What is Fitness?
By Greg Glassman
In Basics, Classic, CrossFit, ExPhysiology, Reference
October 01, 2002
What Is Fitness and Who Is Fit?
Outside Magazine crowned triathlete Mark Allen "the fittest man on earth." Let’s just assume for a moment that this famous six-time winner of the IronMan Triathlon is the fittest of the fit, then what title do we bestow on the decathlete Simon Poelman who also possesses incredible endurance and stamina, yet crushes Mr. Allen in any comparison that includes strength, power, speed, and coordination?
Perhaps the definition of fitness doesn’t include strength, speed, power, and coordination though that seems rather odd. Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines "fitness" and being "fit" as the ability to transmit genes and being healthy. No help there. Searching the Internet for a workable, reasonable definition of fitness yields disappointingly little. Worse yet, the NSCA, the most respected publisher in exercise physiology, in their highly authoritative Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning doesn’t even attempt a definition.
Crossfit's Fitness
For CrossFit the specter of championing a fitness program without clearly defining what it is that the program delivers combines elements of fraud and farce. The vacuum of guiding authority has therefore necessitated that CrossFit’s directors provide their own definition of fitness. That's what this issue of CrossFit Journal is about, our "fitness."
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22 Comments on “What is Fitness?”
1
wrote …
The section "The First Fitness Standard" which describes the 10 attributes of fitness actually only lists 9 of the 10 attributes. "Speed" should have been listed as well. I've read this article half a dozen times and caught the omission only just now.
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2
wrote …
Just a head's up: the link to Simon Poelman's bio page on that site has changed to www.decathlon2000.ee/eng/athletes.php?art=573
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3
Joey Dussel replied to comment from John Maloney…
I was going to say that also.
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4
wrote …
The pdf will not print. Has anyone else had this problem? I'd like to print it and show my friends. Can someone check the link to see if its got a problem? Thanks!
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5
wrote …
If anyone comes to Charlottesville feel free to drop by our CrossFit box. This article is a classic. We also have a good CrossFit Charlottesville FAQ
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6
wrote …
The third pathway, the oxidative, dominates
low-powered activities, those that last in excess of several min-
utes. Hereโs an excellent reference for additional information: http:
//predator.pnb.uconn.edu/beta/virtualtemp/muscle/exercise-folder/
muscle.html
The above link doesn't work. Can anyone recommend an alternate link that goes into the 3 pathways in detail?
Thanks,
Charles
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7
wrote …
@Charles Bram, this link may be useful to explain:
www.bio.miami.edu/~cmallery/150/physiol/energy.htm
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8
wrote …
This document blew my mind when I first read it and still does to this day. It is revolutionary.
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9
wrote …
@Eugene Thank you. I just now saw the response you left me.
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10
wrote …
This article sums it up the best. About 99% of the questions I have been asked about CrossFit are answered in "What is Fitness?".
-Rick
Aliso CrossFit
Aliso Viejo, CA
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11
wrote …
I recently failed my level 1 test by one lousy mark. Some of the questions within the test were not in the training guide provided. For example the info on macro and micronutrients plus a few more. Were we meant to receive any other booklets? Or does anyone know where i can learn more about the nutrition side of it without being too broad?I now have to travel 3500km to re-sit so I really NEED to pass this time. Any help would be MASSIVELY appreciated!! :)
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12
wrote …
As a medical student (and hopefully future sports medicine practitioner) and an avid Crossfitter, I always found a discrepency among medical fitness prescriptions and that of CrossFit until I read this article (journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/Abstract/2011/07000/Quantity_and_Quality_of_Exercise_for_Developing.26.aspx) It's as if I read the "What is Fitness" article by coach in a much more lengthy, scientifically cited fashion. But the details are ALL the same! In fact, I've started giving out "what is fitness" to fellow students and practicing physicians as a layman's explanation to give to patients to help them understand what is expected of them.
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13
replied to comment from John Maloney…
I truly love Crossfit, but I truly have a difficult time with tests in general I usually have to take them 3-6 times before I pass. I believe I have test anxiety syndrome!!! So on the test is does ask what is the Crossfit definition of "Fitness" and there are quite a few possible answers, can someone please tell me the correct answer! Here is something my husband gave to me today when I found out that I failed once again on my test, maybe it can help you to...It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all- in which case, you fail by default.
-J.K. Rowling
Have a good day fellow Crossfitters!!
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14
wrote …
I am taking the certification on Nov 17. I have read the training guide and I am working on the article "What is Fitness now." Anything else anyone recommend I study? Thanks!
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15
wrote …
@Justin Reyes
The reading that you have done will only help you turn pages when they reference them at the cert, not to say that reading it's contents in full won't help you, it will, but that all of the instruction is based on that text so it will all sound familiar. Take an extra binder that you will dedicate as your CrossFit binder and take notes. The instruction, demonstration, and coaching tips you will get are phenomenal as well as the eye candy i.e. Miranda, Julie, Camille (cross your fingers that one of them attend). Again if you know the material, you'll pass, so pay special attention to how they coach a client and try to take that away from the cert. The girls, Spealler, Khalipa, Maddox, Lipson, and Chan are all amazing coaches as they are athletes. Also any article or video here on the journal are extremely helpful.
Cheers!
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16
replied to comment from Marie Sheehan…
regarding saving as a pdf
1. hover your mouse up the top right of your computer over the "TOOLS" icon. It looks like a round circle with blunt spikes on it (not the star or little house)
2. click on the tools icon
3. file
4. save as...
5. save as you want it
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17
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