Environment -> Concept -> Theory -> Standard
From our recent webinar with Dr. Romanov, where the topics he was discussing encompassed what the words and meanings of Environment, Concept, Theory, and Standard were, comes this short compilation of notes.
Our environment has hidden suggestions, recommendations, or hints for us all to know how to interact with it.
As teachers and coaches, we need to know how to implement this all in what we do, for ourselves, and for our students.
We exist because of our environment. We deal in the material world, where countless signals come to us from our environment in every second of our lives.
Any change is movement.
On our environment: “The organism depends on its environment for its life, but the environment does not depend on the organism for its existence.” - James Gibson
“Nature to be commanded must be obeyed…” - Francis Bacon
We have to know the laws of nature.
Everything that we reflect on in our minds is as a result of our interaction with our environment.
We take guidance from the outside world, or the environment. We then have to know how to implement this.
Dr. Romanov has added gravity to previous and current definitions of our surroundings.
We sustain life, not based on our own merits, but based on our environment. How good is our interaction with our environment?
Now, concept is our guidance, or reference, for our understanding of what our environment means (to us).
Concept: bringing together, how we perceive phenomena of the world, and their connections, and how we understand those connections. We also must see behind these connections.
Con-cept(ion), de-cept(ion), in-cept(ion), inter-cept(ion), per-cept(ion)
Concept of Pose: what does Pose mean, and how it is connected with movement, but not only with movement itself? Pose reflects our relationship with nature. What does Pose give us, or how does it benefit us? Pose is a way to interact with our environment. More exactly: Pose reflects on how skillful we are; Pose reflects our thoughts and intentions. The Pose is a universal language that we all understand. It has an intention.
Concept of Fall: Freefalling, and Bodyweight. The interaction with gravity to move. In 150 years of running, this concept was never implemented. The deceptive “concept” of “push(ing) off” is unfounded by science. By “push(ing) off,” we immediately neglect the laws of nature; the law of conservation of energy, especially. Mechanics, explaining how an object moves from point A and to point B by external forces, is also neglected. There has only been a few times in history (1937, 1984, and 2014) where horizontal movement was due to gravity. The concept of Falling never permeated the running community, resulting in millions of injuries, and performance not improving.
Concept of Pull: before Pose Method, this did not exist (in running). “Driving knees,” or “into the ground” was the prevailing “concept.
What we are trying to do is to establish the precise relationship between us and the natural world to obtain fruitful results. This stems from our ability to, and how we are consuming the potential energy of gravity.
We have to operate in facts, not opinions.
Fact: we all are products of gravity; even the thoughts in our minds are.
So how do we use that fact to implement our running technique?
Theory has 3 components: Descriptive, Explanative, and Predictive functions
Science is 70% Descriptive. For many years, prior to Pose Method, running was only Descriptive
Pose Theory includes all 3 components. It is very precise in Predictive function. Mathematical processes consist the basis of the the Predictive function of Pose Theory. For example, based on Fall Angle and Cadence, we can predict how long it will take to run a particular distance.
A model is a simplification of real processes. The Pose Method model of Pose, Fall, Pull explains how running is.
(More on this later): The System of Concept, Theory, and Method, all together.
What does Pose Method mean as a concept, then?
We live in a defined framework. We can find out what our potential is, and what our limitations are with gravity.
We can fall at a maximum of 22.5 degrees from the vertical. Any greater than that, then we are not able to recover to the vertical position, and we fall vertically to the ground. How fast we run is based on Gravitational Torque.
Usain Bolt used as a model (based on body height and leg length, as well), at 300 steps/minute, and falling at 22.5 degrees: can run 400 meters in 6.7 seconds.
Eliud Kipchoge used as a model (based on body height and leg length, as well), at same cadence and fall angle: can run a marathon in 1 hour and 26 minutes.
Standard: used to compare (things).
Error: how big is a deviation from the standard.
Before Pose Method, there existed no standard for running technique.
So, prior to that, how could running be taught without a standard?
In order to teach someone, we need a concept, theory, and standard.
Standard of body position (Pose): In order to fall, we need to be balance on the point of support where the general center of mass is over the point of support, in the Pose, or the S-like shape, which reflects the springiness we have.
Standard of falling: maintain Falling as long as possible until the point of support ends.
Standard of pulling: pull on time; it doesn’t matter how fast or slow we run.
Drills we do enhance our perception of these standards in time and space.
When we are running at any point, as teachers and students, we should be focused on these standards, in order to correct any deviations from these standards (errors).
Our guidance then is: concept, theory, and standard allow us to be high-quality teachers and coaches to produce high-quality results.