What is CrossFit and what does WOD, AMRAP, Chipper and Tabata mean?
- CrossFit is growing in popularity but the glossary of words might leave you confused – fear not, everything you need to know is here
CrossFit is growing in popularity. There seems to be a gym on every corner, but what is the difference between it and any other exercise? And did you know, they’ve turned this workout into a hugely popular sport where athletes compete for the title ‘Fittest on Earth’? You may have a host of questions and hopefully all of them are answered below, but there is one burning question I can answer right now: No, it’s not in the rules the men have to take part topless. They do it out of choice, for some reason.
What is CrossFit?
CrossFit is a workout routine. It started in 2000, in California. It aims to encourage ‘functional’ movements. This means, movements you are likely to replicate in real life, like jumping, reaching, squatting or lifting your own body weight.
What are the CrossFit Games?
For some of the fittest, CrossFit is a competition. The Games began in 2007 and have grown into a huge tournament. There are numerous competitions around the world, but this is the ultimate. The best from each country qualifies via the Open, a five-week competition with a workout released each week. Competitors video themselves completing the tasks and uploading them online to get a score. The best score from each country goes through. Others qualify via a sanctional event, which are small competitions around the world, like in Dubai or Miami.
