Greg Glassman: The Man Who Lit the Flame
You ever wonder why CrossFit blew up the way it did? Why it created a global tribe of everyday athletes, garage gym warriors, and some of the fittest people on earth? Spoiler alert: it wasn’t by accident. It wasn’t some stroke of luck or a well-timed marketing campaign.
It was because of one man Greg Glassman.
Yeah, that Greg Glassman. The one they tried to cancel. The one the media dragged through the mud. The one corporate fitness and big pharma would love for you to forget about. But here’s the thing: without Glassman, there is no CrossFit. No sport of fitness. No affiliate army. No 60-year-olds learning to deadlift instead of popping pills.
You don’t have to like him. But if you care about health, performance, or truth—you should care about him.
Because Glassman didn’t just create a brand. He sparked a movement. A rebellion, really. Against weakness. Against mediocrity. Against the broken system that profits off keeping people sick, slow, and confused.
Let’s get into it.
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The CrossFit Experiment: A Look into Gregg Glassman's Method
In the late 90s and early 2000s, fitness was stale. Globo gyms were pumping the same bicep curls and elliptical routines they’d been selling since the ’80s. Trainers were handing out cookie-cutter programs, and no one could answer a basic question:
He empowered coaches to be entrepreneurs. CrossFit's conditioning association with combating chronic diseases highlights its methodology's essential truths related to health and fitness, framing it as a solution to public health issues.
What is CrossFit fitness, really?
Greg Glassman did. And his answer punched through the fog like a barbell hitting the floor: Fitness is work capacity across broad time and modal domains. In other words—can you perform? Can you do more work, across more tasks, more efficiently?
He didn’t care how big your arms were. He wanted to know if you could lift heavy, move fast, recover quick, and survive whatever the real world threw at you. So he combined Olympic lifting, gymnastics, and monostructural work into a single training protocol that was raw, intense, and brutally effective. For those with injuries or limitations, sit-ups were suggested as a basic abdominal exercise to scale workout options.
People laughed at it—until it started working.
Until soccer moms got abs. Until firefighters improved their job performance. Until Navy SEALs took notes. Until ex-athletes found purpose again. Until normal people—yes, normal—started doing things they never thought possible.
That wasn’t luck. That was Glassman math. Measurable, observable, repeatable results. The gold standard of real science.
And he gave it away. No paywall. No secret sauce. He published workouts daily. He encouraged open-source fitness. He built the affiliate model so local gyms could thrive without corporate chains strangling their potential. He empowered coaches to be entrepreneurs.
This wasn’t a business model. This was a revolution.
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The Origins of CrossFit
In 2000, Greg Glassman, a former gymnast and personal trainer, founded CrossFit with a vision that would revolutionise the fitness world. Glassman developed a methodology that emphasised constantly varied, high-intensity functional movements, breaking away from the monotonous routines of traditional gyms. The first CrossFit gym, CrossFit Santa Cruz, opened its doors in Santa Cruz, California, and quickly gained a dedicated following.
By 2002, CrossFit Inc. was established, and the company began licensing its innovative training programs to other gyms. This affiliate model allowed local gym owners to thrive, creating a network of over 15,000 CrossFit-affiliated gyms worldwide. From the United States to Australia and Europe, CrossFit has become a global fitness phenomenon, uniting millions of athletes and enthusiasts.
CrossFit’s mission is clear: to provide a comprehensive fitness program that prepares individuals for any physical contingency. The approach is rooted in the belief that functional movements are the key to improving overall fitness and health. CrossFit’s training programs and seminars are designed to be scalable and adaptable, catering to different fitness levels and goals. This commitment to functional fitness has made CrossFit a household name in the world of exercise and training.
A War on Chronic Disease
Then, while everyone else was obsessing over six-packs and Games athletes, Glassman turned his attention to something bigger: chronic disease.
He saw the real enemy wasn’t lack of abs—it was metabolic dysfunction, a threat to our national strength. It was Type 2 diabetes. Obesity. Hypertension. The diseases of lifestyle, not fate. And worse, he saw how the medical-industrial complex was complicit. Pushing pills over prevention. Selling treatment over truth.
So he launched CrossFit Health, aiming a spotlight at the corruption infecting healthcare. He started inviting physicians into the fold. Not the ones getting paid off by soda companies—the real ones. The ones willing to challenge bad science, lazy data, and sugar-laced “studies” funded by Big Food and Big Pharma.
He didn’t mince words. He called out the rot.
And the system didn’t like that.
Because when you empower people to take responsibility for their health—when you show them they don’t need ten medications, they just need to move, eat right, and lift heavy things—you become a threat.
And Greg Glassman? He’s always been a threat to people who fear the truth.
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The Fall and the Fire
Then came 2020. The media pounced. The mob sharpened their pitchforks. And whether you agree or disagree with how he handled that moment, here’s what they won’t tell you:
Greg Glassman walked away from CrossFit, but he never walked away from the mission. Dave Castro was appointed as the replacement for Greg Glassman following his controversial resignation, marking a significant transition in leadership at CrossFit.
He didn’t cash out and disappear. He doubled down. Not on CrossFit the brand—but on the war against chronic disease.
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Enter: Greg Glassman
Now, he’s back. And he’s more focused than ever.
His new venture is called Metfix—and no, it’s not a gym chain or supplement company. It’s a metabolic intervention framework. A new model for fixing the broken bodies and sick systems we’ve allowed to fester.
It’s still early days, but the idea is simple: use measurable data and lifestyle interventions to reverse chronic disease at the root. Not just manage symptoms—cure them. Through real fitness. Through real food. Through personal accountability.
Glassman knows the old system can’t be trusted. So he’s building a new one. One where medicine, coaching, and performance are aligned. One where your doctor actually knows what a deadlift is. One where your health is your responsibility—but you’re not doing it alone.
And make no mistake—he’s still calling out the cowards. The doctors who won’t speak up. The academics who sold their soul for grant money. The politicians who pretend to care about public health while subsidising soda and seed oils.
Metfix is Glassman unchained. And that should scare a lot of people.
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The CrossFit Community and Training
Step into any CrossFit gym, or “box,” and you’ll immediately feel the energy of a supportive and motivating community. CrossFit training programs are designed to be constantly varied, focusing on functional movements like pull-ups, squats, and deadlifts. These workouts, known as WODs (Workout of the Day), are typically short and intense, lasting anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, but they pack a powerful punch.
CrossFit gyms offer a variety of training programs and classes, including group fitness sessions and personal training. The community aspect is strong, with many gyms hosting events and competitions, such as the CrossFit Games, which bring together athletes from around the world. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram are buzzing with CrossFit enthusiasts sharing their workouts and progress, further fuelling the sense of camaraderie.
Accessibility is a cornerstone of CrossFit training programs. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned athlete, there are modifications and scaling options available to suit your fitness level. Many gyms also emphasise nutrition and recovery, offering counselling and services to help you optimise your performance. The CrossFit community is known for its enthusiasm and dedication, making it a vibrant and inspiring environment for anyone looking to improve their fitness.
Getting Started with CrossFit
Getting started with CrossFit is straightforward and welcoming. The first step is to find a local CrossFit gym, or “box,” and schedule an introductory class or consultation. During this session, you’ll learn the basics of CrossFit and get a feel for the training program. Many gyms offer a free trial or introductory period, allowing you to experience the workouts before making a commitment.
Once you’ve decided to join, you’ll typically begin with a foundational program designed to teach you the basics of CrossFit and help you build a strong foundation. As you progress, you’ll have the opportunity to take on more challenging workouts and training programs. Personal training and coaching are often available to help you improve your form and technique, ensuring you get the most out of your workouts.
Many CrossFit gyms also offer nutrition counselling and recovery services, helping you optimise your performance and achieve your fitness goals. Consistency and hard work are key, but the rewards are well worth it. With its supportive community and comprehensive training programs, CrossFit is an excellent way to improve your fitness and achieve your health and wellness goals. So, lace up your sneakers, find your local box, and get ready to transform your body and mind with CrossFit.
So Why Should You Care?
Because this is bigger than CrossFit. Bigger than workouts. This is about truth in a world full of noise.
Glassman’s work isn’t perfect. But perfection was never the goal—integrity was. And in a society that’s addicted to comfort, convenience, and compliance, we need voices that refuse to back down.
CrossFit gave people their lives back. It gave them confidence, community, and control. Now Metfix is going after their future—the part the healthcare system would rather rent than restore.
So yeah, maybe he’s not your typical CEO. He doesn’t wear a tie. He doesn’t sanitise his words. But you know what he has done?
• Exposed the lies in the fitness industry.
• Created the most effective training system on earth.
• Launched a global movement of functional fitness.
• Fought chronic disease with science, not slogans.
• And now, he’s building a new weapon to keep that fight alive.
You don’t have to agree with everything he says.
But if you care about real fitness, real health, and real independence—you should care about Greg Glassman.
Because he didn’t just talk. He built. He fought. And he never sold out.
And in this world? That makes him a rare breed.