CANCER

The CrossFit stimulus—constantly varied high-intensity functional movement coupled with meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch, and no sugar—prepares you for the demands of a healthy, functional, independent life and provides a hedge against chronic disease and incapacity. This stimulus is elegant in the mathematical sense of being marked by simplicity and efficacy. The proven elements of this broad, general, and inclusive fitness, in terms of both movement and nutrition, are what we term our CrossFit Essentials.

Mastering CrossFit Gymnastics: How to Build Strength, Stability, and Confidence

Published on March 29, 2025

Struggling with gymnastics skills in CrossFit? You're not alone. Many athletes feel overwhelmed by movements like toes-to-bars and handstand push-ups, unsure how to improve. The key to mastering gymnastics is breaking it down — just like weightlifting — by focusing on four foundational elements: shapes, tension, flexibility, and strength. By consistently practicing static holds, mobility drills, and strict strength work, you can build a solid base for kipping and dynamic movements. This guide offers a structured three-week plan to improve your gymnastics skills, helping you do workouts as prescribed with confidence.

Strong Women Are the Standard

Published on March 26, 2025

The 2021 NCAA basketball tournament highlighted a long-standing misconception about women and strength training, but CrossFit has always challenged this narrative. In CrossFit, women lift heavy, develop real-world strength, and reap the benefits of resistance training — including improved metabolism, bone density, mobility, and overall health. Strength is essential for true fitness, and any program that neglects it is incomplete. Strong women aren’t the exception — they’re the standard.

Butterfly Pull-Ups: Should You Add Them to Your Training?

Published on March 22, 2025

Butterfly pull-ups are one of the most debated skills in CrossFit — praised for their efficiency yet criticized for their mechanics. Born from competition, they allow athletes to complete more work in less time, but do they belong in your training? This article explores the pros and cons of butterfly pull-ups, when (and if) you should learn them, and the strength prerequisites needed to perform them safely. Whether aiming for elite competition or just improving your gymnastics skills, this guide will help you decide if butterfly pull-ups are right for you.

The Power of CrossFit for the Aging Athlete: Strength, Longevity, and Community

Published on March 19, 2025

Aging doesn’t mean slowing down — especially in the CrossFit world. Despite societal misconceptions, aging adults often see the most significant fitness gains, improving strength, mobility, and overall well-being. CrossFit’s emphasis on functional movements, weight-bearing exercises, and high-intensity training helps counteract age-related muscle loss, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular decline. Beyond physical benefits, it fosters mental resilience, social connections, and a strong sense of community — crucial for maintaining motivation and independence. With scalable workouts tailored to individual needs, CrossFit empowers aging adults to stay active, confident, and engaged, proving that fitness is for every age.

How to Get Your First Ring Muscle-Up: Strength, Progressions, and Drills

Published on March 15, 2025

Ring muscle-ups may seem impossible, but with the right progressions, strength work, and drills, you can build the control and confidence needed to master them. This article breaks down the pull, transition, and dip, providing beginner and intermediate athletes with step-by-step workouts to bridge the gap from ring rows to muscle-ups. Don't avoid this skill — train smart and stay consistent to unlock one of CrossFit’s most challenging and fun movements.

CrossFit and the Interference Effect

Published on March 12, 2025

Traditional fitness wisdom once dictated that strength and endurance training should be separate to avoid the “interference effect,” where endurance work was believed to hinder strength gains and vice versa. CrossFit challenged this outdated approach by blending strength and conditioning within the same workouts, maximizing both in a way that traditional split routines cannot. While CrossFit incorporates pure endurance and heavy lifting days, its signature mixed-modality met-cons effectively bridge the gap, developing both aerobic and anaerobic capacity. This method yields superior fitness adaptations without excessive interference, preparing athletes for real-world demands where strength and endurance must coexist seamlessly.

Mastering the Handstand Walk: Drills, Scaling Options, and Progressions for CrossFit Athletes

Published on March 8, 2025

Handstand walking is an impressive athletic skill requiring strength, balance, and coordination. If you struggle with handstand walking in your workouts, this guide will help you build the necessary foundation through structured drills, scaling options, and progressions. Learn how to improve your handstand holds, weight shifting, and upper-body strength with targeted exercises for beginners and intermediate athletes. Plus, get a three-day practice plan to accelerate your progress and confidently walk on your hands in workouts.