CrossFit or Hybrid Fit? Who Cares?

CrossFit or Hybrid Fit? Who Cares?

It's funny isn't it. How groups of people championing what is essentially the same thing get so protective over their idea and ideal of fitness. The reality is what people who are passionate about both sometimes miss is that the overall aim of both is to ensure that people are prepared for anything life throws at them, to help people remain healthy, help them remain active and independent for as long as possible.

The term Hybrid Fit also get confused or closely tied to Hyrox. Much like how the methodology and sport of CrossFit get so closely intertwined that it can be hard to tell the difference. Let's be clear here to start….

The methodologies combine the best parts of health and fitness to keep people healthy and active for longer, recognising that specialising in one aspect of fitness might get you fit for a specific aspect of life or sport but not necessarily keep you fit enough to take on any challenge (I was struck by the words in Bradley Wiggins autobiography where he talks about not carrying his luggage into the airport because he might get injured before winning the Tour De France as an example of the best road cyclist in the world not being able to lift something heavy without risk of injury). There is then the elite sporting element of these where the methodologies are taken and used in a more competitive way (CrossFit Games, Hyrox and numerous other Fitness Event). The reality is those who specialise in those events are just that, specialists. Their goals relating to the methodology go well beyond what the methodologies aim to achieve. You are not going to make it to the CrossFit Games or into the top of the Elite 15 series in Hyrox by doing 3 - 6 classes a week. What you will get by doing 3 - 6 well programmed and well coached classes a week is very fit and very competent in a number of skills that are transferable to real life. You will give yourself the chance to be healthy - you can't completely out train poor nutrition, hydration and sleep though. It comes as a package. 

When you take a step back, the reality is these training styles all support the ultimate aim of keeping people healthier, fitter and stronger for longer. The variety, I appreciate, can be a challenge for gyms. Do you have multiple offerings or specialise in one or two things? Difficult for coaches, to coach varied classes every day with various different people of differing abilities. There are pro's and con's to both and much like how not every type of training is right for every individual each gym, coaching group and local environment is unique. What works in one area might not in another so ultimately there is no one right answer to either what type of training is the best.

What I will say definitively on the subject is that once people have a positive relationship with fitness and working out, in whatever form that is, they are more likely to stay within the fitness ecosystem for a long time, trying and experimenting with different ways to train. As CrossFit enthusiasts it's also easy to forget that a core part of our methodology is 'Try New Sports' and equally that we champion how CrossFit Training will benefit people who play numerous other sports. The Fitness industry is an ecosystem. Rather than fighting each other, my personal view is that working in harmony, creating a cohesive and easy ecosystem for people to work through is the best way to benefit the widest audience.

Andy