ESSENTIALS

The biggest risk you face as an aging athlete is not training at all. Here's why the strongest bodies are the safest bodies, and how CrossFit builds the physical capacity that protects you in the gym and in everyday life.

People call CrossFit a cult — and honestly, we get it. But if fighting disease, building real community, and staying strong enough to play with your grandkids at 80 makes us a cult, then maybe it's time to reconsider what you've been calling "normal."

Critics say CrossFit lacks progressive overload because you can't track it on a neat spreadsheet — but that's exactly the point. Constant variation creates a 10-year adaptation window where you're getting stronger, faster, and more skilled across every domain simultaneously, which is why you have athletes who can clean 400 lb and crush Fran in 2 minutes.

Pacing strategies can optimize your performance, but they can also become an excuse to avoid discomfort and make workouts easier than they should be. Every once in a while, forget the plan, rip into a workout with everything you've got, and rediscover what happens when you actually push your limits, even if it means crashing and burning.

Most fitness tests measure 10 things once a year and call it comprehensive, but what happens when they change the test, or when your real progress happens in the 47 areas they didn't measure? CrossFit tests you daily across unlimited movements, time domains, and challenges, so when any test comes, you're already ready.

It’s that time of year again! Here’s a list to kickstart your holiday shopping, with the best items for every CrossFit athlete in your life.

Maintaining razor-sharp snatch technique doesn't require hours of dedicated practice — just consistent 10-minute sessions twice a week. This progressive 3-week practice cycle uses the Burgener Warm-up and position-specific drills to help you hit the mid-thigh, nail your footwork, and pull yourself under the bar with lightning speed.

Think you know the wall-ball shot? This foundational movement delivers a cardiovascular punch that rivals any traditional cardio workout — and it was invented by CrossFit. Discover why proper technique matters, how functional movements build real-world fitness, and test yourself with a brutal 6-minute challenge that will leave no doubt about the wall-ball shot’s metabolic power.

These vibrant steak bowls are loaded with flavor, color, and nutrition. Juicy sirloin steak is seared to perfection and topped with a zesty chimichurri sauce, then served over a wholesome base of quinoa with roasted rainbow vegetables. It’s a balanced, energizing meal that feels just as fun as it does nourishing.

From its humble beginnings as a 1930s fitness test to its current status as one of CrossFit's most loved and hated movements, the burpee has earned its reputation as the ultimate bodyweight exercise that requires nothing but delivers everything. This article explores the history behind Royal H. Burpee's creation, breaks down the science of why it’s so effective, and provides nine burpee-forward workouts to help you master the exercise that builds both physical strength and mental resilience in equal measure.