The list of CrossFit movements is extensive and, to make matters worse, many of the exercise names and other terms are in English. There are dozens of acronyms and pieces of equipment specific to the sport. To help you, we created the CrossFit Dictionary.
In the list, athletes encounter expressions and abbreviations specific to the American sport. It is quite possible that even English-speaking athletes will spend a few minutes deciphering the WOD (Workout of the Day), which means Workout of the Day. Considering that your Coach won't always be by your side, we decided to make your life easier and have compiled the expressions that are part of everyday CrossFit.
TIP: USE “CTRL + F” TO LOCATE THE WORD OR EXPRESSION
ABMAT: Small anatomically shaped pad to be positioned on the lower back for abdominal exercises. Also used to cushion impacts (e.g., HSPU);
AFFILIATE / AFFILIATION: Official link between the BOX and CrossFit. The Box is only recognized as CrossFit after going through the six stages of official affiliation;
AIR SQUAT / AS: Squat performed without added load, using only your own body weight;
AIRDYNE / ASSAULT BIKE: Arm ergometer with articulated arms that uses air resistance;
AMRAP (AS MANY ROUNDS/REPS AS POSSIBLE): Type of WOD in which the time is fixed and the athlete has to complete the greatest number of rounds or repetitions possible;
AFAP (AS FAST AS POSSIBLE): Type of WOD in which a fixed number of rounds or reps must be completed in the shortest time possible;
ATG (ASS TO GRASS): Deep squat. Bring the hips as close to the ground as possible. Do not confuse with BREAKING PARALLEL;
ATLAS STONE: Heavy concrete spheres used by strongmen and CrossFit athletes;
BS (BACK SQUAT): Squat performed with the bar positioned behind the neck;
BANDS: Resistance bands used, for example, to adapt PULL UPS or in MOBILITY activities;
BAR FACING BURPEE: Burpee whose repetition starts with the face facing the bar and ends with a jump with both feet over the bar;
BMU / BAR MUSCLE UP – MUSCLE UP: It is an elevation in which you continue the movement vertically, and transition to a dip movement to finish. In other words, it is a combination of an elevation and a dip performed on the bar;
BEAR COMPLEX: Traditional weightlifting sequence consisting of 1 power clean, 1 front squat, 1 push press, 1 back squat and 1 push press, performed sequentially without letting go of the bar;
BP / BENCH PRESS: Bench press. Exercise for strengthening the chest and triceps;
BW / BODYWEIGHT: Reference used to define the athlete's loads relative to their body weight;
BJ / BOX JUMP: Jumping over the box. Exercise consisting of jumping over the box and extending the hips with both feet positioned on top of it;
BJO / BOX JUMP OVER: Jumping over the box. Variation of the box jump consisting of jumping from one side of the box to the other;
BRO REPS: Irregular repetition, but one that was counted as valid by the judge. It is ironically called a bro rep / brother repetition / repetition validated by the bro/friend;
BUMPER PLATES: Hard and durable rubber bumper plates;
BURPEE: Movement in which the athlete starts standing, touches their chest to the ground, and finishes with full hip extension in a jump with a clap above their head;
BBJO / BURPEE BOX JUMP OVER: Variation of the BURPEE that replaces the clap jump with the BJO;
BOB / BURPEE OVER THE BAR: Variation of the BURPEE that replaces the clap jump with a jump with both feet together over the bar;
BOX: The name given to the CrossFit training facility;
BUTTERFLY: The fastest method for performing cyclic PULL UPS;
BUY IN: Exercise prescribed to be performed immediately before the start of the WOD, but which is already calculated in the athlete's time or score;
C2 / CONCEPT 2: The reference rowing ergometer brand for CrossFit. Simulates rowing;
CASH OUT: Exercise to be performed immediately after the WOD, but which is also calculated in the athlete's time or score;
CHALK: Magnesium carbonate. Used to increase the friction of the hands with the equipment;
C2B / CHEST TO BAR: Variation of the PULL UP whose repetition validation requires the chest to touch the bar;
CU / CHIN UP: Exercise consisting of a PULL UP with a supinated grip on a pull-up bar, passing the chin beyond the line of the bar;
CHIPPER: Type of WOD characterized by several repetitions of a large sequence of different movements (e.g., FILTHY FIFTY);
CLEAN: Classic weightlifting movement consisting of taking the bar off the ground and positioning it on the shoulders. The movement ends with full hip extension;
C&J / CLEAN & JERK: Olympic weightlifting classic composed of two movements: clean followed by jerk, which consists of projecting the bar from the shoulders above the head;
CLUSTER: Movement specific to CrossFit that combines a SQUAT CLEAN and a THRUSTER. Each repetition starts with the bar on the ground;
COACH: Professional fitness instructor who leads the workout, teaching technique, correcting execution, and sharing experiences with the athletes;
COMPLEX: Series of weightlifting exercises to be completed without letting go of the bar;
CROSSFIT GAMES: World competition held annually with the best CrossFit athletes in the world;
CROSSFIT HQ: The world's first CrossFit box. Founded by Greg Glassman in Santa Cruz, California, USA;
CROSSFIT JOURNAL: CrossFit's official journal with daily publications. Annual subscription: $25;
CROSSFIT OPEN: The world's largest online fitness competition. After five weeks of challenges (one wod per week), the ranking is defined among hundreds of thousands of athletes around the world;
CROSSFIT TOTAL: The sum of the highest results of the SQUAT, SHOULDER PRESS and DEADLIFT;
DL / DEADLIFT: One of the three fundamental movements of POWERLIFTING, which consists of lifting the bar off the ground to hip height in one movement;
DNF / DID NOT FINISH: Means that the athlete did not complete the entire prescribed workout;
DNS / DID NOT START: Means that the athlete did not start the WOD at the timer's whistle. e.g., lost time putting on accessories and missed the start of the wod;
DOMS / DELAYED ONSET MUSCLE SORENESS: Delayed onset muscle soreness. That characteristic muscle pain that peaks 48 hours after an intense workout;
DU / DOUBLE UNDERS: Jump rope with a double step. Each repetition is validated with two rope steps in a single jump by the athlete;
EMOM / EVERY MINUTE ON THE MINUTE: Programming method consisting of defining a series of exercises/movements to be performed at every 60-second interval;
FIREBREATHER: Term used to refer to outstanding athletes who make very difficult exercises look like a simple warm-up;
FOAM ROLLER: Massage roller used for myofascial release;
FT / FOR TIME: Type of WOD in which the time is limited to perform the greatest number of repetitions possible;
FS / FRONT SQUAT: Squat performed with the bar resting on the front of the shoulders (in front of the neck);
GHD / GLUTE HAM DEVELOPER: Equipment used for large-range exercises to strengthen the abdominal and back muscles;
GLOBET SQUATS: Squat performed while holding a free weight (e.g., kettlebell) at chest height;
GRED GLASSMAN: Founder of CrossFit;
GTOH / G2OH / GROUND TO OVER HEAD: Any movement that starts with the weight on the ground and ends above the head (e.g., C & J or SNATCH);
GYMNASTICS: Set of exercises that explore agility and motor coordination. They derive from the influence of Olympic gymnastics on CrossFit;
HAND RELEASE PUSH UP: A variation of the PUSH UP in which the athlete will have to lose contact of the hands with the ground after touching the chest and hips to the ground;
HSPU / HANDSTAND PUSH UP: Push-up in the handstand position. The movement starts with the arms extended followed by a push-up until the head touches the ground and returns to the initial position;
HANG (HANG CLEAN & HANG SNATCH): Starting position for CLEAN or SNATCH movements in which the bar is positioned immediately above the knee;
HERO WOD: Very hard benchmark WODs created in memory of fallen heroes (military, firefighters, police officers);
HIIT / HIGH INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING: Training technique consisting of short, but intense training intervals;
HOLLOW ROCKS: Gymnastics exercise consisting of rocking the body on the ground while staying firm with the arms and legs extended;
HOOK GRIP: Method of holding the lifting bar consisting of positioning the thumb between the bar and the other fingers. It provides essential firmness in the grip of Olympic lifts;
KB / KETTLEBELL: Equipment characterized as an iron/steel ball with a handle very common in CrossFit;
KBS / KETTLEBELL SWINGS: Exercise performed with the KETTLEBELL consisting of raising the weight from below the hips to above shoulder height (Russian style) or until the arms align with the spine reaching full extension (American style);
KIPPING: Gymnastics technique consisting of using the coordinated movement of the whole body to help complete a movement (e.g., using the whole body to complete a PULL UP);
K2E / KTE / KNEES TO ELBOWS: Movement consisting of bringing the knees to the elbows, while the athlete is hanging from the pull-up bar;
L-SIT: L-shaped position formed by the athlete who keeps the torso vertical and extends the legs in a horizontal position to perform a PUSH UP or stay static on the PARALLETTES for example;
LEGLESS: Term used for rope climbing without the use of legs;
LIFTERS: Footwear specially developed for Olympic weightlifting;
LUNGE: Movement consisting of walking with large steps ensuring that the knee of the leg positioned behind touches the ground;
ME / MAX EFFORT: Means that the athlete has to give their all without thinking about rest or recovery;
MEDICINE BALL: Soft weighted ball commonly used in CrossFit for throwing at a target;
METCON: Structured training pattern with intense activities to maximize the efficiency of a specific energy system of the athlete's body;
MOBILITY / MOBILITY: The increase in mobility directly and positively affects the efficiency of both gymnastics exercises and Olympic lifting movements;
MUSCLE UP: Gymnastics movement in which the athlete starts suspended under the pull-up bar and ends on top of the pull-up bar with arms extended;
NO REP: Repetition performed in disagreement with the standards established by CrossFit. Unscored repetition. e.g., PULL UP attempt in which the chin does not pass the line of the pull-up bar;
OLYMPIC BAR / OLYMPIC BAR: Steel bar measuring 2.20m and weighing 20kg, which follows the official parameters of the International Weightlifting Federation;
OPEN GYM: Time when the BOX is open for athletes to train freely (without a class or prescribed workout). An option offered by many CrossFit boxes during off-peak hours;
OHS / OVERHEAD SQUAT: Squat performed with the barbell loaded above the head with arms extended;
PALEO: Nutritional program widely adopted by CrossFitters around the world. It basically consists of eating like our ancestors: game meat, fruit, roots, and nuts; no processed foods, sugar, or cultivated grains;
PARALLETTES: Portable equipment consisting of two parallel bars that allow you to perform various exercises. E.g., dips, L-SIT HOLD, PUSH-UPS;
PR / PERSONAL RECORD: Personal record of the heaviest weight ever lifted for a given movement, the fastest time, or the highest number of repetitions ever recorded for a specific WOD;
PISTOLS: Squat performed with only one foot touching the ground throughout the movement;
