GTM Part 11

Intro

Remember the annex to Part 4?  So, for the body, we mentioned that “there are 3 elements you need to blend together to be an exemplary sportsman: fitness, strength and skill.”  If you play any sport (seriously and regularly - FIFA doesn’t count), you will generally tend to get a decent dose of all three elements.

Commentary

1. In a normal situation, ideal is to play sports at least twice a week, each session no less than 30 minutes.
2. Fitness is a symptom of health.  At rest, your pulse should not exceed 60 beats per minute, the slower the better. A fit person should be able to double the pulse rate without discomfort, maintaining an ordinary breathing rhythm throughout robust exercise.
3. Fitness is the result of exercising the vascular (heart) and respiratory systems (lungs).  Only protracted physical exercise makes one fit.  There are 4 types: brisk, long-distance walking, jogging, cycling and swimming.
4. Strength is a function of “load endurance” which in turn is a function of muscle mass and muscle… eeeh… strength.  Basically, the heaviest weight you can push, pull, bend, lift or carry.
5. There are many suggested tests for strength for an adult male (like you). 3 simple ones you can do at home are: 20+ pushups in less than 2min; 3 sets of 4-10 pullups; 50-80 situps in less than 2min.
6. Gyming and bodyweight exercises can help you improve here.
7. Skill has 2 elements: personal muscle control in performing more complex/delicate manoeuvres (e.g. when dribbling a ball) and in terms of intellectual understanding of a game, especially coordination between team-members.  The first is improved principally through repetition; the second through study (believe it or not).  A good coach will help each of his players improve in both, especially the 2^nd.  A good team member, can work on the first alone, outside team training hours.

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