Why the Open can be a meaningful part of the year, at any level

In functional fitness, progress isn’t measured by aesthetics.
It’s measured by performance.

We’re not here chasing bigger biceps or a look that works under good lighting.
We’re here to move better, lift more efficiently, last longer, and perform when multiple demands collide: weightlifting, gymnastics, conditioning, sometimes all at once.

That’s why the Open matters.

For most of the year, training can feel abstract. You trust the process, you show up, you do the work, but the feedback is subtle. However, aiming to add 10 kg to your clean or cutting a minute off your Fran time are tangible goals that convert this trust into true progress.

The Open is the moment where all that work turns into data.

No matter if you started two years ago or ten years ago, the Open gives you something rare:
A consistent yearly benchmark. With over 300,000 athletes logging scores each year, the Open provides a standardised measure of progress and achievement.

You can look back. Compare scores.
See where you’ve improved, where you’ve stalled, and where training actually paid off.

If you’ve been consistent and training with intent, the numbers don’t lie.
You’ll see yourself climbing, not just inside your gym, but on a global leaderboard, year after year.

For advanced athletes, the Open is a gateway.
It opens the door to Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and higher levels of competition. It gives structure to the season and purpose to the preparation. Consider a targeted training plan: athletes can periodise their training by focusing first on building foundational strength, then enhancing specific skills, and finally boosting their engine capacity. This approach ensures each phase has a clear objective and aligns efforts with competitive milestones.

For newer athletes, it’s something just as valuable.
For many, it’s the opportunity to compete for the first time. A shared experience. Training alongside others. Being pushed, encouraged, and challenged week after week in a way that regular classes rarely create. The atmosphere hums with the beat of pulsing music, the air thick with the scent of chalk dust and the energy of anticipation. Teammates count each rep, their voices rising above the clatter of weights, painting a vivid picture of collective effort in motion.

The Open isn’t about winning. It’s about revealing the evidence of your capacity. It gives you the chance to cheer your gym mates, to make sure they get one more rep because you’re there. It encourages you to see how far your abilities can grow, focusing on personal progress rather than self-judgment. 

It shows you who you are right now, not compared to Instagram, but compared to yourself last year.

So, are you doing the Open?

If so, can you send this to someone who’s doing it with you?

It’s a great reminder of what Open is about.

Eddie,