Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Missing movements...

Not something people typically ask themselves but the one question that can change someone's world - Are you missing movements?

Most people will answer NO - and most people are wrong!

Z focuses on this question in R-phase where you are re-learning the letters of movement. This is essential to your movement skill and health - the two are connected in case that seems like an odd pairing to you.

Imagine a watch with missing "teeth" on the gears - it may keep time but it will not be the correct time. Skipping pieces of the movment of the gears/joints results in lost time (for your joints that is...).

So - Are you missing movements?

And here is a post of mine from the DD forum today:
The question was which exercise would provide the most "bang for the buck" for a fighter - My answer:

The one that addresses your weaknesses will give you the most bang for your buck.

If the fighter is weak (but fast)- work on strength (bench press lockouts)
If the figher is slow (but strong) - work on speed (plyo push-ups, shot put, medball work)
If the fighter is soft in the core - work on Full contact twist.
If the fighter lacks movement skill - work through the FMS and Z Health.
If the figher needs conditioning - KBs.
If the fighter lacks technique - technique work (LOTS of technique work).

Address the weakness with the right tool and you look like a smart person to your client.

11 comments:

Authentic Strength Training said...

I am allergic to cats too. Waaay hardcore. I know your pain. In my younger days I would spend time with nice ladies and grin and bear it when they would take me back to their apartments and ask me if I thought there cat was cute. But when I turned into the Allergic Hulk, a quivering mass of red eyes and sneezing/coughing that surely counted against me, i would be forced to leave. I am also allergic to the elliptical trainer and jazzercise.

Secrets of the Kazoo 2008????

Geoff Neupert said...

Just goes to show, "If you're not assessing, you're guessing."

Good stuff.

Jim Ryan said...

Another great post, Brett. Do I feel a book coming along??

The weakest link arguement is undeniable in the physical skills world. A skilled athlete can compensate well for his/er weaknesses but if they are revealed, it's Achilles time. And all those compensations come at a price - to be paid later of course. Living in an old athletes body can be hell.

For those unskilled, the trouble mounts even faster and the legions of crippled immobilized, overmedicated and over surgeried 'motor morons' seem to grow by the day.

OK, a bit of a rant here, but in my view it all ties together...in this age of the new, the sexy and the quick fix, going back to basics can be a turn off to many but it IS THE WAY back to restoring and regenerating what's left of someone .

Some wiser and luckier souls get on the path before they are ruined, the rest, well...

Mark Reifkind said...

great post and so true.being able to analyze and progress one's weaknesses is so vital to moving forward towards your goals.strengths take little training, weaknessness tons. gotta focus on those first.

Joe Sarti said...

Nice work Sensei Brett ;-). very insightful point and will encourage assessment which is a critical part of training. You can tell I have Rifungian in me :-).

Brett Jones said...

Thanks guys - gotta remember that "the weakest link rules the chain".
And for most people that will boil back down to a lost movement
skill(s) and lack of strength.

Mark Reifkind said...

yeah I can't believe how much just regaining the smallest and simplest part of such simple movements such as joint circles can effect the entire body and system! my clients have all have big "aha" moments from just realizing how one side of their body "works", and moves well, and the other side is basically unmoveable and unreachable by them. at first.
start with what's missing and move forward.

Aaron Friday said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Aaron Friday said...

Sorry, I meant my response for a different post. Nonetheless:

I'm sure cats are conscious of being allergic to people and will waste your respiratory system on purpose just because they can. Not all cats are evil, but some of them are.

Also, I need to squat. I hate it, and I avoid it, but I probably need to do it. From behind, I look like the Leaning Tower of Pelvis when I squat, and I don't think FMS, Z-Health or any other modality will change this fundamentally. Nonetheless, it is missing from my program, and it'll probably make me stronger.

Brett Jones said...

Aaron,
Let's try to schedule some gym time on one of my trips to MSP - we will get you dialed in.

Aaron Friday said...

Brett, I will look forward to it. I grew up with one leg shorter than the other due to surgeries at ages 4 and 8 and I've had ROM imbalances in my hips since then.

I can squat, but it's the last thing to show up when I'm feeling strong and the first thing to go when I'm feeling weak. I can't imagine becoming an addict like you.

Let me know when you're in town. aaron_friday@yahoo.com. Email is also in my profile.

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