Crossfit-An Evolutionary Sport

Have you heard of this type of training? This sport?



2 months ago-October 2011-I joined a friend for a class called crossfit. Over the coarse of my life I had tried many exercise classes and sports. Spinning classes, ab classes, dance classes, RIPPED and other various aerobic and anaerobic activities. I assumed this one would be similar. A series of exercises that were hard but nothing compared to the effort and struggle that it took to train in the sport of gymnastics. I was wrong...

From day 1, I was hooked. It wasn't quite as exhilerating as gymnastics, but in a way, that has been beneficial. I don't go into crossfit fearing the chance of serious injury. I do, however, go in with some anxiety about how intense the work out may be and what will have to be completed. Yet, not knowing what the work out is, also brings about a form of exhileration. A small portion of the same adrenaline rush that flying from a bar and flipping twice before landing provides. The same adrenaline that sky divers, bungee jumpers, mountain climbers, etc. find in their own sport(s). A fear of the unknown, yet likewise, conquering that fear, time after time, is what brings about the addiction. The desire to beat the odds, again. It's that rush that provides such a huge confidence booster for people. It's built a confidence in me that I only had from the sport of gymnastics. A belief that I CAN DO the IMPOSSIBLE.

So what exactly is crossfit. What I have come up from my research and experience. It is a mixture of gymnastics conditioning and weight lifting in a somewhat competitive and intense atmosphere. In other words, it is the sport that I have been looking for to replace the love of my life; which had been gymnastics-for 18 years.

The first work out I ever tried in crossfit was done in a small group.

3 of us were to complete the following-

90 hand stand push ups

150 pull ups

320 lunges

That was 2 months ago. During that week, I came back for 2 more work outs. By the end of the week I couldn't straighten my arms because they were so sore! Likewise, all of my pull ups had been assisted with a green or black band. (20-40lb support)

2 months later-I am doing ALL of my pull ups unassisted.
Most of the ones I do are done with a technic that makes them easier-called a kip-up. A form of swinging that, in gymnastics, is called cheating...

However, doing 100+ pull ups a workout, the only way I can do them ALL unassisted is with this technic. And I am doing them ALL unassisted. :)

Likewise, my diet has changed to a more crossfit-suggested diet pattern. 2 months ago I was a vegetarian. I had been one for about a year and a 1/2. About 3 weeks ago, I began eating fish and white meat on a regular basis. Likewise, my carb and sugar intake has decreased immensly. Doing these few things, my energy level has increased massively and I am able to work out ten times as hard!

This past week the work outs seemed to have gotten more intense; maybe it's just because I can work out harder. The last work out this week really tested me mentally. It seemed simple enough. It was simply complete 100 burpee pull ups: exactly as it sounds like. A burpee, a box jump to get to the bar and then jump to the bar to pull up.

Within the first 10 reps I knew today's WOD- (work out of day)-would be a struggle. By number 50, I knew I was behind but I also knew something else. My hands felt funny. The skin was bunching up and I recognized that feeling immediately. I was going to rip. And not just once, I could feel a couple of blisters on each hand forming. I few burpees later, I looked down and a pool of blood was forming under the skin...

"Shit," was the most prominant word/thought coming to mind.

A few more and I had completely ripped the skin off. I had to finish though. The blood was gushing out of my hand. Thank god the floor and bars are the color black, otherwise, they would've been a rather nasty sight.


After one of the work outs, one of the instructors asked how I liked Xfit. I told him how much I loved it. We began talking about the process of getting certified. 1 week later, I am registered to get certified in January 2012. I have been studying more and more since then. The more I find out about this sport the more I have fallen in love with it.

I am even considering competing in the crossfit games if I can qualify to it. This sport is so new that this year will be the 3rd games held!

If there's a gym near you doing crossfit, try it, if you dare!

This little commercial explains basically what crossfit's description is to me, in a nutshell: