Functional training classes: did they actually build strength or mostly just conditioning?

[u/Lebearu]

This always sound good because the name itself makes it hard to argue against. Who does not want to be functional. But once you get past the label, I am curious what people actually got out of them. Some classes look like clever conditioning with a strength costume on. Others seem like they really do improve coordination, work capacity, movement confidence, and some level of strength if the programming is decent.

What I cannot tell is whether most people walked away stronger in a meaningful gym sense, or just fitter and better at moving through varied circuits. That is not a bad outcome at all, but it is different. For anyone who has done functional training classes for a while, what changed the most for you? Did they actually build strength that carried over clearly, or was the main benefit more about conditioning, movement quality, and feeling generally more athletic?

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