Even those people who are professionally engaged in the sports sphere, can not always coherently answer it, because CrossFit is a fairly young type of high-intensity training. Like any workout, CrossFit also has its distinctive features, positive and negative sides, which we will talk about in this article. Hopefully, it can help you to decide whether this intensive training program is something for you or not.
Table of Contents
What Is CrossFit?
CrossFit is a special type of circular high-intensity workout. According to the CrossFit athletes perform several types of exercises without rest or with a minimum rest of 5–10 seconds. The main feature of such training is that the emphasis is not on a particular sport but on the functional abilities of a person. Athletes in such classes develop comprehensively. At the same time they improve the indicators of endurance, strength, and efficiency, improve the appearance of the body. Of course, there is also a process of recovery. We can say that CrossFit training is more suitable for amateurs who are engaged in training for themselves, not for professional athletes or bodybuilders. So, you can basically start practicing CrossFit even if you have never done it or have a passion for another activity like betting at 20Bet. However, CrossFit workout requires certain physical skills.
The fact is that such sports use a very narrow specialization. For example, marathon runners, to a greater extent, develop their aerobic capacity to overcome long distances. And bodybuilders work on increasing their power strength, so that, accordingly, to lift maximum weight. The difference with CrossFit is that it completely lacks specialization, which is both a plus and a minus of such workouts. And here is the point: of course, even a very strong CrossFitter can not overcome huge distances with the same speed as, say, a professional athlete. The weight he will lift is less than a specialized powerlifter, but, most importantly, CrossFitter does not set such goals.
For him, the most important thing is to develop maximum versatility, and this, it must be said, is a big plus for any person who lives an ordinary life. For example, how often do you have to run distances of 25 kilometers, as marathon runners do? Or how frequently do you have to lift a 200 kg weight? But to be able to run to the bus or carry sacks of potatoes to your floor is everywhere and everywhere, and, most importantly, a crossFitter can easily cope with it!
How To CrossFit? Guide To A Crossfit Workout
Versatile training, which becomes a reality thanks to this type of exercise, began to gain considerable levels of popularity around the world. It became popular especially where people are significant not only to have a good physical shape but also, for example, to save lives. Military, police, professional martial artists, and others have been training under this system in many countries for a long time. But what is included in such a training program? What do they represent in practice?
Their most significant feature is that they are constantly changing. Before each CrossFit training you will be waiting for a new set of exercises. And this is the main advantage of CrossFit. The body becomes stronger, more powerful, and more resilient. You are constantly experiencing a variety of loads, from which they are more effective. For example, in the same bodybuilding, most often taken one program on which the athlete trains for more than one month to constantly monitor their progress.
Here there are countless programs, they can even be invented independently when the whole system becomes as clear as possible. Each new system of training in CrossFit is called “workout of the day” or simply WOD. For beginners, they are usually made by specialized CrossFit centers, more experienced CrossFitters cope independently. Another plus of such training has to do with small groups. Here you can engage in small groups of 10–15 people, which is much more effective: beginners pull up, equal to more experienced athletes.
The main essence of the training is quite simple. A certain number of exercises (for example, 3, 5, or 7) are selected, and a person can perform them from the point of view of his/her fitness. Typically, the exercises used here are those used in basic joint training. These are the exercises uch as push-ups, plank jumps, squats, pulls, and snatches, as well as running, and even lifting weights (small ones). Each exercise is performed a certain number of times, for example, 20.
After one cycle of exercises you need to go straight to the next, in which all the same exercises are repeated, and you can not rest. The cyclicality of CrossFit, rounds can be as many as the athlete can perform (3-7 and so on). The number of cycles also depends on how many exercises are in one round. If fatigue outweighs, you can give yourself a 10-second breather, after which you can resume the exercises in full.
Benefits And Downsides Of CrossFit Training
CrossFit builds endurance, strength, and self-confidence. The body develops and strengthens, you feel how you become more athletic with each workout. The big benefit of CrossFit training is that you can practice it at home. Many exercises are simple and do not require any special equipment. Of course, in the gym, there is the possibility of more variations of programs, which is undoubtedly important for those who strive for maximum success.
However, CrossFit has its disadvantages and possible risks. For example, they are not able to engage everyone, it is contraindicated for people who have health problems, especially with the heart or blood vessels. When exercising on this system, it is very significant to monitor your condition, because there is a threat of a disease that is often talked about on the relevant forums. In addition, there is a risk of overstressing the heart muscle at peak loads, sometimes the heart rate reaches 200 beats per minute! Be careful exercise to the best of your ability, and take great care of your health.