How Crossfit Has Changed the Fitness Industry

CrossFit, since its inception in the early 2000s, has made significant strides in revolutionising the fitness industry. By redefining fitness, promoting community engagement, and fostering inclusivity, CrossFit has attracted a diverse following and spawned numerous fitness trends. This article will delve into the various ways CrossFit has reshaped the fitness landscape, covering definitions of fitness, competitive fitness, community aspects, scalability, inclusivity, and its offshoots.

The Definition of Fitness

In the past, there have been various definitions of fitness thrown around. Everything from just being free of illness to having the capacity to fulfill a day’s activities without undue fatigue. CrossFit has redefined the meaning of fitness as increased work capacity across broad time and modal domains. This definition emphasises the ability to perform real work, measurable through force, distance, and time. The goal is to develop broad, general, and inclusive fitness that prepares individuals for any physical contingency. 

CrossFit targets ten physical skills: 

1. Cardiovascular endurance
2. Muscle endurance 
3. Strength 
4. Flexibility 
5. Power
6. Speed
7. Coordination
8. Balance
9. Agility
10. Accuracy

This creates a well-rounded fitness, more of a generalist as such. You want to go for a run? Sure, I am up for that! Want to lift some heavy weights in the gym? Yes, got that covered. Want to do some high-intensity intervals? Yep let’s go for it! Want to kick the footy in the park with the kids? Bring it on! By training all these components of Fitness we become fitter overall.

 Training encompasses all three energy systems: 

• ATP-CP (short, high-intensity)
• anaerobic glycolysis (moderate duration)
• aerobic (long-duration)

The more that we can effectively utilise our energy systems the healthier and the more capable we become. By training all of our energy systems regularly we get the benefits of tapping into our energy stores (fat) and are able to perform at a higher level in everything that we do.

Illness-Health- Fitness Continuum

CrossFit promotes the idea that fitness is a continuum from illness to wellness to fitness, measurable through biomarkers such as blood pressure, resting heart rate, fasting blood glucose, and lipid profiles. For example, an individual with a Blood Pressure of 150/110 would be considered ill, with 120/80 as being healthy and 110/70 being typical with someone being very fit. So being fit rather than just healthy is a good thing! As we age naturally we often tend to regress, so the longer we can be at the fitness end of the continuum the better. If we regress we go back to being healthy. If we are just healthy we regress to being ill. The fitter we are the better we can keep Chronic Disease and Illness at bay.

Broad Fitness

CrossFit combines elements from Olympic lifting, gymnastics, and monostructural activities such as running and rowing. This approach ensures well-rounded development, preparing individuals for a wide range of physical challenges.

As part of this definition of fitness is the concept of picking any activity in a variety of combinations and the person who is best adapted to this is the fittest. Many sports and fitness activities tend to focus on a few of the Components of Fitness at the exclusion of others. So is a cyclist fitter than a weightlifter? Yes, if you are only looking at Cardiovascular endurance and muscle endurance. But if you were to look at Strength and Power then you would have to say that the Weighlifter is fitter.

CrossFit promotes that the fittest is a person who is able to perform the best in a variety of activities and durations. So if we take 100 athletes, score them for their placings 1 to 100, and get them to complete a whole bunch of different activities, then the person who scores highest is considered to be the fittest. A test like this might be a 50 km bike ride, 50 pullups + 100 pushups + 150 air squats, a 1RM Bench Press and Squat, and a whole bunch of other combinations in between. The person with the highest score is the fittest.

Let’s now look at some other key areas that CrossFit has promoted with its methodologies and had a big influence.

Competition

Competition is integral to CrossFit, motivating participants to push their limits and achieve personal bests. Daily Workouts of the Day (WODs) are scalable to all fitness levels, ensuring that everyone can participate and benefit regardless of their starting point. Time-based workouts, such as AMRAPs (As Many Rounds As Possible) and For Time (completing a set number of tasks as quickly as possible), add variety and intensity to training. Benchmark and Hero WODs are used to measure progress and commemorate fallen heroes, adding a layer of meaning and community spirit. The CrossFit Open is an annual event with over 350,000 participants worldwide, leading up to the CrossFit Games, where elite athletes compete at the highest level. Local competitions foster a sense of community and provide opportunities for athletes to test their fitness.

Most people will push themselves much further and harder if they are in a more competitive environment. When we work hard, recover properly, and fuel our bodies well, we are able to create change quickly, which adds to why many have found the competitive environment of CrossFit so motivating and life-changing.

Community

One of CrossFit’s most impactful contributions to fitness is the strong sense of community it fosters. CrossFit promotes a holistic approach to fitness, encompassing exercise, nutrition, and mindset. Participants often do the same workout at the same time, creating a bond through shared effort and collective struggle. Community events and fundraisers build camaraderie and often support charitable causes, enhancing the sense of purpose and connection among participants. CrossFit’s growth has spurred the development of a wide range of apparel and equipment, further unifying the community and creating a distinct CrossFit identity.

Inclusivity

CrossFit prides itself on being accessible and adaptable for everyone, regardless of age or physical ability. CrossFit accommodates adaptive athletes, ensuring that everyone can participate and benefit. The same functional movements can be scaled to suit the needs of elite athletes and older adults alike, promoting longevity and functional independence. Events for adaptive athletes, masters (older athletes), and teens ensure that everyone has the opportunity to compete and showcase their abilities. CrossFit emphasises leaving one’s ego at the door, fostering a supportive and inclusive atmosphere.

CrossFit’s Influence on the Fitness Industry

CrossFit’s influence extends beyond its own walls, inspiring various fitness trends and innovations. Functional training programs like F45 and Orange Theory have adopted CrossFit’s principles, offering high-intensity, varied workouts. Many large gym chains now offer small group sessions that blend weights, body weight exercise, and cardio, reflecting CrossFit’s influence. CrossFit has revived interest in gymnastics and weightlifting, with many participants pursuing them more seriously. New competitions like HYROX, which combine multiple fitness disciplines, have emerged, providing new opportunities for competition and community building.

CrossFit’s emphasis on broad, general fitness, community engagement, and inclusivity has fundamentally changed the fitness industry. Its scalable approach ensures that anyone, regardless of fitness level, can participate and benefit. As the industry continues to evolve, CrossFit’s influence remains strong, driving innovation and inspiring a more inclusive, community-oriented approach to fitness. 

The movement’s holistic approach, integrating diverse elements from various fitness disciplines, ensures that participants are well-prepared for any physical challenge, fostering a well-rounded development that extends beyond the gym.

In essence, CrossFit’s community-centric model promotes a supportive and inclusive atmosphere where individuals from all walks of life can come together to achieve their fitness goals. This sense of camaraderie is further strengthened through shared experiences, community events, and charitable initiatives, creating bonds that extend beyond the gym.

The adaptability of CrossFit’s training methodologies ensures that everyone, from elite athletes to beginners, can find their place within the community, promoting a sense of belonging and mutual support. The emphasis on functional movements and real-world applications ensures that CrossFit practitioners are not just training for the gym but for life, enhancing their overall quality of life and functional independence.

CrossFit’s scalable and inclusive approach has paved the way for various offshoots and fitness trends that continue to shape the industry. Functional training programs, small group sessions in large gyms, and new competitive events all owe a debt to CrossFit’s pioneering methods. The growing interest in gymnastics and weightlifting, spurred by CrossFit, has also led to a renaissance of these disciplines, encouraging a new generation to engage with and excel in these traditional forms of exercise.

REFERENCES

• CrossFit Level 1 Trainers Manual
• CrossFit Journal Articles

• Bio

Graham Fletcher

Graham has had over 20 years of experience working in the Fitness Industry running his own business and working in a variety of roles from PT Manager, Group Fitness Instructor and more recently in the CrossFit space. Key passions include posture, quality functional movement and anything to do with mindset and self-improvement. Graham is currently working for the AIF as the Lead Trainer and assessor.