CrossFit differentiates
itself from many other fitness cultures because of the apparent closer ties
both within its boxes and its wider universe. You pretty quickly know who everyone
is at a box and any anti-social use of globo gym style earphones is quickly
rinsed into submission. Members become friends, they share information and
knowledge via social media and forums. They go out together, they attend
competitions, they celebrate successes, they bond (aww bless), and they become
aware of the wider network that is the CrossFit community. We know the score...
right?
As the UK community
grows though and CrossFit potentially makes the jump from cocky little
pretender to fully fledged star of the team in the fitness world, we need to be
aware that the things we loved about Crossfit may change. This may not always
be for the better depending on where you're at on these things.
Reebok's involvement
has always caused a stir and plenty of post Wod chat as we guzzle our
Boditronics, BCAA's, discuss injuries; swap paleo brownie recipes, and debate
whether to start on steroids to make all this stuff a bit easier to deal with.
Will Reebok ultimately care about the community or will it just be seen as an
audience reach in the end? It's inadvertently changed a few existing
friendships I know of in the community already. Only the future will tell and
we've just all got to ride it out and see.
On the flip side of a
close knit box community, it can have its own subcultures too. As in all walks
of life people gravitate towards those they feel they have most in common with,
or are in line with their values and interests. Cliques are inevitable in most
social communities and..well.. I guess CrossFit itself is the biggest clique of
all while we are on the subject. People watching is a big guilty pleasure of
mine and I pick up on social dynamics pretty well I like to think. I notice the
people who make an effort with everyone, and those who don't so much. There was
a great comment on the CrossFit affiliates page relating to the healthy nature
of cliques:
A core 'group' or
clique that presents a non-exclusive non-alienating feel, can help create a cohesive
motivating family environment = Good!
An ego driven group or
clique that presents an exclusive alienating feel that is cold and
stand-off-ish can do just the opposite = Bad!
Maybe we should ask
ourselves when was the last time we walked up to a new member and chatted to
them about their Crossfit experiences or just got to know them? We should all
be mindful that CrossFit doesn't turn into American high school stereotypes in
UK boxes.
As CrossFit evolves at
boxes and with wider competition being ever more accessible, is it creating a
two tier CrossFit some may ask? The competitive tier for those who love to pit
their wits against other Crossfitters, take it on to another level, or see
where they lie in a larger scale hierarchy. Then there are those that are happy
with just using the regime to improve their life, get mobile and fitter and
take it one PB (Personal Best) at a time.
The reality is people
have different goals and are at different stages of their CrossFit experience.
General programming cannot always cover all the bases for everyone in their own
set timelines of achievement. You only have to look at how the programming at
an affiliate now is a world away from where it will have been two years ago.
Yet, we have new starters coming in at a higher standard because that's just
the way it is. The game has changed my friends... it's inevitable. More is
achieved by of the average CrossFitter both at your gym and I'm sure, boxes
across the world. Look at the rapid progress of the new breed. Their linear
progression across skills, loads and volume has often been far steeper than
probably anyone who picked up CrossFit two years ago because they viewed a
standard where they wanted to be and don't know any different. This is the
catch net effect of competition from the top level down in CrossFit. It pulls
everyones development along at a quicker rate. So if people want an accelerated
development, whatever ability, the Advanced/competitor programmes are an
option, nothing more.
To me that two tier has
always been there, its just more evident now the chance to compete outside your
box is more frequent and accessible and the abilities of your boxes
'firebreathers' (top tier athletes) move further on from your general
population. That should be celebrated and it is up to everyone to ensure those
two elements aren't at loggerheads. It's up to firebreathers to stay grounded
and inclusive, and its up to others not to feel lesser or envious.
CrossFit in the UK is
changing. It is moving out of its innocent, 'yay lets all be friends' stage
into something else. Sometimes the rose tinted glasses of the community need to
come off. On the most part it is awesome and primarily down to a number of high
profile individuals who look to ensure that is the case (Carl Dickson, Matthew
Evans, Karl Steadman, Sam Briggs and the London Throwdown boys..to name a few).
I can't speak for the whole UK but in our corner of the world there's not as
much inter-affiliate interaction going on, as in the past. This could be driven
by 'watching the pennies', as well as boxes having their own pressures and
priorities of course. Life is busy and often people wait to be led on such
missions. One thing that kind of disappointed me a little at DWF Games 2011 was
the mass exodus after the final event finished. A large sway didn't bother to
even see the podium presentations. I know some had long journeys to make but
hey what's 30 minutes in the grand scheme of things to cheer on those who had
given their all across increasingly gruelling workouts. After surviving two
days of leg-numbing standing to watch I didn't really get people doing that.
Bit like those that leave football matches before the final whistle to beat the
rush! It was a bit more symptomatic of "I'm just here for the win" or
"I'm only here to watch my box", not the community spirit I'd
expected. The community is different things to people I guess and we all have
different levels as to how much we immerse ourselves in it. Will it diminish
with a potential mainstream popularity of CrossFit?
Manchester will be one
of the first UK cities to have to manage a higher than average concentration of
CrossFit boxes. Three are close to the city centre, one in Ashton, two in
Stockport and QDos to follow in South Manchester. The lines between friends and
competitors are getting blurred for sure and not just in a throwdown workout!
Things are becoming a lot more professional and business like (e.g. see the
growth of cross sell products within gyms) and rightly so I guess.
As this concentration
increases a couple of things maybe need to happen. Either the general public
moves away from the Fitness First gyms of this world and see the CrossFit
light. (This could be the massive gain from Reebok's marketing work and create
demand and an upturn of interest) Or, individual boxes are going to have to
raise their game and shine like hell to attract and keep members in a heavily
contested market. This is where the issues of U.S. boxes that we have only read
about could come home to roost! Members switching for cheaper memberships,
specialisations, location, or, hell, just to change up. Don't be surprised in
the future if it turns into a car insurance situation with some, where loyalty
has no place. I'm sure this will be a small section of the CrossFit membership
but a headache nonetheless for box owners trying to keep a steady revenue. A
group membership idea for multiple boxes is something that has been adopted in
the US for high concentration areas. A noble idea! As to whether that could
work in the UK with the numbers doing CrossFit, the logisitics of creating it
and the reward for the individual boxes... hmmm toughie!!
Whatever happens... for
every great new development in the community there is always a new problem.
It's just how we choose to manage it to ensure the magic STAYS in the
community.
For more info go to
http://spartanstrength.co.uk/
Sean Murray is a
Manchester Personal Trainer/ CrossFit Trainer in Castlefield. He also runs his
own boot camp in Moston, North Manchester. He works with clients on their
weight/fat loss goals as well as performance athletes such as Triathletes and
Rugby League players to improve work capacity or weaknesses.
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