The Ultimate Guide to CrossFit Lingo

Everyone is working out at home right now, and trying different workouts they find on the internet, or perhaps they are lucky enough to have a coach actually programming workouts for them (cough, couch - that is what we do at CrossFit Weyburn, but more on that on another day!) but the lingo is so confusing! Check out some common CrossFit verbiage below.

WOD: Workout of the Day:  The WOD is written on the board in our gym as the workout to be done in class that day.

AMRAP: As many rounds (or reps) as possible.  This is a workout format where you have a specific amount of time to do as much work as possible as described in the workout.

EMOM: Every minute on the minute.  This is a workout format where you have a specific amount of time to do as much work as possible as described in the workout.

Tabata: This is a workout format where you perform 20 seconds of work followed by 10 seconds of rest. A typical Tabata set has 8 rounds.

RX = As prescribed.  If you complete a workout RX, that means you did it exactly as prescribed, with full range of motion and did not scale exercises.

The Girls:  These are named benchmark workouts that exist throughout the global CrossFit community. Don't underestimate the girls - they are tougher than they look.

The Heroes:  These are the other benchmark workouts. They are named after fallen military personnel, law enforcement officers, and other CrossFitters who have fallen in the line of duty. These workouts tend to be long and hard.

The Box:  A box is a term for a CrossFit facility.

The GHD (glute-ham developer):   This is a piece of equipment used for back extensions, hip extensions, and an advanced kind of sit up.

PR (personal record):  A PR is a personal record. When you have lifted more weight for a lift, done more rounds in an AMRAP, or have a faster time, or any other form of a new personal best. At the end of the day, you are only competing with yourself, and a PR is an achievement to be proud of.

BW:  Bodyweight

Clean and Jerk, Power Clean, Hang Power Clean, Squat Clean, Squat Snatch, Hang Snatch, Power Snatch:  All versions of Olympic Lifting.  Don’t attempt these lifts on your own.  Hire an Olympic Lifting Coach like us! 

Chin Up:  Bar is held with palms facing you.

Pull Up:  Bar is held with palms NOT facing you.

Chipper: A workout with many reps and many movements. You “chip away at it.”  It is usually done “for time.”

CrossFit Open: Initial round of the CrossFit Games. Open to anyone!  We treat it as a fun gym event. 

CrossFit Regionals: regional qualifying competitions for CrossFit Games.

C2B: Chest to bar pull up. Pull body up so that chest crosses the bar.

Double Unders:  Two turns of the jump rope per jump.

GPP: General Physical Preparedness.

HSPU:  Handstand Push Up

K2E:  Knees to Elbows. While hanging from pull up bar, raise knees up to touch your elbows.

MetCon:  Metabolic Conditioning

Muscle Up: A combination of pull-up and ring dip.

Pood:  Russian weight measure for kettlebells. 1 pood = 16kg/35lbs.

Pistol: One-legged squat.

Rack Position: Bar resting on your collar bone supported by your hands.

Rep: A repetition or instance of a given exercise.

RM: Repetition maximum. The most you can lift for a given number of repetitions. IE: 1 rep max, etc.

ROM: Range of motion

Set: a group of repetitions

Stabilize the Midline: Controlling the muscles around the spine to make it stable and strong during exercise.

Toes to Bar (T2B): While hanging from a pull up bar, bring toes up to bar.

Touch and Go: No pausing between reps, make sure the weight bounces really hard so you don’t even have to do another rep.

Unbroken:  Perform all workouts in a row or start over at the beginning. Definitely not a term used for your body afterwards.