If you were a football player you’d focus much of your training on the fundamentals of blocking and tackling. If you were a baseball player you’d focus much of your training of the fundamentals of hitting and throwing. I’m guessing that most of you reading this aren’t professional athletes but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t focus on the fundamentals of your sport, too.
What is your sport, you may ask? Simple. Your sport is life. I get asked all the time why we do certain exercises. Here is a quick and all-encompassing version of that answer: It improves and strengthens a fundamental movement pattern. Yes, that’s why we do everything.
When I put together programs for people I’m trying to “improve their game” so to speak. For example, just as a basketball player might need to work on his lateral quickness, one of my clients may need to work on their hip movement. Why is that important? Well, walking around with poor hip movement can lead to back and knee pain. Poor hip movement takes away much of our strength and mobility.
When you really break it down there are only five movement patterns that we perform:
Knee dominant such as a squat
Hip dominant such as a hip extension
Push such as a push up
Pull such as a pullup
Rotational movements such as turns
That’s it. Everything we do in life fits into one or a combination of a few of those categories.
Pick up a grocery bag? Hip dominant and pull. Put the groceries away? Push. Walk? Knee and hip dominant. You get the point. I’ve said many times that I want what we do in the gym to be applicable outside the gym. It’s why I always talk about posture, as well.
Over the next few weeks I’m going to give you some ways to get you better at your sport. Please let me know if you have any questions that you’d like me to answer.
Have a great day!
Mitch Rothbardt, CPT, PN Lean Eating Coach, FMS
2861 Grove Way in Castro Valley
510-754-7113
I Help People Discover Their Strength!
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