mats. It includes a combination of several exercises, including power lifting, calisthenics, plyometrics, Olympic-style weightlifting, aerobic exercises, running, swimming and indoor rowing.
The programming of CrossFit is decentralized but its basic techniques are used by several other organizations – fire departments, military organizations such as the Royal Danish Life Guards, physical training teachers of Canadian and U.S. high schools, sports teams of college and high schools and numerous affiliated gyms.
CrossFit has an appeal among both women and men alike; a statistical study has revealed that CrossFit has an equal number of male and female participants.
CrossFitters are united by a unique philosophy and culture. Most of them follow a definite diet known as Paleo Diet. Many of them are either former athletes or fitness fanatics and so an atmosphere of competition and team spirit can be found in the CrossFit gyms. However, non-athletes are equally welcome to CrossFit.
