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With the recent rise in popularity of sports such as CrossFit and Olympic lifting, many people have been wondering what exactly makes a good athlete. Is it power? Endurance? Speed? The answer is actually none of those things. While all of these attributes are certainly important, they pale in comparison to the importance of overall athleticism.
What does it mean to be an athlete? What makes someone athletic?
The topic of overall athleticism is a pretty open-ended one. The definition varies depending on who you ask, but what we do know for sure is that being athletic can help with your everyday life in more ways than just physical activity. For many people, the answer is a physical description of someone who is strong and fit. Overall athleticism is the ability to perform physical tasks that require strength, speed, power, agility, and flexibility with grace and ease. Athleticism can be quantified through a variety of tests such as vertical jump height or timed sprints. However you measure it, overall athleticism will help you improve your quality of life by increasing longevity and reducing injury risk. The best way to increase your overall athletic capacity is with consistent training in multiple areas (strength conditioning; plyometrics; core work) combined with healthy eating habits and adequate rest time between workouts.
If you want to be an elite-level athlete, you need strong athletic development across ALL planes of motion. This means that no matter how much strength or endurance you gain on one plane (e.g., front squat) if your hips are weak then you will not be able to maximize this strength because your body will compensate by using other muscles for stability which will ultimately compromise the performance and increase injury risk.
One of the most important factors of overall athleticism is agility. Agility can be defined as a person's ability to move quickly and change direction with ease, such as when running or jumping. The more agile you are, the better your chance at success in nearly every endeavor that requires speed and coordination.
Whatever your definition may be, the best way to improve overall athleticism is by doing something you enjoy and combining it with other physical activities like yoga or swimming. You can also try adding new routines into your life such as taking up rock climbing or hiking if those sound more appealing than what you’re currently doing.
The important thing to remember about becoming an athlete (regardless of which type) is that consistency matters most--keep at it! It takes time and dedication before we start seeing any positive results in our health and wellness goals.
More than just having muscles, being an athlete means dedication and perseverance in one's goals.