Jump to content

CrossFit

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Ldraper (talk | contribs) at 18:52, 19 September 2010 (→‎History: added link to Dan John on Wiki). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

CrossFit Trainer Certification, 2007

CrossFit is a strength and conditioning brand. CrossFit combines weightlifting, sprinting, and gymnastics.[1] CrossFit says that proficiency is required in each of ten fitness domains: cardiovascular/respiratory endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, agility, balance, coordination, and accuracy. 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.[2][3][4] [5]

CrossFit athletes run, row, jump rope, climb rope and carry odd objects. They frequently move large loads quickly over long distances, using powerlifting and Olympic weightlifting techniques. CrossFit athletes also use dumbbells, gymnastics rings, pull-up bars, kettlebells, and many bodyweight exercises.[6] CrossFit is used in nearly 1,700 gyms worldwide and by many fire departments, law enforcement agencies and military organizations including the Canadian Forces, and the Royal Danish Life Guards.[7][8][9] [10][11][12][13][14]

Description

CrossFit has been "variously portrayed as a fitness company, a grassroots health movement, a nascent sport, a fad, a publishing business and sometimes, disparagingly, a cult."[15][16] 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. Affiliates create a new workout each day called the "Workout of the Day" or "WOD".[17] Affiliates often use scoring and ranking systems to transform workouts into sport. Some CrossFit athletes use the free workouts and instructional videos available at the CrossFit, Inc. website, in lieu of attending an affiliate.[18]

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.[18][19] CrossFit is noteworthy for its use of a virtual community Internet model.[20][21] 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,[22] a contention that is disputed by some subject matter experts and affiliates who have parted company with CrossFit.[23] CrossFit adaptations include programs for children, pregnant women, seniors, football players, military special forces candidates, and endurance athletes including triathletes, runners, swimmers and rowers.[6] 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.[24][25][26][27]

CrossFit Games

Athletes 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.[28] CrossFit says the Games are a laboratory for human performance that may suggest which variants of its methodology work best. Surprisingly, none of the games winners follow the CrossFit main page workouts.[29]

Year Male champion Female champion
2007 James Fitzgerald Jolie Gentry
2008 Jason Khalipa Caity Matter
2009 Mikko Salo Tanya Wagner
2010 Graham Holmberg Kristan Clever

History

CrossFit was founded by former high-school gymnast Greg Glassman and his ex-wife Lauren Glassman.[27][30] The first CrossFit affiliated gym opened in Santa Cruz in 1995, the same year Glassman was hired to train the Santa Cruz police department. In a seven week test conducted in 2005 at the Canadian Infantry School in Gagetown, New Brunswick, CrossFit scored higher in most fitness categories when compared to the previous physical training program. However, in the vertical jump one Crossfit group actually decreased 0.7cm on average while the control group showed a slight increase, and in another Crossfit group there was no increase in pull-ups while the control group again showed a slight increase.[31][32] The number of affiliated gyms grew from 18 in 2005 to almost 1,700 in 2010.[5][29] 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, Dan John, Mark Rippetoe, Robb Wolf, Garrett Smith and Greg Everett. CrossFit offers speciality certification seminars in gymnastics, Olympic weighlifting, powerlifting, running and endurance, kettlebells, mobility and recovery, CrossFit Kids and CrossFit Football. In the past, Crossfit also offered a specialty certification seminar on jumping a rope. [33]

Health risks

Critics say several health risks have been associated with CrossFit. For example, a United States Navy sailor who suffered injuries while performing a CrossFit workout claimed that CrossFit poses an elevated risk of rhabdomyolysis. He successfully sued his trainers and was awarded $300,000 in damages. [34] 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.[35] Because of the perceived dangers 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.

Other critics fault CrossFit for lack of periodization, illogical or random exercise sequences, and lax accreditation standards for trainers and affiliates.[23] CrossFit vigorously disputes the criticism of its exercise methodology and says it is in the process of being accredited by a neutral third party: the American National Standards Institute.[citation needed] Crossfit level one trainers are still not certified through ANSI.[citation needed] Level 2 and other specialty seminars are also not certified.[citation needed]

Health benefits

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.[36][failed verification]

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]

References

  1. ^ Barker, Jill (2006-02-14). "Crossfit is fast and furious". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 2007-11-21.
  2. ^ Glassman, Greg (2009). "CrossFit's New Three-Dimensional Definition of Fitness and Health - 1". CrossFit. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  3. ^ "A Concept for Functional Fitness". United States Marine Corps. November 9, 2006. p. 8, footnote 13.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ a b Wagner, James (February 2, 2010). "Fitness as a Full-Time Pursuit". Wall Street Journal.
  6. ^ a b Scott, Paul (October 23, 2007). "A no-nonsense look at the often nonsensical world of fitness clubs". Best Life.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Hoffman, Michael (March 7, 2010). "More want combat element in fitness test". AirForce Times.
  9. ^ 2Lt Andrew Hennessey (June 9, 2009). "A new approach to physical training". LFWA-JTFW, Canadian Forces, National Defense (Canada).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ Martin, Grant (2009). "Do you Worship at the "Church" of Crossfit?". Kansas City Star Midwest Voices.
  11. ^ LeCappelain, Josh (January 26, 2009). "CrossFit conquers physical complacency". Task Force Mountain.
  12. ^ Svan, Jennifer H. (January 13, 2009). "CrossFit Workouts are Rarely Routine". Military Advantage.
  13. ^ "Welcome to The Royal Life Guards Sports Association". Royal Danish Life Guards Sports Association.
  14. ^ Mitchell, Bryan (June 25, 2008). "CrossFit workout craze sweeps the Corps". Marine Corps Times.
  15. ^ Cej, Marty (2009). "The Business of CrossFit". CrossFit. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  16. ^ Scott (13 July 2009). "A Day At The CrossFit Games". Fight Gone Bad.
  17. ^ Wadyka, Sally. "CrossFit: The Fast, Furious Workout Craze". MSN Health and Fitness.
  18. ^ a b "Working Out (CrossFit)" (Video). Business News Network. November 2, 2007. Cite error: The named reference "[BNN" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  19. ^ Scott (13 July 2009). "A Day At The CrossFit Games". Fight Gone Bad.
  20. ^ Walsh, Bob (2007). How People Blogging Are Changing The World and How You Can Join Them. Apress. ISBN 978-1-59059-691-3.
  21. ^ Godin, Seth (2009). Tribes. Piatkus Books. p. 160. ISBN 0749939753.
  22. ^ Velazquez, Eric (May 2008). "Sweatstorm". Muscle & Fitness.
  23. ^ a b Shugart, Chris (November 4, 2008). "The Truth About CrossFit". Testosterone Muscle. Cite error: The named reference "Shugart_20081104" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  24. ^ Rodriguez, Juan C. (March 2, 2010). "Florida Marlins: Cameron Maybin's improved swing/miss numbers encouraging". South Florida Sun Sentinel.
  25. ^ 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.
  26. ^ King, Al (February 10, 2010). "Ashland's Tinney tops the D-II nation field in 400". Norwalk Reflector.
  27. ^ a b Sanderlin, Rebekah. "Commando-create workout has cult following". Fayetteville Observer.
  28. ^ "Doing the grunt work". Los Angeles Daily News. March 14, 2010.
  29. ^ a b Anderson, Mark C. (January 21, 2010). "Fit for Change". Monterey County Weekly. Cite error: The named reference "Anderson_20100121" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  30. ^ Stephanie Cooperman (December 22, 2005). "Getting Fit, Even if it Kills You". New York Times.
  31. ^ Wallack, Roy M. (2009). Run For Life: The Anti-Aging, Anti-Injury, Super Fitness Plan. Skyhorse Publishing. p. 68. ISBN 978-1-60239-344-8.
  32. ^ "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. ii, footnote 1.
  33. ^ "Certifications". CrossFit.
  34. ^ Mitchell, Bryan (August 16, 2006). "Lawsuit alleges CrossFit workout damaging". Marine Corps Times. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
  35. ^ Dube, Rebecca (January 11, 2008). "No puke, no pain - no gain". Globe and Mail.
  36. ^ Webster, Tony (2009). "How We Got here: Crossfit vs the Fitness Industry". CrossFit. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  37. ^ the editors of PureHealthMD (2010). "CrossFit". Discovery Health Channel. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=CrossFit&oldid=385767718"