Crossfit is taking over the world… well, the fitness world, at least.
And for two good reasons:
- It has a strong group of hardcore followers that spread the word like fucking disciples, and wear all crossfit branded clothes to the gym
- It’s marketed extremely well, between individual crossfit branded gyms (errr “boxes”) trying to attract members and big companies like ESPN pushing the crossfit games on TV
There’s simply an intense aura that exists around the world of crossfit. It just seems “cool”.
I have to be honest with you up front – I have limited experience actually doing crossfit myself. While I love competition and the “team” environment that crossfit embodies, I simply prefer to train alone when it comes to strength and conditioning.
I still train in groups when it comes to martial arts and I still love to compete in basketball leagues. I just prefer being alone in the gym. But that’s NOT why I’m writing this article.
I don’t hate crossfit.
So what makes me qualified to write about crossfit? Well, I do have some experience doing it, for one. And I have many close friends and I know many quality personal trainers that swear by it. So while it’s not my weapon of choice, I do have a well-rounded understanding of it.
I’m writing this article to inform you why crossfit probably isn’t right for you. That’s not to say it’s not right for everyone. But I do believe that it’s not a good fit for the majority of the population. Here’s why…
1. You have specific fitness goals
Taken directly from crossfit.com:
Our program delivers a fitness that is, by design, broad, general, and inclusive. Our specialty is not specializing.
I’m not condemning this approach. But it’s important to realize that if you do have a specific goal – you’re trying to build optimal muscle, there’s a sport you’re training for, you have a particular strength goal, you’re training for a marathon, etc. – then you’re better off doing training geared towards your goal.
Here’s an example of a crossfit workout to illustrate this point:
- 35 kettlebell swings
- 30 push-ups
- 25 pull-ups
- 20 box jumps
- 1-mile run
- 5 times through
Is that a grueling workout? Hell yes. And while I do appreciate that it’s a full-body workout – is it the quickest way to build muscle? Hell no – in fact that’s sure to work against your muscle building goals (assuming you already have a solid amount of muscle on your frame). Is it the fastest way to dunk a basketball? Nope. Is it the best way to prep for a marathon. No sir.
2. You have postural issues
Crossfit is high intensity by definition. You’re meant to push your body to the absolute limits.
And if that’s what you’re looking for, that’s cool. But it’s important to recognize that this will actually be quite bad for some people.
If you have issues with hip mobility, shoulder tightness, or other muscle imbalances that need to be corrected then you definitely should not participate in crossfit until you’ve addressed these issues.
Crossfit is not corrective exercise. And I can tell you from my experience as a personal trainer that the majority of the population has developed poor posture. It’s rare I take on a new client that doesn’t need a heavy dose of corrective exercise before they can move correctly enough to even consider doing the type of workouts that are commonplace in crossfit.
3. You don’t have much experience doing compound barbell exercises
Crossfit incorporates a lot of barbell movements – from squats and overhead presses to more complicated olympics lifts like cleans and snatches.
And while these are awesome movements – I wouldn’t advise getting started until you can do the basics with good form. To name a few:
- Barbell back squat
- Barbell front squat
- Barbell deadlift
- Barbell overhead press
- Barbell bench press
If you have a good crossfit coach, he should be able to build upon proficiency in these lifts and teach you the more complicated olympic lifts mentioned above. But it’s well worth it to take the time to learn the basic barbell movements – and correct any issues you have that may prevent you from doing those – before getting into crossfit.
4. You haven’t fully recovered from an injury
I list this for the same exact reasons as number 2 above. Crossfit isn’t corrective exercise and it’s DEFINITELY not physical therapy.
If you have lower back pain, for example, grinding it out at a crossfit box will likely only make your pain worse.
5. You don’t have access to a solid crossfit gym
The same way that there’s a lot of bad personal trainers out there, there’s a lot of bad crossfit gyms and coaches out there, too.
The thing is – crossfit is so intense that going at it without a lot of experience and without a good coach is a recipe for disaster.
This is why you hear so many horror stories about horrific injuries in crossfit. When you go as hard as you do in crossfit without proper form, you’re asking for a herniated disk, torn pec, wrecked achilles, or something else.
And even when you have a good coach, the fact is that there’s usually more people working out than coaches and this is another reason I cannot stress developing competency in the basic movements before getting started with crossfit.
So who SHOULD do crossfit?
So while I just tore crossfit a new asshole, it’s really not all that bad.
In fact I think it can be an awesome option for the right person. How would I describe this person? As follows:
- In at least decent shape
- Looking for a new competitive hobby
- Not competing seriously in any other sport
- Not trying to build optimal muscle
- Competent in the basic barbell movements mentioned above
- Free from injury or any postural issues
If that’s you then I think crossfit would actually be a great thing to try out.
But I see a lot of soccer moms and terribly out of shape dudes putting their bodies at risk… and guys with serious muscle building goals often ask me if crossfit is right for them… and that’s why I wrote this article.
All good reasons to seriously consider if joining a “box” is right for you. It has been interesting to watch this movement freak out everybody in the fitness industry. The detractors are almost as loud as the fanatics. Like you I’m not a crossfitter, nor am I anti-crossfit, so I am with you 100% here. The question I want to know if how much crossfit has impacted the market share? For years fitness lived at just above 14%. Has that number increased in recent history or have we just moved the players around? Anybody have this data?
When you say 14%, what do you mean? Fitness had 14% of which market?
I’d love to see detailed statistics on this type of stuff as well – particularly crossfit vs. the rest of the fitness world.
Here’s some basic numbers on crossfit I found just now: http://www.channelsignal.com/fresh-signals/by-the-numbers-the-growth-of-crossfit
David, this was data from the early 2000’s, like 2006-2010, big fitness data. Roughly 14% of the public was what we were talking about at the time. I don’t have any references because it was conference call and big meeting data that was shopped around at the time. To that point, it may be bunk, but I recall reading similar numbers on the world wide interwebs. It’s been awhile now since I’ve been connected with those circles… but the number still rattle around.
Regarding the link: wow. That is incredible growth. Now that you have me thinking about this I’ll keep an eye out now for anything I find on the subject. I’ll hit you up if I do.
Here’s the problem: I wrote “market share,” when I meant “market penetration.” Apologies….
Ah – that makes sense.
And cool, please do share if you find anymore interesting data on this.
MacDonald have an amazing market penetration in nutrition too. Is it good ?
I think the same warnings could be applied to any work out or training routine. Kind of the like the “ask your doctor before…” on every label.
I joined CrossFit recently to give me a better option for strength training. I am a triathlete and was struggling with strength training. It’s so boring for me.
I was required to complete 10 one on one skills courses before I could even do the group workouts to teach me form and technique. Also, my hips have limited mobility along with some other areas. The coach tested for it so we can either scale or know where my range of motion will allow me to go, not “force me through it.”
The most important things here is to manage your goals. I’m not looking to be a competitive cross fitter, but I do want something that will keep me strength training vs getting so caught up in only swimming, biking and running that I don’t strength train and injure my body as a result. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want. For example, I think Kipling is stupid poor form and going to get you hurt. So I do something different or modified for that.
I have already seen better running times and the tendinitis in my knee is gone. Know your goals know your limits.
Side note, I also don’t have a body like a “malnourished cadaver.” Way to attack people’s bodies in the 21st century 🙄
Some good points here man. I’m def not a fan of Crossfit, I think its super dangerous for guys and counter productive for making gains in the gym. The way to go is nice, slow controlled movements with weights aiming for personal bests ever time you step in the door. For cardio I think low impact machines like the elliptical and hot yoga are the best options. This is especially important as you get older, my 32 year old body can’t recover half as fast as my 22 year old body.
Good points Will – definitely “counter productive” for most guys.
As a kid we would do all the things Crossfit advocates as exercise. Much like Crossfits founder. Gymnastics, Olympic weight, and running. But being young teens we were resistant to overuse injuries, more so that a middle aged sedentary office worker. The problem was that we were basicly kids developing a training program without any proper knowledge of exercise physiology or biomechanics. Crossfit continues this uninformed approach on a mass marketing level throwing on a dollop of group psychology to maintain membership. The biggest complaint among many people is a sense of isolation and frankly loneliness. Crossfit cohesiveness addresses this concern rather suscessfully. Endorphins released during hard exercise provides intense enforcement to keep coming back. Unfortunately endorphins do not make up for poor and injurious training. Personally I’ve noticed refugees from Crossfit boxes signing up at traditional Iron gyms. Gradually they move away from dangerous routines and habits to safer and more rational routines. Either by employing a personal trainer or observation of others working out. In the end Crossfit will adapt or slowly fad away.
I think the title is a bit misleading. This article is all about Should You do Crossfit? Not about how crossfit sucks. For example, if you don’t have access to a crossfit gym, that doesn’t make it suck, that just means you might not be able to do it.
Good job on the article none the less. I agree with your points, even though I do not like crossfit at all.
Agreed, but this title was chosen to help get the article more visibility.
I need a website that tell me how much crossfit sucks ass
This is hilariously wrong. Just so wrong.
I found this article very insightful and helpful. As a runner, du/triathlete, and an individual who enjoy group fitness, I thought I’d like CrossFit…but soon discovered, because of my pigeon-toed hips, CrossFit is NOT for me. Pushing through early signs of “Frozen Shoulder” and a constantly sore back, during every WOD that required hip mobility. I found it very frustrating being corrected and constantly pushed into positions my body atomically can’t do for the perfect form. Finally, I had enough, realizing, I don’t need CrossFit to make me a better athlete.
You should join a crossfit gym and at least 6 months of it before writing about it. Crossfit is huge on learning the basics before adding intensity- you can even read the manual and find this out without stepping foot in a gym. I’ve seen 70 year olds walk in a gym who don’t have the mobility to squat or put a barbell overhead and a year later, they can- and their overall quality of life is improved. Good coaches push mobility work so that people with mobility issues improve- I’ve seen it over and over again.
Also, you need ZERO experience with a barbell! It’s a great place to learn as you have an instructor who (should) be certified in basic movement fundamentals- and many gyms offer barbel classes. Whenever I go to a globo gym I see all sorts of horrendous lifting techniques- so I wouldn’t ever discourage learning to lift under supervision of an instructor!
Crossfit is great for anyone who don’t want any muscle gain and want to look like a malnourished cadaver.
Amen Natalie! Thank you for speaking truth! Crossfit is not for everyone however it is not evil. This article and a lot of these comments almost sound “jealous” of the success Crossfit has had! Crossfit is an awesome way to learn barbell movements as well as gymnastic movements – and the coaches painstakingly teach this movements at EVERY workout. The workouts are as hard as you make them and totally scalable for those who don’t have perfect mobility. If you want to go into a gym and move slow, hey that’s great! However if you want a workout that will increase stamina and strength, is competitive, fun and will kick your butt every day, please give Crossfit a try! It is definitely worth it!
I do CrossFit and you are right about what you are saying there, specially the goals parts, because what most people ask me is how much muscle have I gain since I started crossfiting.
I do want to add something else, there is a difference between what some call “crossfit wellness” and “competitive crossfit”.
For me, the difference is crossfit wellness aplies to people that go to a box, to the WOD they have, scale as needed and just seeks a healthier life style and some physical activity that is different from a traditional gyms. Those people won’t to long workout, train with big loads, etc.
I think your article aplies to competitive crossfit, but again, I’d like to focus on the “what are your goals” part, because that’s what I tell everybody.
Article is rife with misunderstanding.
Very specific goals can be established within the CrossFit scenario and adjusted for as such.
If your goal is hypertrophy it can be periodized as a Crossfit program but you’ve exited the realm of functional athleticism so best don’t otherwise.
CrossFitters – have physiques with amazing optimal muscle. Just as much lean mass and low body fat as a bodybuilder
Can run a marathon
Can row a marathon
While still back squatting, deadlifttjng, bench pressing,’overhead pressing, clean and jerk and snatching insane numbers that people who “specialize” in those areas are not much further ahead. Some have even qualified at very high levels and Olympic level in the CJ and snatch. Then they televise it to show everyone that wants to see that it’s possible. So, CrossFitters can do everything at a very high level. Compared to someone who just focused on one thing. Cool you bench 400 but can’t run 3 miles under 25 minutes without stopping. Doesn’t sound optimal. Agree with posture issues and corrective exercises but that can be said for any field. General Physical preparedness is what people should be striving for. Just know, if you focus on only one area, you will not be good in the hundreds of others out there.
I feel a lot depends on the box and the people who attend if it really sucks or not. I did it and in short, found no purpose for it other than getting lean and being able to call out a good number after the workout. Ever do 75 burpees and 120 wallballs? WTF…why? What I found incredibly stupid was trying to learn a complicated Olympic move with weight during an amrap(as many reps as possible…for time) and then calling out your number. Yes practically all boxes throw you into the fire with little to no training. This little training leads to bad…bad form which resulted in minor injuries. The people at the box make a difference as well. Yes there’s this cool factor in CrossFit and some people focus their lives around it. It becomes their identity in life…(sad). The problem is they treat other people as inferior since they don’t do CrossFit. Ive seen countless times people backstab spouses that don’t do CF. Life is too short to make an exercise routine so important in that it promotes discrimination, hate and hostility towards others. I see CrossFit affiliates in 2018/2019 shrinking due to poor management, recession and millennials/GenZ not adopting this routine.
Yea ‘soccer mums’ are just out of shape lumps – thanks dude
You can’t headline an article “why crossfit sucks 5 indisputable reasons” and then be like I don’t Hâte crossfit haha it’s like going “All liberals are morons 5 reasons why conservatives are smarter” and then go, “so I’m a true American independent”. Also your number 5 should be number 1 because it’s the real issue. Franchises would potentially ruin crossfit if adidas didn’t own a quarter of the world. (Reebok is owned by Adidas) it’s all about finding solid coaching because the real solid gyms make you go through 90 days of « fundamentals » which is a true steal in the world of fitness comparably to how much 90 days of PT would cost.Murph is one of the most intense CrossFit workouts and it’s 1 mile 100 pull ups 200 push ups 300 air squats 1 mile .Yours in total is 5 miles, 125 pull-ups 100 box jumps 175 kettlebell swing, 150 push-ups. So your wrong, that isn’t a crossfit workout. They wouldn’t even do that in the games. I play college football, CrossFit has turned me into a savage and it’s funny because your specific statement is…is this going to help you dunk a basketball nope. And I can dunk a basketball for the first time in my life, it’s honestly crazy how inaccurate some of the stuff you said is. But it’s ok I’m assuming your a personal trainer and your bottom line is affected so I’d be mad too. I’m not saying I hate your opinion I’m just saying it could be a better opinion.
Many people enter CrossFit with high expectations and a poor understanding of good body maintenance. It can be frustrating when you want to work on the “cool” movements and your coach wants you to be able to perform proper air squats before you put a bar on your back. I am 60 and have been doing CrossFit for more than 7 years now. My combined power lift is 1175. That number has gone up during my CrossFit training, and yet I more excited about my CrossFit total. Practicing the fundamentals of CrossFit just makes you you feel better and more fit. With that said, CrossFit is not for everyone. It requires a certain commitment to the continued practice of the fundamentals. I am amazed by the members of my box that are in their 70’s and doing box jumps along side me. Sure people get hurt performing CrossFit. Have you ever twisted a knee or ankle from running? Do not judge CrossFit by what you see at the Games. Those are are incredible and highly competitive athletes. They are doing what they have to to win, but that is not how they train. If you incorporate the CrossFit fundamentals within almost any reasonable training regiment, you will become more fit. Good luck in your training and do a little reading on CrossFit. Stop by a box and see if the first thing you are asked is to sign a contract for membership.
The only thing I dislike about Crossfit is the people that go to the box I was going to. A bunch of stupid stuck up people who only talk to those in their clicks. Also, this box has alot of coaches who are not qualified to train people. One coach in particular, some girl who joined the box recently and then becomes a trainer? She only caters to people she likes. If she doesn’t like you, she will not acknowledge you, won’t look you in the eye and she won’t check to see if you are doing the excercises right. These people only pay attention to those in their click. While I was ok with the workouts, I found the gym environment to be so discouragine and dissapointing that I just stopped going. I am in the process of setting up a gym at home and youtube will be my coach!
Sounds like you didn’t make yourself very approachable
This is hilariously wrong. Just so wrong.
I thought this was about “crotchfit”, now that’s a gym everyone can join.