Find and release the breaks:
To Ultimate performance- Part 1
Chris Shah
Owner, Fitness Coach
You want to run a half marathon, do your first amateur MMA
fight, boxing match or Tuff Mudder obstacle course.
First things first is to push on the gas pedal speeding to
your goal right? On the surface it seems like the right plan of action.
Imagine the excitement of planning a cross country road trip
with your friends or family. Everyone wants to hurry up and get on the road.
But not so fast!
(Figure: 1)
Will our car make the trip without breaking down?
Do we have enough money for the trip?
How much gas will we need?
These are what we call logistical breaks. They make you stop
and think before you take a course of action. What is the limiting factor in
making this awesome trip come true?
Similarly, we have breaks physically that we may not be
aware of that hinder us from hitting top speed towards our final physical
destination or goal.
Physical therapist and strength coach Gray Cook calls this the
Eye of the storm.
(figure: 2)
What limitation break do you have that needs to be released
in order to maximize your training program?
Muscle tone
Flexibility
Mobility
Stability
Strength
Power
Endurance
Skill
Any limitation of the first group will limit your ability to
efficiently steer and control the second group. Also lots of research clearly
shows us the possibility of injury or breakdown increases with such
limitations.
CLICK HERE FOR A VIDEO EXPLANATION ...........
To better illustrate this point and why one workout routine
will not produce the same results with another person I introduce you to the
Optimum performance pyramids.
The Optimum pyramid
(figure: 3): The athlete has a nice wide
base of functional movement.
This athlete has optimum mobility and stability to control and
steer their power, endurance and skill.
(Figure:
3)
The over-powered
pyramid (Figure: 4): The athlete does not have adequate Functional movement
(mobility and stability) to optimal control and steer their power, endurance
and skill. They have breaks on.
(Figure: 4)
Who cares? If you care about longevity, injury and optimum
performance you will.
Without a nice wide base of mobility and stability your
injury or breakdown potential greatly increases.
When you have a narrow base of functional movement you have
to exert more energy as well as waste more energy. That means MORE physical exertion and LESS strength, power and conditioning capability.
One fitness program will not get the same results with two
different people who exhibit different performance pyramids and needs.
When someone has breaks on it’s like those old school light
bulbs. (Figure: 5) They light up your room but they are not efficient and run up your energy bill. Your exercising but it takes more physical exertion and your not maximizing strength and power.
(Figure:
5)
BUT! …………………………
The new more efficient light bulbs (Figure: 6) do the job
even better and are far more energy and money efficient. We want to find and release the breaks. That means more efficient power and strength with less effort.
(Figure: 6)
Our bodies operate in very much the same manner. It’s what
separates a good runner from an elite runner.
The best runners are very efficient and the runners with
breaks on (limitations in mobility, stability) are leaking energy like a water
hose with a hole. (Figure: 7) That means less energy or force being pushed into
the ground along with slower run times and more physical exertion.
(Figure: 7)
Do you work harder or get better want to, hmm?
TAKE HOME MESSAGE ..........
Combine pushing on the gas pedal and finding and releasing the breaks.
http://www.terranovafitness.com/contact.html
In part 2-
of the series I will go over specific examples
with Runners, Boxers, Grapplers and the weekend warrior and common fixes I use to release the breaks...
