Become More Physically Well Rounded With CrossFit Training
CrossFit has become massively popular in the past year or so. This has been both good and bad for the methodology or – as some would consider it – the sport. Because there are a lot of misconceptions propagating throughout the internet, I’m going to back up and lay a bit of foundation for you. That foundation will help you understand CrossFit from a perspective that will allow you to make good decisions about trying it, training in it and finding a quality gym if it’s something you want to get into.
One thing this training does exceptionally well is add an intensity component to workouts. The high intensity “Met Con” (metabolic conditioning) work wasn’t invented by CrossFit, but I think they’ve perfected it and elevated it to someplace it’s never been before. All serious CrossFitters pretty much demand crazy intensity in any workout you give them. It becomes addicting.
Trainers are taught to be fitter, more physically well-rounded human beings across all these fitness domains, and it is producing athletes whose sport is essentially “fitness”. As a result of this all-encompassing model CrossFit has become a highly popular strength and conditioning program for the military, emergency services, tactical operations teams, martial artists and any individual or profession demanding complete physical capability. These are people who desire fitness when they don’t know at what point their physical skills and ability will be called upon, or indeed in what form.
CrossFit training is as fiercely condemned as it is followed in some circles, as people cite the dangers of such intense training methods and the extremely physically taxing demands it places on followers. If you’re just starting out with your fitness training, then take note that the workouts would challenge even the world’s best athletes and you should scale the workouts accordingly to pitch the training correctly for your fitness level whilst ensuring that you make solid gains. Approach CrossFit workouts cautiously at first because to throw yourself into the training probably won’t end well. Try reducing the recommended loads, reps, and sets and ramp up as you progress and your body adapts. As you develop a feel for the program you’ll become more aware of your own capabilities and how to structure the training effectively, yet safely. If you are just beginning, then it’s always good to start working out with a certified Crossfit Clearwater personal trainer.
As described, this training is intense and varied, encouraging participants to explore many ways to physically express themselves and apply their fitness skills. This broad, almost random approach to fitness is somewhat contrary to mainstream training methods of stringent exercise sets, reps, order and control and is more akin to our own views. CrossFit places an emphasis on gymnastics and body weight exercises, training participants in body control, and developing balance and flexibility whilst maximizing strength-to-weight ratio. Olympic weightlifting also features quite strongly in these programs, focusing on the core lifts such as dead lifts, squats and presses. Weight training is primarily used to develop explosive power and strength. The training program is designed to be scalable to people of any age or experience with the necessary commitment to apply themselves. Load and intensity of the training is altered accordingly but the program remains the same.