by Caryna St. John

Created on: May 10, 2009

Is Crossfit exercise a good alternative

Crossfit training is used by mixed martial arts combatants on a daily basis. It is also used by everyday people to get fit and in shape. Crossfit combines workout methods such as aerobic exercise with weight training exercise, to improve one's strength as well as endurance.

To begin, one simply needs to go to the main

Crossfit website. There, they can look up the workout of the day (WOD). If one does not know how to perform the actions required to complete the WOD, there are examples of the movement in demonstrative videos on the site as well.

Some criticize Crossfitters for their cult-like following of the program. People often model their daily lives after the workouts, subdividing tasks into 21-15-9 bursts. There is also a recommended diet known as "The Zone," further ensnaring people into the Crossfit methodology. However, these rumors are unfounded; Crossfit is not a cult. It is simply a workout routine posted on the internet every day so that people may freely use it to get in shape.

In order to start Crossfit, it is recommended that you have a gym or fitness center that has bumper plates. Bumper plates are simply rubber weights so that one may drop a barbell on the ground without causing much noise or commotion to be made. It is also recommended that a person have a set of rings in order to perform movements such as ring dips and muscle-ups. If you don't know what exercises these are, there are demos on the main website.

It is also helpful to have a basic understanding of Olympic lifting, such as cleans, snatches, and jerks. There are plenty of workouts featured on the main site that do not involve these exercises, but it is still recommended if one wishes to follow Crossfit by the book.

Crossfit is not an official televised "sport," but those who do it hope to see it become one in the near future. There are competitions for the Crossfit Games every year. Qualifiers are held in different regions in Canada, Europe, Australia, and America to gather the best athletes for the Crossfit Games, held in California.

In summary, Crossfit is a healthy way to get in shape quickly and effectively. Some people praise Crossfit for allowing them to get into better shape or making them a better athlete overall. As mentioned earlier, professional MMA fighters use this training method as a means to train for up-coming fights. If you are looking for a new exercise challenge, Crossfit may just fit the bill.

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