Crossfit "What is Fitness"
For CrossFit the specter of championing a fitness program without clearly defining what it is that the program delivers combines
elements of fraud and farce. The vacuum of guiding authority has therefore necessitated that CrossFit’s directors provide their own
definition of fitness. That’s what this issue of CrossFit Journal is about, our “fitness.”
Our pondering, studying, debating about, and finally defining fitness have played a formative role in CrossFit’s successes. The keys to
understanding the methods and achievements of CrossFit are perfectly imbed-
ded in our view of fitness and basic exercise science.
It will come as no surprise to most of you that our view of fitness is a contrar-
ian view. The general public both in opinion and in media holds endurance
athletes as exemplars of fitness. We do not. Our incredulity on learning of
Outside’s awarding a triathlete title of “fittest man on earth” becomes apparent
in light of CrossFit’s standards for assessing and defining fitness.
CrossFit makes use of three different standards or models for evaluating and
guiding fitness. Collectively, these three standards define the CrossFit view of
fitness. The first is based on the ten general physical skills widely recognized
by exercise physiologists. The second standard, or model, is based on the per-
formance of athletic tasks, while the third is based on the energy systems that
drive all human action.
Each model is critical to the CrossFit concept and each has distinct utility in
evaluating an athlete’s overall fitness or a strength and conditioning regimen’s
efficacy. Before explaining in detail how each of these three perspectives
works, it warrants mention that we are not attempting to demonstrate our
program’s legitimacy through scientific principles. We are but sharing the
methods of a program whose legitimacy has been established through the
testimony of athletes, soldiers, cops, and others whose lives or livelihoods depend on fitness.
World-Class Fitness in 100 Words:
■ Eat meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds,
some fruit, little starch and no sugar. Keep
intake to levels that will support exercise but
not body fat.
■ Practice and train major lifts: Deadlift, clean,
squat, presses, C&J, and snatch. Similarly,
master the basics of gymnastics: pull-ups,
dips, rope climb, push-ups, sit-ups, presses to
handstand, pirouettes, flips, splits, and holds.
Bike, run, swim, row, etc, hard and fast.
■ Five or six days per week mix these ele-
ments in as many combinations and patterns
as creativity will allow. Routine is the enemy.
Keep workouts short and intense.
■ Regularly learn and play new sports.
Learn more...
elements of fraud and farce. The vacuum of guiding authority has therefore necessitated that CrossFit’s directors provide their own
definition of fitness. That’s what this issue of CrossFit Journal is about, our “fitness.”
Our pondering, studying, debating about, and finally defining fitness have played a formative role in CrossFit’s successes. The keys to
understanding the methods and achievements of CrossFit are perfectly imbed-
ded in our view of fitness and basic exercise science.
It will come as no surprise to most of you that our view of fitness is a contrar-
ian view. The general public both in opinion and in media holds endurance
athletes as exemplars of fitness. We do not. Our incredulity on learning of
Outside’s awarding a triathlete title of “fittest man on earth” becomes apparent
in light of CrossFit’s standards for assessing and defining fitness.
CrossFit makes use of three different standards or models for evaluating and
guiding fitness. Collectively, these three standards define the CrossFit view of
fitness. The first is based on the ten general physical skills widely recognized
by exercise physiologists. The second standard, or model, is based on the per-
formance of athletic tasks, while the third is based on the energy systems that
drive all human action.
Each model is critical to the CrossFit concept and each has distinct utility in
evaluating an athlete’s overall fitness or a strength and conditioning regimen’s
efficacy. Before explaining in detail how each of these three perspectives
works, it warrants mention that we are not attempting to demonstrate our
program’s legitimacy through scientific principles. We are but sharing the
methods of a program whose legitimacy has been established through the
testimony of athletes, soldiers, cops, and others whose lives or livelihoods depend on fitness.
World-Class Fitness in 100 Words:
■ Eat meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds,
some fruit, little starch and no sugar. Keep
intake to levels that will support exercise but
not body fat.
■ Practice and train major lifts: Deadlift, clean,
squat, presses, C&J, and snatch. Similarly,
master the basics of gymnastics: pull-ups,
dips, rope climb, push-ups, sit-ups, presses to
handstand, pirouettes, flips, splits, and holds.
Bike, run, swim, row, etc, hard and fast.
■ Five or six days per week mix these ele-
ments in as many combinations and patterns
as creativity will allow. Routine is the enemy.
Keep workouts short and intense.
■ Regularly learn and play new sports.
Learn more...
