The true nature of 'people with good athletic sense'. This is probably it! Probably.

Oss! I'm a karate-practicing dad!

This story will also be extremely subjective. It's basically at the level of an old man talking to himself.

Because I've never explicitly taught using this content.
*That said, I feel that teaching this movement to beginners or children has a high possibility of leading them in the wrong direction, so I try not to convey it much.
(I've touched on it a little in my Note articles)

For adults who can use their judgment or those who want to try a new type of training, please read it if you'd like.🙇‍♂️

Now, let's get into the main part.

Actually, I can immediately tell things like, 'That kid has a good sense,' or 'That kid will take a little time.' (Everyone who teaches can tell)

There are various factors, such as good posture or the ability to relax, but if you focus on the word'athletic sense', one major ability is involved.

That is,'whether you can accurately reproduce the movements you are told or shown with your own body'.

In other words,'how sensitive you are to your own body sensations (how high the resolution is)'—the difference in this ability is the true nature of sense.

■ The true nature of sense is high 'proprioception'

In sports theory, the sensors that feel your body's position, movement, and force are called'proprioception'. I learned that for the first time too!

When told to 'raise your arm straight to the side,' people who can raise it perfectly straight without looking in a mirror have high precision in these sensors.
Conversely, people who are off-target do not have their mental image aligned with their actual body movement.

Eliminating this gap between the'brain's commands'and the'actual movement'is what it means to polish your sense (improve body control).

So, how can you train these sensors?

Actually, there is a geeky training method that anyone can do in their daily life, so I'd like to introduce it!

■ Training 1: Listen to the 'sounds' you make

First, start by'listening to your own sounds'.

* When stationary: your own breathing sounds, chewing sounds (the sound of eating food)

* When moving: your own footsteps, the sound of opening and closing doors, the sound of clothes rubbing

Why sound? Because sound is the easiest'answer key for movement'to understand.

When your footsteps are thumping, it is proof that your joints are stiff, you are using unnecessary force, and you are colliding with the ground. *Actually, you can really tell when doing karate kata. Kata is the best!

By observing the sound, you develop sensors that objectively perceive the state of your body.

■ Training 2: Move while 'eliminating sound' to the extreme

Once you are somewhat sensitive to your own sounds, the next step is to enter the stage of'moving as quietly (carefully) as possible'.

What I want you to be careful about here is that walking with your body tensed up and stepping gingerly like a thief in a comedy sketch (think Ken Shimura) is a no-go. Your muscles will be completely tense.

The important thing is to use the'power of imagery'.
Try superimposing the'water yo-yo (water balloon)'you get at festivals onto your own body.

It's the sensation that your body is filled with sloshing water, and every time you move, that water sways and absorbs the impact. Move while keeping your body soft, as if a water balloon is landing softly on the ground.

*This is an image that is easy for me to use. Imagination is free! Whether it's 'paper' or 'slime,' any 'soft image' of your own is fine!

Move your body while exploring a soft image, asking yourself, 'How can I eliminate the sound?'

Actually, this 'internal consciousness of trying to eliminate sound' itself is directly linked to the fine control of your joints and muscles.
(*To be honest, the sound doesn't actually need to disappear. The key is the consciousness of trying to eliminate the sound.)

By the way, if you make it too soft, your posture will collapse. It is better to maintain the sensation of your head being pulled straight upward. (Refer to the article below)

■ Sneak it into 'little moments' of daily life

'Alright, then I'll live 24 hours a day without making any sound starting today!'... Please don't think that.
You'll be a weirdo. You'll be Golgo. Your family will be creeped out (lol).

'Only when going down the stairs in the morning,' 'Only when placing this cup on the table,' etc.—once a day as a game is enough.

If you apply this consciousness of 'eliminating sound' to moments like running, walking, and 'kata training' in karate, the way you use your body will change dramatically! I recommend it!

■ Don't forget the balance between 'inside' and 'outside'

I will share one last important point with you.
It is also the reason why I do not teach this to beginners or children, but...
This 'listening to and silencing sounds' technique is thoroughlya practice of turning your consciousness inward (introspection).

In martial arts and body manipulation, if you focus too much on this inward consciousness, you will head in a direction that loses you friends, saying things like:

'Muscle training is completely unnecessary.'
'I am currently refining my inner chakra... Haaaaaa!'

Sports and martial arts involve interacting with the 'outside,' such as an opponent's movements and the surrounding environment. Only when the balance between 'practice to align the inside' and 'practice to observe the outside' is met does it become truly usable body manipulation.

I will talk about that outside aspect on another occasion.

Athletic sense is not a magic talent you are born with. It is a skill that can be polished acquiredly through daily 'awareness of sound and imagery.'

Let's use knowledge and structure to organize our own territory (body sensation) ourselves.

Let's fight together. Oss!

If you want to delve deeper into the water balloon imagery that appeared in the article, click here 💁

For introspection from a different approach, click here 💁

Oss!