Articulating the Fullest Range of Movement

 "Articulating the Fullest Range of Movement" -- most people presume to know what that is, and then proceed to demonstrate that they have no idea what it is -- and have no intention of finding out.  But that is ultimately the whole purpose of exercise and practice -- to discover that ultimate possibilities of that expression in oneself, and thus I stress the importance of the head, hands and feet in doing so -- which are the organs of expression in every human activity.

That is what distinguishes performance in every arena of movement -- from the smile, to the gesture, and the leap.  Most are aware of the gross movement -- but the trained eye, is focused on out to the finger tips -- which most don't even think can be controlled.  Instead, they think of those ends (extremities) as clubs, stumps, and hard objects for striking another's head -- rather than the unique qualities that make a person human.  

Why are humans unique as a species?  It is because of their distinctively large brains, ability to grasp and make tools, and the upright posture and movements possible with that.  Those are the distinctive human qualities that everyone is born with -- and hopes to accentuate to some proficient degree in their lives.  

That might be as an artist, musician, writer, actor, obviously, but not so obviously in movement and athletics, where the gross movements seem to overpower the finer, but every coach knows that those ultimately make the difference between the best and everybody else.

The prima ballerina dances with her toes, fingers, and head -- while mere mortals struggle with the grossest of movements -- just to lift a foot off the ground while maintaining their balance.  Such people invariably have to be gifted from birth -- and smart coaches can pick them out of a crowd.  Without that advantage, all their efforts may be in vain, and what they have learned throughout their many years of involvement with their activity, is to recognize the gifted over all the rest, and work with them as much as possible because they have unlimited potential.  

But still, one will begin with the basics -- which is seeing the range of motion and expression that individual has from the start -- and then cultivate and expand those expressions beyond anything seen before.

The unknowing person may think there is something wrong with that individual because they aren't doing what everybody else is doing -- and doesn't suspect that that is what nobody else can do.  To the doctrinaire mind, that is just "wrong," because nobody can do that, or should be allowed to -- because that is not normal, and the average.  Needless to say, such "instructors" have a short and difficult time in the activity of their "expertise" -- mired in the back of the pack with no path forward.

They may even have no idea which direction they are heading -- but are merely conditioned to follow the pack.

Therefore, the immensely gifted must be guided by their own parameters and not simply competing with all the others with the same skillset and limitations.  But if one is limited by what they see the average doing, that may not be enough to achieve their own ultimate possibilities.  Discovering the fullest range of one's own movement (articulation) is the key to discovering the possibilities of their unique life -- and where that will take them.

So that process is not incidental but integral -- and more important than learning "what everybody" knows -- which may not be true at all.  And that is why many fail while thinking they are doing all the right things -- but getting no (desired) results.  Obviously what they know is wrong -- at least for them, and what there may be is a greater truth beyond the accepted "conventional wisdom" -- that isn't working for most people.

It was always intended that everyone ultimately be their own best guide -- while learning from everyone and everything.  Of course there will always be those who volunteer themselves as the only true disciples of the collective wisdom of humanity -- and now work as "fact-checkers" to ensure that conformity.  They are the self-appointed exclusive guardians of the known -- or ancient wisdom -- referred biblically as the "Pharisees and the Scribes."  They know everything -- for all time.

So when any new insights arise, they are first to battle and suppress, and defend the ancient wisdom as all that can be known.  Everything else is heresy and a sacrilege -- even on the frontiers of conquering old age and what makes it so.  Obviously, everything that has been tried, has not worked -- or there wouldn't be this obsessive industry in search of immortality -- which of course is life without limits.  But obviously there are limits -- and discovering and extending that range is a life lived well enough.

It is much easier just to talk about immortality and infinity as the ultimate limits -- because then one does not have to bother with actually finding out what those are.  One does not have to talk or make any real sense.  Nothing has to verified in one's lifetime -- because given eternity, anything could possibly be true.

But when we accept our own mortality, all we can do is make the best of it -- for however long it lasts.  And that is a life well-lived.  That practice, makes perfect -- and not the endless treadmill -- thinking the objective in life, is to consume and burn as many calories as possible -- as an end in itself.