An Overview of CrossFit

CrossFitters often have a certain look about them—strong thighs, tapered waists, and muscular shoulders. They also throw around funny words like "WOD" and "metcon," and they like to talk about people named "Murph" and "Fran." 

The good news is, if you want to take part in CrossFit, there's no reason not to go for it. CrossFit, on the whole, is incredibly inclusive, and enthusiasts are usually very willing and ready to welcome new members into the fold.  It is helpful, though, to learn more about it and keep a few considerations in mind before signing up.

What Is CrossFit? 

CrossFit is the self-proclaimed "sport of fitness," and if you read the CrossFit website, they'd have you believe Greg Glassman, the organization's founder, "was the first person in history to define fitness in a meaningful, measurable way."

While it's true that Glassman may have come up with a more concise definition of "fit," specifically, "increased work capacity across broad time and modal domains," he didn't, actually, define fitness.

Exercise scientists have long known that fitness is a balanced and measurable state of health that combines the five health-related components of fitness (muscular strength, muscular endurance, cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, and body composition) and the six skill-related components of fitness (agility, speed, balance, coordination, reaction time, and power). 

CrossFit workouts are constantly varied, and exercises are performed at high intensities. The combination of these constantly varied, functional exercises performed at high intensities is what helps lead to the dramatic improvements in fitness associated with CrossFit.

CrossFit makes a big deal about how all of its workouts are scalable and appropriate for individuals of all fitness levels. While this may be true to a degree, it doesn't account for the fact that high-intensity training isn't everyone's cup of tea and may actually be detrimental for individuals with injuries or chronic illnesses. 

10 Essential CrossFit Facts

There are a lot of good things to say about CrossFit. It wouldn't be as successful as it is, with more than 15,000 affiliated facilities worldwide, if it didn't resonate positively with a vast community of participants. But as with anything, some aspects about it may be a fit for you, while others may not be.

CrossFit Is a Culture

There's a reason CrossFit is commonly referred to as a "cult." CrossFit leadership has done an excellent job of developing culture and community within each gym and the wider organization, ultimately creating a force of dedicated disciples, all working together to defend the workout and bring more people into the fold.

While each facility has its own individuality, filled with different coaches, members, and, in some cases, equipment, there are features of all CrossFit gyms that can be considered defining elements of the organization's culture. For instance:

• There's a certain pride around the rugged garage-style gyms, the tough workouts, and the "gut it out" effort required to complete each workout.
• There's a shared vocabulary that only "those in the know" understand.
• There's the foundational belief that people of all abilities can benefit from CrossFit, further emphasized by the social interaction prevalent between members in and out of the gym.
• There's the deeply held belief that all members are there to improve their fitness. 

CrossFit Has Its Own Lingo

Gyms aren't actually called gyms. They're known as "boxes." Workouts aren't workouts, they're "WODs." Some common CrossFit vocabulary: 

• AMRAP: "As many rounds as possible"
• ATG: "Ass to grass," or a full-depth squat
• For time: Seeing how fast you can complete a particular WOD
• Metcon: Metabolic conditioning; typically a high-intensity interval workout designed to enhance endurance 

But that's just the start of it. Workouts themselves have funny names, typically featuring girls' names, like "Fran," "Grace," "Angie," "Barbara," and "Diane." Other workouts are labeled "hero WODs" and are named for brave servicemen who lost their lives in the line of duty. 

You can brush up on your vocabulary before hitting a box by checking out the CrossFit website's FAQ page, or you can just hit the ground running, understanding it may take some time to learn and understand all the lingo. 

You Pay for Trainer-Led Workouts

True CrossFit boxes offer trainer-led CrossFit classes facilitated by CrossFit-certified instructors. While some boxes do offer open gym time, where members can access the facility and equipment on their own, the organization's culture is based on group classes where participants complete workouts together with the training and assistance of a coach.

This leads to a team-like camaraderie among members, as well as the increased confidence of participants who have a coach there to correct form and provide encouragement.

You'll Learn Traditional Lifts

CrossFit workouts are built around functional movements that rely on more traditional strength-training lifts. You won't find selectorized weight equipment at a CrossFit box.

What you will find are a slew of pull-up bars, squat racks, bench presses, free weights, plyometric boxes, jump ropes, and rowing machines. Unless you're a free weight fanatic who is no stranger to Olympic weightlifting or powerlifting, you'll probably learn a few new exercises, like the clean and snatch. Some of the most common CrossFit exercises include:

• Bench press
• Box jump
• Burpee
• Clean
• Deadlift
• Kettlebell swing
  
• Pull-up
• Push-up
  
• Squat

CrossFit Workouts Are Intense

CrossFit workouts are specifically designed for intensity. They often call for all-out effort based on time or repetitions.

What you can expect from practically any intense workout is a serious case of post-workout delayed onset muscle soreness, or DOMs. This type of soreness typically sets in a day or two after a tough workout and can remain for several days. While uncomfortable, the pain will pass without any long-term detrimental effects.

Extremely intense workouts can, in rare situations, lead to a serious syndrome called rhabdomyolysis, or "rhabdo." This is a condition in which muscle tissue breaks down, releasing its contents into the bloodstream. Left unchecked, rhabdo can lead to kidney failure, compartment syndrome, or permanent nerve damage.

Rhabdo is a rare syndrome, and any overly intense workout has the potential to cause it, so CrossFit isn't alone in its potential for such a dramatic event. The takeaway is that you should approach intense workouts with self-awareness and listen to your body. 

You Can Expect Results

Individuals who consistently stick with CrossFit workouts do, in fact, see significant improvements in measures of fitness. 

A 2013 study published in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that men and women spanning a broad range of fitness levels all saw improvements in VO2 max (a measure of cardiovascular endurance) and body composition after a 10-week, high intensity power training protocol modeled after CrossFit.

There's also a 2016 study from the International Journal of Exercise Science that indicates a single, CrossFit-style workout could lead to greater energy expenditure (calorie burn) than a single, traditional workout.

A 2014 study from the same journal points to CrossFit's ability to enhance maximal strength to a greater degree than a more traditional workout program (although the researchers found that both programs yielded significant and similar improvements across all other markers of fitness).

These are just a few of the studies pointing to CrossFit's measurable ability to improve overall fitness. 

You Might Not Lose Weight

If you're planning to join CrossFit for weight loss purposes, it's important to understand how CrossFit affects change in the body. 

While CrossFit absolutely can lead to weight loss (especially when paired with a healthy eating plan), due to the structure of the workout and its heavy focus on strength training, you may be more likely to experience body composition changes rather than changes on the scale. This is particularly true during the first few months of your program. 

Instead of losing pounds on the scale, CrossFit might help you lean out as you gain muscle and lose fat. If this happens, even though your weight doesn't change (or even if it increases), your body shape and size will change. Muscle is more dense than fat. That means that a pound of muscle gained will take up less space than a pound of fat lost. Without making one iota of a difference to your weight, your body is now more compact.

When it comes to health, it's more important to achieve a healthy body composition than a healthy weight. If one of your primary exercise goals for joining CrossFit is weight loss, you may be better served tracking body changes using a tape measure, rather than relying on a scale.

Injuries Can Happen

Buzz about CrossFit and CrossFit-related injuries practically go hand-in-hand—and for good reason.

According to a 2014 study published in the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, the overall estimated injury rate for CrossFit participants is roughly 20%. The study also found men were more likely to sustain injuries than women, and that when coaches were heavily involved in correcting poor form, injuries were less likely to occur. Importantly, most injuries were short-lived and relatively minor; injuries to the low back, shoulder, and knee were the most common.

The truth is, all physical activities run some risk of injury, and any high-intensity or high-impact activity increases the risk. You're certainly more likely to sustain an injury playing basketball than swimming laps. That said, it's possible to participate in CrossFit without getting hurt.

You Can Try the Workouts at Home

The CrossFit website features daily WODs that you can try at home or at your own gym, rather than a CrossFit box. You can even record your results online and compare them to the worldwide CrossFit community. 

This is a great option if you don't have a CrossFit box near you, or if coughing up the membership dues to a local box is outside your budget. Just remember—properly executing each move is the key to remaining injury free. Make sure you know how to do each move correctly before trying them with added weight or greater intensity. The CrossFit website also provides video tutorials for most common exercises.

You Can Compete

Yes, just like there are the Olympic Games and the X Games, there are also the CrossFit Games. This serious competition starts with a local CrossFit Open held at affiliated boxes worldwide. Individuals who score well during the Open qualify for regionals.

Ultimately, the top athletes from the regional events are invited to attend the CrossFit Games, a televised competition featuring the fittest men, women, teens, teams, and masters in the world, all battling it out for the title of "Fittest on Earth." 

Even if you don't think you can make it to the big show, anyone with a competitive spirit can get in on the action by participating in the Open events. 

CrossFit FAQs

If you're ready to give CrossFit a try, consider asking these questions first:

Can I Observe or Try a Class First?

It's always a good idea to watch a class before you make a long-term commitment. Or better yet, ask if the box has a "first class free" option so you can test-drive the workout yourself.

When observing or participating, pay close attention to how often the coach corrects form and provides feedback to members. Because proper form is critical to an injury-free experience, you'll want to sign up at a box with trainers who are deeply committed to teaching proper form.

Are There Intro Classes for Newbies?

Given that form is critically important to the functional exercises featured in CrossFit, and proper form is only mastered through practice, it's a great idea to participate in an intro class if there's one available. Many CrossFit boxes offer these introductory classes for new members, and some boxes require new members to attend a series of classes before joining the standard workout.

What Training and Certifications Does the Coach Have?

Whenever possible, look for CrossFit boxes that have coaches with a strong background in training and exercise science. The CrossFit Level 1 coaching certification requires nothing more than a weekend class before newly-minted trainers are cleared to teach classes of their own. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it's certainly better if your coach has a higher-level CrossFit certification, additional, non-CrossFit certifications, or an education in exercise science or a related field.

What Guidelines Are in Place for Scaling Workouts?

CrossFit, as a whole, has guidelines for scaling workouts to make them accessible for all fitness levels, but that doesn't mean all trainers are inclined to help members scale routines. Ask how trainers are taught to help members choose the right modifications, weights, and exercises appropriate to their fitness level.

What's the Social Atmosphere Outside of the Box?

If socialization is a big reason you're looking to join CrossFit, it's important to ask about the clientele of the box and whether there's an established social culture. For instance, some boxes may cater more to young men, while others may cater to working parents. Because not all boxes are the same, you'll want to find one that has a member base and social atmosphere that aligns with your needs. 

A Word From Verywell

CrossFit is a well-established workout program that can absolutely improve your fitness and health, but be wary of indoctrinating yourself into the culture too quickly. If you're inclined to give the program a try, start slowly and focus first on mastering form, rather than amping up intensity. The intensity of your workout can be scaled over time, but only if you do what's necessary to stay injury-free.