Introduction
Once hailed as a revolutionary fitness program, and an antidote to the ‘gym bro’ culture of the early 00s, CrossFit has recently experienced a significant downturn in popularity. While it still has a dedicated, almost cult-like following, there are clear signs that its appeal is waning. In this blog, I'll explore some of the major pitfalls of CrossFit as a training doctrine, which I think have contributed to its decline.
What is CrossFit?
For anyone living under a rock, CrossFit is an intense fitness program offering constantly varied workouts, by integrating a multitude of different sports and training methodologies. These include, but are not limited to, Olympic weightlifting, HIIT, strongman, and gymnastics. Conducted in a communal setting known as a "box", participants are encouraged to focus on a multitude of ‘functional movements’, in a bid to become as ‘fit’ as possible.
Criticism
To be clear, my thoughts on CrossFit aren’t entirely negative. In fact, there are some aspects that I love, including the aesthetic of most ‘boxes’, and the sense of community that you simply don’t get in other gyms. Nevertheless, let’s get into the nitty gritty…
1. Lack of Progressive Overload
Progressive overload is a fundamental principle of strength training, which involves gradually increasing the resistance or intensity of workouts to promote muscle growth and strength development. One of the major pitfalls of CrossFit is the deliberate lack of structured, individualised progression. In fact, CrossFit prides itself on the incessant variety and scope of its training program. This is superb if you want to get a sweat on for the sake of getting a sweat on, but it’s not conducive to developing muscle mass and strength.
2. High Barrier to Entry
CrossFit workouts often involve complex movements requiring a high-degree of skill and technique to execute safely, which then acts as a deterrent for beginners looking to get into fitness. A typical CrossFit WOD could feasibly include running, barbell snatches, and ring muscle-ups. All of these components are sports within their own right (athletics, Olympic weightlifting and gymnastics). Athletes spend entire careers trying to master just one of them, let alone all of them, and then be competent enough to perform them back-to-back under fatigue.
3. Risk of Injury
CrossFit’s emphasis on intense, fast-paced workouts can lead to participants performing highly complex movements under significant fatigue and time pressure. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that this quest for intensity comes at the expense of proper form and technique, creating the ideal breeding ground for unavoidable injuries.
What’s Next?
Whilst CrossFit's popularity has experienced a decline in recent years, the fitness industry has learned from these pitfalls and evolved to create new fitness competitions that aim to be more accessible, structured, and safe. In my opinion, Hyrox and ATHX are a great example of this, and will come to dominate the functional fitness environment in the coming years. More to come on them soon, keep your eyes peeled.
Summary
Once a fitness phenomenon, CrossFit has faced a noticeable decline in recent years. As new events like Hyrox emerge and take the industry by storm, the decline of CrossFit reflects a shift towards more accessible and structured training methods. It’s now up to CrossFit to decide whether it wishes to adapt to the changing appetite of the fitness industry, or double down on its flawed principles.