The Secret of Athletic Performance

My 16 year old Andrew had a question recently on
the way to school.

"Who's the greatest football player of all time?"

That's a toughie, right? There are so many positions
and skills involved in American football it's not easy
to come up with an answer.

I've always heard people say Jim Brown because not
only was he a great running back, but the feeling was
he could have been just as dominant on the defensive
side of the ball in any number of positions if he'd
needed to.

I think I'd have to say Walter Payton myself though.
That guy epitomized a football player for me. Sure
he was on the great Bears teams of the mid-80's, but
most of his career they weren't all that good. And
he was pretty much their only offensive weapon.

Thing is we all know an athlete when we see one, but
can we define what makes someone the greatest?

Is it strength? Endurance? Agility?

Flexibility? Balance? Explosiveness?

Stamina? Toughness? Speed? Power?

Attitude? Intelligence? Take your pick.

I guess maybe the perfect specimen in any sport
would have all these qualities wrapped up in one,
but I like the way master freelance strength coach
John Wood has described the perfect athlete:

"...when they move they look like liquid steel
- every muscle relaxed but incredibly powerful
and ready for anything.

That's really one of the secrets of athletic
performance - to be in perfect control of your
muscles, and your mind. Everything else falls into
place when that happens and there is a direct link
between the two that can, in fact, be strengthened."

To shoot a basketball like a superstar some muscle
groups need to contract while others relax so they
don't intefere in the shooting stroke. This takes a
high level of mind and body control.

The key to developing that kind of control is to
stay away from "mindless" exercise. You want
training that builds and strengthens the mind/
body connection.

Jumping on a treadmill and plugging in headphones
so you can zone out is the opposite of what you need.
The same with mindlessly pumping iron, or
aimlessly shooting around with a basketball. You're
not developing anything that way.

For my money there is nothing that develops body
control like bodyweight exercises done right. They
take more concentration and involve deeper neural
pathways than pushing around some external object.
They strengthen the body in natural movements
involving major muscle groups so your muscles learn
to work together in concert, unlike what you get with
weight training's isolation movements.

But before you roll your eyes and tell me how boring
pushups are, let me agree with you. You need more
than that. You need to work your muscles from
different angles to develop unshakeable functional
core strength. And you need to incorporate deep
controlled breathing and mental focus in all you do.

Unfortunately though until recently women have had
to to force feed themselves exercises developed by
men for men. A lady could still benefit from these to
some degree, but now there is a better way.

Fitness afficianado Eddie Baran has taken his unique
experience with bodyweight training, gymnastics,
handstand training, and climbing to craft a bodyweight
scupting and training program geared toward the
female who wants the body of an athlete.

Ladies, you don't wear men's jeans if you want to be
at your feminine best. Neither should you settle for
a man's exercise program. Learn how to develop
body control the way your body was designed today
by seeing what Eddie Baran has to teach you at:

http://www.deandelker.com/body_sculpting.html

Shoot For The Stars,

Dean - The Dean of Shooting Hoops

P.S. Guys, don't forget I recommend a kick-butt
fitness training program for you too developed by
a world-champion fighter that develops full-body
functional strength, endurance, and flexibility.

Coach Nick Nurse has been using it for a couple of
years in England to develop champion caliber
basketball teams with a huge conditioning
advantage.

Now you can even join an Inner Circle
membership club and get fitness tips and advice
from coaches and athletes around the world. Don't
be a lone ranger, but find out how to become a
world-class athlete today at:

http://www.deandelker.com/matt_furey.html

P.P.S. If you feel the need for hand, wrist, and
forearm strength for shooting like I do let John
Wood introduce you to his graduated resistance,
industrial-strength hand grippers.

They would be perfect stocking stuffers for the
athletes in your life. Conveniently available
today at:

http://www.deandelker.com/captains_of_crush.html

Make Every Shot Count

Copyright 2006 Delker Enterprises, Inc.