{"id":2276,"date":"2022-10-04T21:56:56","date_gmt":"2022-10-04T20:56:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bestgymhacks.com\/?p=2276"},"modified":"2022-10-07T10:11:41","modified_gmt":"2022-10-07T09:11:41","slug":"why-crossfitters-remove-their-shirts-find-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bestgymhacks.com\/why-crossfitters-remove-their-shirts-find-out\/","title":{"rendered":"Why CrossFitters Remove Their Shirts? Find Out."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Have you ever wondered why CrossFitters take their shirts off? It\u2019s a gym after all, and people don\u2019t do that in Anytime Fitness<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CrossFitters take their tops off because it\u2019s part of the culture, starting at elite level, all the way down to the smallest CrossFit gyms. The<\/strong> main reasons include acceptability within the culture, for heat regulation, practicality, garment care and showmanship.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Sports bras on and tops off<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Males not females <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s men who remove their T-shirts, baring sweaty skin. Women DO NOT remove their sports bras. They often do remove their shirts, though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So only men are the ones without anything<\/em> on their top half. You do not see female CrossFitters with their bosoms out… <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maintaining body temp regulation <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The most obvious is body temp regulation.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You get extremely hot. Taking off a layer mitigates heat build up, meaning you\u2019re better able to work out when temperatures rise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For women, taking off a shirt with your sports bra remaining helps maintain a good operating temperature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hygiene reasons<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For both, but particularly men, shirt removal is sometimes practical. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The amount of sweating poring (pun intended) from your body during intense (and often prolonged) exercise like CrossFit creates huge amounts of sweat, given it burns a lot of cals. Check this article here<\/a> for more on that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This then is soaked up by your shirt. Over time the shirts are ruined, and start to smell bad. Taking them off slows this down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arguably, by not wearing a shirt your sweat spreads further, so is less hygienic…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practical reasons<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When a shirt is soaked, it can restrict and distract an athlete. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is particularly annoying when it sticks to the abdomen and folds up. So some even remove their shirt BEFORE the WOD during competitions, to avoid stopping to remove it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the contrary, keeping your shirt on protects your collarbone from barbell knurling<\/a> (grippy rough bit) during front rack work such as Jerks<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which way to the beach?<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Shirt off at a CrossFit comp is OK<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Of course, CrossFitters male and female enjoy showing off their \u2018guns and buns\u2019. So shirt removal aids this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No doubt it helps them psychologically work out harder, as muscles are bulging during heavy lifts and gymnastic movements. There’s invariably zero mirrors<\/a> at CrossFit gyms. That means you do not have people with tops off perving on themselves in the mirror. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overall, it can feel quite liberating to remove your shirt from time to time. Similar to say playing beach volleyball, football in the park, or running with your top off on hot days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some CrossFit gyms do it more than others<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Having visited now close to 80 CrossFit affiliates throughout the world, it\u2019s clear than some participate in shirt removal more than others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Hanoi’s (Vietnam) CrossFit Tay Ho<\/a>, it was extremely humid and up at 40degress C. And so taking off a shirt was entirely necessary, especially as that CrossFit gym has no air conditioning. Most CrossFit gyms do not have air-con as it happens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

USA, Canada and Italy\u2019s CrossFit gyms see more shirt removal than other countries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UK and Sweden a little less so. This is perhaps due to their respective general climates, but also overall cultural bearing may too have an influence. Possibly more frowned upon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Some have banned shirt removal <\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Graham
GH’s Instagram Page<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

In 2019 previous CrossFit Games athletes from banned shirt removal<\/a> in his USA-based CrossFit gym CrossFit Hillard<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coming from a place of conduct, he felt it improper to have people strutting around with tops off or wearing booty shorts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For some, it can project a feeling upon others of arrogance and pride if looked at a certain way, making them feel uncomfortable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPlease consider the movements we do during CrossFit classes (deadlift, toes to bar, handstand push ups) and how these movements reveal certain areas of the body to others in the class. Our mission is to create an environment where we can display our fitness and success, but allows every member to feel comfortable in their CrossFit journey.\u201d<\/em><\/p>Graham Holmberg<\/strong><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Other CrossFit gyms may also enforce this <\/em>policy, politely asking members to keep their shirts on.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Some people may (understandably) find this offensive <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Should You Workout With Your Shirt Off?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If it makes sense for you, for the reasons noted above and there\u2019s no policy against it, then yes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking it off may have a placebo-like effect improving your performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The egotistic among the clan can gain unpopularity from constant shirt removal when clearly doing it for the ‘gun-show’. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you do it, try not to be that guy or gal who does it for attention as it will only repel people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t be that guy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Survey results <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

During an anonymous survey carried out in our 2 CrossFit affiliates, one specific comment from a member was that \u201ccoaches should keep their tops on\u201d<\/em>. So, for some, the inference we took from this was that shirt removal is offensive, brash or attention seeking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You need to read the room. If others are doing it, generally it\u2019s OK. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re the first, don\u2019t be surprised if other guys follow\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is It Okay To Take Your Shirt Off In The Gym?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Generally speaking, shirt removal in \u2018normal\u2019 or globo gyms is not advised. That\u2019s not the culture. People WILL look at your strangely.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Shirtless
Shirtless and cooling down<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

They\u2019re often air conditioned anyway, whereas CrossFit gyms are not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guys tend to wear stringer or netted vests in normal gyms which assists in temperature control (and muscle flexing). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not a good idea to don a pair of tight shorts, no shirt and start throwing a barbell around in a Pure Gym or Virgin Active.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Best T-Shirt Materials To Workout In?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a huge topic in itself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having founded, run and sold an apparel and equipment company in this space, I found triblend material the best after extensive research and feedback testing on customers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reasons why Triblend material is popular:<\/p>\n\n\n\n