Something has been bugging me for a while now.
It usually starts with a phone call. Someone’s keen to join the gym. They’ve “done CrossFit before,” they say, and they’re keen to get started. I always ask where, and they name a gym that sounds vaguely familiar — but here’s the thing:
That gym isn’t a CrossFit affiliate. It’s an independent or franchised gym that looks like CrossFit — there’s a rig, some barbells, maybe even the word “functional” in the name — but it’s not the real thing.
At this point, I usually find myself having the same polite but awkward conversation I’ve had hundreds of times over the years: “That’s actually not a licensed CrossFit affiliate… so although you’ve done workouts that might look like CrossFit, you haven’t actually done CrossFit.”
It’s not their fault. But it does matter..
Because what usually follows is another pattern I’ve seen too many times to count: the person arrives, ready to jump into classes, but their movement standards aren’t up to standard. Faulty mechanics, no understanding of progressions, and often some bad habits to undo. That’s not a reflection on them — that’s a reflection on the system they came from and that somewhere along the line they were told “you are doing CrossFit.”
So now we’re in a tricky spot. We have to slow them down, and take them through our CrossFit Fundamentals program to re-teach them, and sometimes even correct months or years of ingrained movement patterns. That takes time, care, and coaching. And while we’re always happy to do it, the person should never have been put in that position.
And this is why the distinction matters.
So, What is CrossFit?
CrossFit, at its core, is a licensed methodology. It’s a way of training built around constantly varied, functional movements performed at high intensity. But that’s not all.
To call yourself a CrossFit gym, you must be an affiliate. That means:
- Your coaches are trained and certified by CrossFit HQ (starting with the CrossFit Level 1 course).
- You pay an annual fee to be part of the network.
- You uphold a standard of quality, safety, and education.
There’s also a difference in the capacity of a CrossFit gym to teach you a wide variety of movements – including Olympic weightlifting and gymnastics… This often gets missed by CrossFIt knock offs, because they’re too hard to teach, or they don’t have the equipment to do so. We have both, because we believe in the methodology.
It’s not just a label. It’s a commitment.
Anyone can mimic the style. But without the system and the education behind it, it’s just chaos with a barbell.
And I think that’s why we’re seeing more and more gyms use the word “CrossFit” or “functional training” even if they’re not affiliated — because CrossFit is cool. It works. It gets results. And it’s tempting, if you’re an ambitious trainer, to simply say “yeah, it’s CrossFit” when someone asks. No need to correct them. Just sign here.
But here’s the problem: once you remove the standards, the education, the coaching, and the methodology, it stops being CrossFit.
How We Do Things Differently
At FitLab CrossFit 3000, we have been a licensed CrossFit affiliate since 2011.
Every coach on our floor is at least CrossFit Level 1 certified, with years of experience under their belt. We also hold additional qualifications in Olympic weightlifting, gymanstics, rehab, nutrition, and more. We don’t just know how to do the movements — we know how to teach, scale, correct, and progress them.
And we don’t throw beginners straight into the fire.
Instead, we take every new member through our dedicated beginners program — six one-on-one personal training sessions designed to teach the fundamentals: movement mechanics, body awareness, scaling options, and the language of the gym. We teach you how to squat, press, hinge, pull, jump, row, and breathe. And we meet you at your level — not someone else’s.
Why? Because you deserve that.
When you finally step into our group classes, you’ll feel confident, capable, and part of a group where everyone knows what they’re doing. This creates a safer, more enjoyable, and more effective training environment — and raises the standard for everyone involved.
What You Can Do
If you’re interested in doing CrossFit — the real thing — here’s what to look for:
- Is the gym a licensed CrossFit Affiliate?
- Are the coaches certified by CrossFit (L1 or higher)?
- Do they have a structured beginners program?
- Do they talk about standards, movement quality, and scaling?
If the answer is no, you might not be getting what you signed up for — and that’s not fair to you.
Final Thoughts
This post isn’t meant to bash other gyms. I believe there are passionate, well-meaning trainers out there doing their best. But I also believe that words mean things, and standards matter.
CrossFit is more than just a workout. It’s a system that’s changed millions of lives over the last 25 years — including mine. It deserves to be preserved. It deserves to be done well.
So if you’re going to do CrossFit, do it right.
And if you’re ready to start with us — the real way — you know where to find us.
Coach Steve,
CFL2
Cert III & IV in Fitness
Accredited Sports Nutritionist.