Our aim at Pinpoint Fitness Academy is to produce well-rounded athletes capable of overcoming physical obstacles with elegance and utmost Economy of Movement. We believe that excellence in movement and physical performance goes a long way in personal development across various aspects of life as well as self-confidence.
Within our framework, Economy of Movement is defined as the efficiency with which an athlete overcomes obstacles. Achieving utmost economy of movement (i.e. elegant and smooth movement) is the main goal we work towards. This refers to overcoming obstacles seamlessly without misplacing energy or losing power along the way, primarily by using functional techniques learnt and avoiding extra non-value-adding steps.
Economy of movement is the 5th and final pillar of the 5 fundamental movement pillars we follow & teach at our academy (figure 1). Those 5 pillars are:
- Centered Body and Symmetry
- Upright Posture
- Balance and Control
- Accuracy
- Economy of Movement
Development of an athlete in those 5 areas is sequential and interdependent. Meaning that having a "centered body" and "upright posture" is a precondition to "balanced & controlled" movement. Similarly, the latter is a precondition towards "accuracy" and eventually utmost "economy of movement".
The ability to achieve utmost Economy of Movement reflects thorough proficiency in physical gross motor skills as well as advanced brain processing capacity and self-confidence.
For an athlete to be capable of elegantly & seamlessly "flowing" from one obstacle to another (with utmost economy of movement), that athlete must achieve the following 3 qualities:
1. Developed gross motor skills & mastery of movement techniques:
This is characterized by safe and sound overcoming of each individual obstacle.
2. Advanced brain processing capacity:
A fast-thinking brain is needed to be able to transition from one obstacle to another seamlessly. The mind must be highly engaged to execute complex movement techniques while simultaneously "thinking head" and preparing the body for the next obstacle.
3. Self-confidence:
The belief of ability to overcome an obstacle is as important as the physical ability itself. Being self-aware and confident of one's abilities drives the athlete to continuously move forward (both literally & metaphorically!).
As illustrated in figure 2, developed gross motor skills & advanced brain processing capacity are cornerstones for achieving self-confidence.
Movement Categories
Our curriculum categorizes movement into 7 areas, namely: Jumps, Hurdles, Runs & Strides, Vaults, Upper-body Swings, Body Rotation and Wall Skills. We believe that overcoming obstacles of various sorts, requires well-rounded athleticism which can be achieved by excelling in all the 7 categories. Below is a brief description of what each category entails within our framework.
Jumps:
The skills of propelling the body up and in different directions to land on objects of different shapes and heights.
Hurdles:
The skills of leaping over obstacles using lower-body strength only.
Runs & Strides:
The skills of alternating leg movements rapidly and consecutively onto different objects to move the body forward.
Vaults:
The skills of overcoming obstacles by jumping and arching over them with the support of the arms.
Upper-Body Swings:
The skills of using the arms as pivot points to oscillate the body in a specific direction.
Body Rotation:
The skills involving turning of the body in different orientations (around & upside down).
Wall Skills:
The skills involving climbing of walls or using them to overcome other obstacles.
