CrossFit vs. Traditional Gym: Which Is Better?
Ahhh. The question everyone wants to know the answer to. Or should I say, the answer they’re WANTING or looking for.
Most people who question if going to a CrossFit gym is worth it over a traditional gym, or bring up the debate, have already talked themselves out of it. But why? What’s different about a CrossFit gym that makes people pay the price and chose this over your traditional gym (planet fitness, the ymca, local gyms, etc) ?
HOT TAKE: NO ONE WORKS HARDER ALONE THEN THEY DO WITH OTHERS!
Now if you got offended by that bold take, do me a favor, and just think for a minute. Why did you get offended? What if I told you, I got offended a bit myself because most of my workouts as a coach are done alone and when no one is watching? I’ll be the first to admit that it’s much more difficult to work as hard when no one is watching compared to being next to the guy who you know you’re comparing your fitness to and he’s doing the same. He might not voice it to you, but you know when the clock starts….you want to out fitness him/her!
I used to be that guy who found a random workout program online from bodybuilding.com and would go to the gym with an outline of random crap someone put on the internet. Sure, it worked at first (because I didn’t workout at all before then, so anything was better than nothing), but there were more days than not that I talked myself out of showing up or doing the work that I found the night before on a random site. Sound familiar?
When I first walked into a CrossFit gym, I was introduced to the burpee. Oh yeah. A fat, out of shape, kid who thought there’s no way this 40 year old dude named Ryan could keep up. Needless to say, I was utterly defeated. This started the journey of not can I beat Ryan, but can I become the fittest/best version of myself. I returned home to buy a full set of CrossFit equipment and began to workout like a mad man addicted to the CrossFit but everyday there after. I also would make trip to workout with Ryan and others where I learned about this CrossFit thing and keep tabs on how much fitter I was getting over time and also what I still needed to improve at.
This led to not only me chasing after fitness goals, but life goals as well. At 20 years old, I started my own gym in Illinois. I grew from my home garage to a 10,000+ sq foot facility in just over two years, exceeding anyone (including my own) expectations. I also began a career in law enforcement which I excelled at, and give all my credit to CrossFit for teaching me how to have a great work ethic. I was able to earn my accolades through my law enforcement career and fitness journey which I’m still pursuing. I was also able to train various levels of athletes, from high school who went on to play collegiate sports, and many division 1 athletes who would come to me for training in their offseason (obviously proud of this one!)
At 27 years old, I’m now selling my first ever gym and starting a new one 5 states away. Needless to say, what’s different about CrossFit than any other gym is that it’s a lifestyle. It’s not something we just show up and do everyday (tho this is true!). We also care this type of behavior into every other aspect of life (careers, family, relationships, FAITH!).
CrossFit teaching us how to be the best version of ourself by showing up each and everyday, and giving it our best effort, no matter the circumstance.
“How long will you wait until you demand the best of yourself?”
“If your choices are beautiful, so too will you be”
-Coach Korbs