Cross Fitness

Cross Fitness Explained

By:  Cipta Jaya

cross fitness training

We might find ourselves doing all sorts of different physical activities-each requiring different muscles and diverse combinations of skill sets throughout any given day.

Cross fitness means to train across multiple disciplines that develop different skills such as strength, agility, speed and endurance.

Its roots can probably be traced way back to the days of the Spartans in ancient Greece, and today’s modern cross-fitness was popularized by guys in the military and law enforcement.

Why has Cross Fitness become so popular?

People started to realize that a one-dimensional approach can be limiting and more knowledgeable about overall fitness.

It doesn’t necessarily mean that if a guy lifts weight and maybe looks really buff is really all that strong-big muscles aren’t always powerful muscles. Or to compete in a competition that requires strength, agility or endurance, it also doesn’t mean that he’s particularly athletic.

An excellent illustration of this is Strongman competitions.  You really want to know how to prepare yourself for the competition?

They have to be strong, agile and have endurance in order to compete – not just being big and buffed.  These competitions might require them to carry up to 300 lbs in each hand across a distance as fast as they can, drag a semi-truck across a field or to toss kegs in the air!

Competitors need to focus on developing multiple, diverse skill sets at the same time just to qualify and win in these competitions.

What are the things that you need to do in a cross fitness?

There are a lot of different exercises to choose from, that’s the first thing that you need to know.  A typical training session might blend sprinting, gymnastics and power lifting.  Exercises are done using kettle bells, free weights, body weight exercises and more.  The exercises are done fast and they’re done hard with little or no rest in between sets.

Here is a very basic beginner’s Cross Fitness routine:

A 400-meter Jog/run;

Dead lift;

Push-press; and

Squat

It can be completed in less than 30 minutes for a five-day-a week routine.

On day one you jog/run and do dead lifts; the next day it’s just the jog/run; day three is jog/run and push-press; day 4 is jog/run and day 5 is jog/run and squat.

Gradually increase your weights each week and run faster to improve your capacity.  More difficult and more complex exercises can be included to a more advanced routine as you improve.   As Cross Fitness doesn’t require fancy high-tech equipment, it can be done at the gym, in the park or at home.  In fact, the routine above only requires two pieces of equipment: an Olympic bar and some plates.

Cross Fitness in general is able to be mastered by persons of any skill or competency level, as its exercises are designed to be easy-to-learn.

Overall there are ten domains where Cross Fitness athletes strive for proficiency: agility, balance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, cardiovascular/respiratory endurance, coordination, and accuracy.

You might want to give Cross Fitness a try if you’re interested in developing multiple skill sets, looking for something different, really want to get into all-around good shape and are sure that you’re up to the challenge!

Check out my Fitness Machine guide should you need any information on what Fitness Exercise Machines you need to have.