Why Hybrid?

So what really is hybrid sport?

Put simply, hybrid sport or fitness is a combination of various types of training. It combines strength, endurance, cardio and conditioning - creating the ultimate sport and athlete.

Similar to a hybrid car, a successful hybrid athlete can easily switch between various types of movement or power. The types of exercise or physical movement may be differing in nature, for example - cardio into strength. This is why the best hybrid athletes are considered all-rounders when it comes to fitness. They perform well in cardiovascular activities - such as running, cycling or swimming - but they can also lift heavy.

So…why hybrid? Why should we care about this sport?

In our humble opinion, hybrid athletes are the deadliest of them all. Why? There’s plenty of answers to this, yet we want to focus on three key reasons; adaptability, efficiency and resilience.

Training hybrid does not simply mean adding weights before or after your run. While a hybrid athlete may be stronger in one particular fitness or sport, they are not focused on training for a single discipline. When it comes to competing in hybrid sporting events, the best athletes are the ones who can adapt under the pressure of the various movements. They have trained their bodies to be able to go from pounding their feet on the ground during a run, to lifting or pulling a heavy weight. They adjust to the change, instead of letting the change adjust them. This is adaptability.

A hybrid athlete’s ability to change seamlessly between movements is vital to their success within the sport. However, it also comes down to their efficiency. The more efficiently you can move between exercises, using as little amount of effort as possible, the greater your performance will be. This may sound straight forward, but it’s easier said than done, and it’s one of the biggest mistakes that people make when competing in hybrid sports. There is no point exerting yourself on one exercise with the goal of ‘getting ahead’, only to cause fatigue and lower performance in the next. A successful hybrid athlete already knows their strengths and their weaknesses, and they are constantly using these to their advantage during a race. They are strategic in their approach and aim for consistency to optimise their performance, rather than causing unnecessary strain on their bodies.

Equally, if not more important, is resilience.

Resilience is one’s ability to recover quickly. By training your body across multiple sports and functions, you are teaching it to withstand any and all challenges. No matter the volume, intensity or distance, your overall resilience will likely be greater than an athlete who trains in a singular sport or fitness movement. This becomes even more important when in a race environment, where external factors, such as equipment, location or your competitors, are out of your control. You and your body’s ability to overcome adversity, mentally or physically, will be your greatest asset. This is not just relative to a hybrid fitness event, but any sporting event. If you see a hybrid athlete lining up for a 10km race or competing in a powerlifting competition, you know who we’d be putting our money on.

The best thing about hybrid when training is that there are no rules; everything is on the table. This all-rounded approach to training will enhance both your strength and your stamina, building you into a high-performing athlete who can expect to do reasonably well in any sport or fitness event.

You might not excel at one sport, but it doesn’t matter. Because hybrid is your sport.

And you will be the most dangerous athlete to beat.