It has been a while since I first heard of this new type of workout called CrossFit. I really liked it and tried myself to attend classes regularly here in Copenhagen. The result was tangible and quick. It was also quite easy to find CrossFit gyms abroad as well. I tried one in Qatar and one in Houston while I was traveling for work. There are more or less globally available now.

But what is CrossFit really? It is actually a branded company based in USA and it makes it’s revenues by collecting fees from gyms that use the brand as well as to certify their instructors. Every gym in the world that uses the name “CrossFit” needs to pay the fee and have at least an instructor certified from it. The idea came from USA in year 2000 and the basis of it was to create a “Workout of the Day” (aka. WOD) that combined various known disciplines like interval training, gymnastics, plyometrics (jump exercises), calisthenic (body weight), Olympic weightlifting etc. into one program for maximum results in several areas like strength,  cardio, endurance, power, coordination, flexibility, speed etc. Basically to improve on load (become stronger and lift more), distance (because stronger and move weights longer or run/bike/row longer), and speed (do exercises faster)! The basis of the programs are a range of functional movements, which are well designed and proven by CrossFit to be very efficient by numerous empirical tests. All the exercises utilize multiple muscle group at once, as the movements involve flexion and extension on multiple-joints muscles. These type of exercises are proven to have the best results in terms of muscle building and much more as already stated above. Various exercises like kipping pull-ups, hand stand push-up (HSPU), snatch etc. are actually created by them. This is the reason that a CrossFit gym needs to have certified CrossFit instructors. If they don’t, they need to call their workout something else, like cross training or cross workout.

Moreover, CrossFit has became a social activity as well. People usually sign up on a CrossFit gym and they work out with the same group of people constantly. They push each other, help with the technique and try to maximize their results as a group.  That it also why many people that like CrossFit only do that as their sole workout routine. There are also CrossFit championships, where athletes compete professionally.

CrossFit had a long and fruitful collaboration with Reebok. They worked together to design clothes and equipment that are suitable for the workouts. Many of CrossFit equipment are Reebok. The Reebook Nano 7 CrossFit shoes for eaxample are one of the best you can find in the market.

As a closing statement, I would like to restate to all of those attending gyms that have their name CrossFit, but don’t have anything to do with the real CrossFit Inc. company, to be aware that the workout they are doing is probably not the real CrossFit.