If these movement patterns for some reasons are suboptimal, the end product – a.k.a “the skill” (no matter if it's simply walking down the street or breakdancing) - can never be optimal.
What many people (trainers/coaches) often never realize or think of is that the “functional skill”, e.g. dribbling a basketball, is only the top of the iceberg of a more complicated integration between “functional performance” (strength/power) that in turn is – again – ultimately founded on the basal movement patterns, “functional movement” of the individual performing the skill. This theory, presented by world renowned physical therapist Gray Cook, partially explains why some people are just good at everything that involves movement – we all know someone that's just awesome at every sport he/she takes on. The best athletes are the ones that can move best. If you know how to move well it doesn't take long to understand and develop a functional skill based upon functional movement and performance.
Below is an illustration of the three “performance pyramids”, from the great Gray Cook's book, Athletic Body in Balance – Optimal movement skills and conditioning for performance. A book I highly recommend if your interested in assessing and improving human movement.
Specific training without solid grounds to back it up will never be optimal. Think of a house built on a shaky foundation or an upside-down pyramid (that analogy always works).
Mr.Cook's performance pyramids uses a “fundamentals first”-concept that for athletes sometimes requires a lot of corrections, re-learning and “back to basic”-exercises and drills. For some people, this can be perceived as a step backwards in training, but in reality it's the complete opposite and crucial for future, optimal performance and injury prevention. Many coaches and trainers emphasize to much on increasing load, volume and performance to soon or to early with only one thing in mind – to increase performance today with little or no attention on the technique aspects of the skill. Although this method initially might result in instant improvements in performance, this mindset/coaching style is very short sighted and will most likely backfire in either stagnation or injuries down the road. For example, a volleyball player needs proper landing technique for a safe vertical jump and hip mobility/flexibility determines the effectiveness of a high kick in taekwondo (among many other things). Further more, being able to master a front squat with proper biomechanics before loading up the barbell for a clean is absolutely necessary.
I spend most of my time at Fitcorp Asia with corrective exercises working with people limited by immobility, stiffness, misalignments, overcompensations, pain and other lifestyle related disadvantages. No, I don't refer to my clients as “patients”, I'm not a doctor or physical therapist – I'm a personal trainer (or “movement specialist”, as I like to refer myself to) and most of my clients are people with one goal: they want to look better naked (or lose weight, so to speak). I totally respect that wish and do my best to help my clients achieve their goals but it's also my responsibility to make my clients move, function and perform better in everyday life. That task (giving my clients what they want combined with what they actually need) can sometimes be a challenge but it's also what makes my job so enjoyable. And whenever I succeed I can't help to feel really good about myself, kinda like that sneaky grandma that manages to “fool” her grandkids to eat and enjoy her very own “monster spaghetti sauce” (that's of course loaded with healthy stuff like spinach, broccoli, etc...).
Among many other things, this post highlights why it's so important with well developed youth movement programs that are implemented at an early stage of development – the sooner the better. Theses programs should not only be for young athletes or future superstars but for every kid participating in the game of life. In todays modern society with all the abundant technology allowing us to move less, movement programs should be mandatory to literally prevent deterioration and reclaim the human body! I hope that message is clear and rest assure – youth fitness is something I will have reasons to come back to again and again in future posts.
Now it's time to get a litle personal for a change and I'd like to take the opportunity to give a salute to my dear friends from Hanoi - Heidi and Joakim - that tied the knot yesterday! Congrats - Hurra, hurra, hurra, hurra!!
/Henrik
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