Basics

With CrossFit’s popularity exploding, Craig Hysell describes his box’s introductory program and why it works.

So, you got ’em into your free trial class, and they fell in love with you at “constantly varied functional movement.” A prospective member is in a sweaty heap at your feet and, when he can breathe again, he practically begs you to tell him how to get started.

You say it’s simple: he needs to sign up for your Elements Class.

“What’s an elements class?” he asks.

… Continue Reading

“Regardless of what the problem is, the answer is to squat.”

Those are the words of CrossFit founder and CEO Greg Glassman.

“People who do not know how to squat do not have normal hip function, don’t have normal leg functional,” he says in this medley of clips paying homage to the movement. “They can’t jump, run, throw or punch correctly.”

As a fundamental movement, the squat is a building block to every other movement in CrossFit, says… Continue Reading

You can push jerk more than you can push press, and you can push press more than you can shoulder press. No secret there.

But did you know that most can push press roughly 30 percent more than they can shoulder press and push jerk roughly 30 percent more than they can push press? So says CrossFit Founder and CEO Greg Glassman.

Although not an obvious core-to-extremity movement, the shoulder press requires midline stabilization, says HQ trainer… Continue Reading

Combining the CrossFit training methodology with a diet of meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch and no sugar brings “a jet stream of adaptation,” says CrossFit founder Greg Glassman.

In the pyramid Glassman created, nutrition is the foundation, with met-cons, gymnastics, weightlifting and throwing, and sport following.

“Each level builds on the level below it,” explains Nicole Carroll, director of certification. “If… Continue Reading

In 2010, Scott Horton was more than 330 lb. and riddled with health issues.

“My doctor basically told me that if I didn’t start losing some weight, I was going to have some real problems,” he says.

So Horton did some research and ended up being paired with a trainer at a Globo Gym. That trainer—Atom Ziniewicz—introduced him to CrossFit.

“It just made sense,” Horton says. “It was just a really great, balanced workout.”

A few months… Continue Reading

Warrington Parker offers affiliate owners and coaches tips on how to keep athletes coming back.

A little more than two years ago, I attended my first CrossFit class. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. My friend, who suggested I go, called it “bootcamp.” He said he loved it because it lasted an hour, there was some stretching, and the workouts were short… Continue Reading

HQ Seminar Staff member Karianne Dickson takes us on a tour of her affiliate, Guerrilla Fitness at CrossFit Morristown in New Jersey.

Her affiliate’s equipment includes atlas stones and tires for strongman work, as well as barbells she bought cheap from Rutgers when it replaced its supply. The walls display only 10-foot wall-ball targets to challenge athletes.

“We’d rather see them go a little lighter and shoot for that distance every… Continue Reading

Join Kelly Starrett, owner of San Francisco CrossFit and creator of MobilityWOD, as he teaches coaches and their athletes how to diagnose dysfunction.

In Part 4, Starrett shares his athlete checklist.

“When I look at athletes … this is how I diagnose their movement inefficiency and how I can break down any movement, any sport, any position, anything right away,” he says.

First, he looks for best fit set-up, and if that can’t be achieved, he… Continue Reading