You’re looking for “CrossFit in South Tenerife”, you open a couple of websites and suddenly the word “CrossTraining” shows up. And you think: is this the same thing, or am I being sold a knock-off? It’s the most normal question in the world. Let me clear it up in two minutes, no waffle.
The short answer
So you don’t have to read the whole thing: CrossFit and CrossTraining are, in practice, the same training. The difference isn’t in how you train, it’s in the name. “CrossFit” is a registered trademark; “CrossTraining” is what those of us who do exactly that kind of training call it when we don’t pay to use the brand. That’s it. The rest is for anyone who wants to know why.
So what exactly is CrossFit?
Before it’s a workout, CrossFit is a brand. It belongs to a company (CrossFit, Inc.), and any gym that wants to call itself “CrossFit” and put that sign on the door has to pay an annual affiliate license. In return it gets the name, a spot on the official box map and their framework.
And what does the training involve? Functional movements —squats, deadlifts, pull-ups, rowing, running— constantly varied and at high intensity. A different WOD every day, in a group, with a coach running the class. That’s what most people picture when they say “I do CrossFit”.
And CrossTraining?
Exactly the same… just without the brand license. A lot of us would rather not tie ourselves to a US company and its yearly fee, so we call it what it is: varied, high-intensity functional training, or CrossTraining. Same philosophy, same movements, same WODs, same box atmosphere. The only thing you won’t see is the trademarked logo on the wall.
OK, so what actually changes?
Let’s be honest, because this is where people get confused. A licensed box gives you the brand name and its official programming. A good CrossTraining box gives you its own programming —sometimes more tailored to the people who actually train there— and coaches who, in many cases, hold the very same certifications.
Put plainly: the sign on the door doesn’t guarantee a box is good, and not having it doesn’t make one worse. What makes the difference is something else.
What you should actually check before signing up
- The coaches. That they’re on top of your technique and correct you, not that they throw out a WOD and stare at their phone.
- That they scale the movements. If you’ve never done a pull-up in your life, there has to be a version for you from day one.
- The atmosphere. In a good box you train as a group and suffer together. That’s half the reason it’s addictive.
- That you can try first. A single drop-in class tells you more than twenty reviews.
Looking for “CrossFit” in South Tenerife? Here’s what we do
If you’ve made it this far after typing “CrossFit South Tenerife”, what you’re after is exactly what we do at BlackBOX, in Las Chafiras: proper CrossTraining. A real box, coaches, community, daily WODs, plus HYROX-specific training and weightlifting. The exact training you had in mind, minus the brand label.
We’re about ten minutes from Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos and El Médano, and we offer single drop-in classes with no commitment: if you’re on holiday, train the days you want. And if you live here, come and try it and we’ll talk.
The best way to know if a box is right for you isn’t reading about it —it’s walking in. Message us on WhatsApp and we’ll tell you when to drop by. See you at the box. 🖤