Crossfit: origin, what it is, risks, benefits and how to

practice

CrossFit emerged in the early 2000s as an alternative to traditional gyms and is gaining
more and more fans around the world.
CrossFit is a type of high-intensity physical training focused on the physical conditioning of
the practitioner. Created in the early 2000s by gymnast Greg Glassman, the method is
based on functional exercises and has fans all over the world.
Unlike other conventional training, it doesn't focus on developing just one skill, but the whole
body. In this way, Greg thought of a dynamic and functional plan of activities, preparing the
practitioner in a complete way.
Over time, CrossFit practitioners began to live and spread the practice almost as a
philosophy of life, and not just a physical activity.

History of CrossFit
As a child, Greg suffered from polio, but managed to regain his strength with the help of
gymnastics. In addition, he went to several academies throughout his life, but never found a
teaching method that he liked.
Thus, Greg began to mix the use of dumbbells, barbells and kettlebells in his exercises.
Thus, the idea was to integrate the equipment to improve the performance of the exercises
and develop it more completely.
It was this philosophy, therefore, that he took to his students when he started working as a
personal trainer. Indeed, in 1995, he opened an academy and was even hired to train the
city's police officers. Eventually, his classes began to take place in groups and the CrossFit
method emerged in the year 2000.
Today, Brazil is the second country in the world with the highest number of boxes affiliated
with CrossFit Incorporation.
Training
CrossFit workouts consist of varied functional exercises done at high intensity. In this way,
the training routine combines the three metabolic pathways that generate energy during
physical activity.
The first one is linked to activities with more power and lasts only 10 seconds. The second
of them controls moderate power activities and lasts a little longer, for a few minutes.
Finally, the third pathway mobilizes the body's energy – such as stored fat – and ensures
the performance of lower-power activities.
Therefore, physical conditioning must involve the work of all three systems in order to
balance the body. The workout takes about 40 to 60 minutes and is very intense, mixing
functional strength, endurance, agility and flexibility exercises.
For this, a Crossfit training is composed of three parts, that is, warm-up, when the body is
prepared; technique, when movements are practiced; WOD, or workout of the day, with the
exercise of the day.

Curiosities about the practice

• CrossFit is a strength and conditioning program that involves high-intensity training.
• Workouts cover ten fitness domains: cardiovascular endurance, endurance, strength as
well as flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance and accuracy.
• Workouts are designed to be short and intense, combining weightlifting, gymnastics,
plyometrics, calisthenics, cycling and rowing, among others.
• Load and intensity can be scaled to match any fitness level, yet designed to challenge.
• All Crossfit workouts are logged to track improvements.
• Consistency, range of motion, and diet all play important roles in her fitness philosophy.
Benefits of Crossfit
Slimming
Due to high intensity exercises, the body guarantees to burn energy reserves. That is, the
body is able to burn fats and reduce their accumulation in the body.
Muscles
Through CrossFit functional training, it is possible to work several muscle groups at the
same time. In this way, the muscles are effectively defined and strengthened. Depending on
the intensity and technique, the result can be better than that done with conventional
devices.
Speed of Result
By the way, when it comes to fitness gain and fat loss, high-intensity practice can bring
results faster than a regular workout.
Diversity
It is common for gym exercises to become repetitive and tiring. At CrossFit, however,
training changes daily, avoiding doldrums and ensuring the body is constantly challenged.
Stress
Since it presents a varied exercise routine, with workouts mounted separately per day,
CrossFit requires a lot of concentration. By focusing on the practice, then, exercise helps to
take your mind off other concerns and eliminate stress.
Body Preparation
As CrossFit exercises are linked to functional movements, repeated on a daily basis, they
help prepare the body for all kinds of situations. Thus, a complete workout develops skills
such as cardiovascular and respiratory endurance, muscular endurance, strength, power, as
well as accuracy, agility, coordination, flexibility and balance.
CrossFit Risks
Finally, like any physical practice, CrossFit can also offer risks. According to research
carried out in the United Kingdom, injuries are common in CrossFit during high complexity
exercises or by repetition until fatigue.
According to the study, 3/4 of the 132 volunteers reported back and shoulder injuries after
practice. Among them, nine required surgery for recovery.
Another study, carried out by researchers from Santa Casa de São Paulo, in Brazil,
analyzed the participation of teachers in injuries. According to research, the level of
professional involvement is directly linked to the risk of injury. On the other hand, the study
also points out that CrossFit can be considered harmless compared to the number of
injuries in other sports.
The comparisons, however, are still preliminary, since the compared practices carry many
differences.

Official Competition - Nobul Crossfit Games 2023

The CrossFit Games is an annual athletic competition owned and operated by CrossFit,
LLC. Athletes compete in a series of events at the Games, which may be various standard
CrossFit workouts consisting of metabolic conditioning exercises, weightlifting,
and gymnastics movements, as well as a range of activities from other sports such as
swimming, road cycling and strongman. The events generally are not revealed before the
Games, can include unexpected elements to challenge the athletes' readiness to compete,
and they are designed to test the athletes' fitness using CrossFit's own criteria. Winners of
the CrossFit Games earn cash prizes and the title of "Fittest on Earth."
The competition started in 2007 and has been held every year since, normally in the
summer. The first competition was held at a ranch in Aromas, California, with small groups
of participants and spectators, but the CrossFit Games rapidly grew, and within a few years,
the competition was moved to larger venues at the Home Depot Center in Carson,
California, followed by the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin. The CrossFit
Games season consists of four stages; the first qualification stage, the Open, is billed as the
largest participatory sporting event in the world, with over 415,000 athletes signing up to
compete in 2018. The Games were sponsored by Reebok from 2011 to 2020, and by Nobull
starting 2021. A few athletes have dominated in the Games' history; they are Rich
Froning (four wins) and Mat Fraser (five wins) in the men's competition, and Tia-Clair
Toomey (six wins) in the women's.
This year, with the big names out of the arenas, we will have new athletes vying for the title
of the fittest man and woman in the world.
The competition takes place August 3-6.