Is CrossFit a Sport?

The term "Sport of Fitness" was coined from the founder and CEO of CrossFit Coach Greg Glassman, after discovering the competitiveness and intensity found in his athletes when performing the workout of the day or WOD.

When workouts resemble competitive events they become a sport rather than a workout. No one likes to finish last in a race and no one enjoys a decrease in performance. For this reason a person will push themselves to the limit each and every time, each and every workout. Whether you're trying to beat the clock or someone else performing the same workout, it is this kind of intensity that produces favorable results in a short period of time.

What is CrossFit? CrossFit is constantly varied functional movement executed at high intensity. To break this down....CONSTANTLY VARIED: you will perform a different workout each day. This keeps your body from adapting to the "stimulus" or stress from the workout and reaching a plateau. There are, however, "bench mark workouts" in place to track your progress and personal increases in your level of fitness. FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT: movements that mimic your day-to-day routine, whether you are a construction worker or stay at home mom raising four kids. To break this down even further we'll take the simple term from Coach Mike Burgener of Mikes Gym, "Yes to the 4th power" 1: Is the exercise ground based and are you standing up while performing the exercise? YES. 2: Is the exercise a free weight exercise? YES. 3: Does the exercise work multiple muscle groups and surround multiple joints? YES. 4: Is the exercise performed in an explosive manner? YES. Our movements answer yes to all these questions and are organic to the natural movement of the human body through the demands of life. HIGH INTENSITY: Intensity is power output. Our workouts can literally be measured in horse power. Force times distance divided by time is the definition of power. The functional movements of CrossFit are the only movements that produce the intensity that we are referring to here. How intense? As intense as you can stand. You determine the intensity. It will be dependent upon your physical and psychological tolerance.