MIAMI – Just a couple of years ago, terms like WOD, Fran or bar-facing burpee were mostly unknown. That’s ditto for Pukey the Mascot and Greg Glassman, the former gymnast who founded the intense, grueling fitness craze called CrossFit.

Today, the strength and conditioning program that began in California – and was designed for police academies, commandos, Olympic medalists, pro athletes and martial artists – is a hit with teachers, stay-at home moms, and even kids and seniors.

Since Marcio Pizanelli opened the first CrossFit gym in South Florida in 2006, about 70 more “boxes” have popped up from Homestead to Fort Lauderdale, most within the past two years. The gyms, which CrossFitters call boxes because most are located in no-frills warehouses, have names that include CrossFit Fever, CrossFit Kingdom and CrossFit Fully Involved. They are independently owned and operated.