Month #8 - Accuracy - Week #32

Month #8 - Week 32 - Accuracy

This attribute of “Accuracy” provides numerous challenges as we try to address it in regards to either our general fitness, or in promoting longevity overall. Training methods abound when we consider a “sport specific” application such as training in accuracy for Baseball, Football, Golf, Archery, Hockey or Shooting sports. I’ve therefore been compelled to think out of the box, and to think of accuracy in more general terms. I do believe we can classify the attribute of Accuracy, in view of what I’d like to call “Functional Accuracy”, as it relates to our ability to be accurate in our everyday movements and performance of everyday tasks. I sincerely doubt that we’ll find any studies relating to a decline in accuracy as we get older. I am however quite certain it exists. Whether it be walking, doing dishes, preparing dinner or any task that involves movement within space and time, I believe our ability to be accurate in their performance demands our attention.

For our application in this context, I would define accuracy as our ability to move our bodies through space to impact our external environment in exactly the manner in which we deem valuable, useful or intentional. When considering this general attribute of “Functional Accuracy”, there are essentially four specific considerations that we need to address:

1. The actual ability to accurately move through space with any limb or body part using visual, auditory and/or our proprioceptive capabilities.
2. The actual speed in which this accurate movement is accomplished at (It’s MUCH easier to be accurate when moving very slowly).
3. The actual force that is used when contact is made with the object in question (Think of a 20 foot golf putt vs. a 4 inch golf putt).
4. Especially relevant to our consideration of “Functional Accuracy” is, in my opinion, the matter of mindfulness in the actual execution of that movement. Mindful, intentional “fully aware” movement will ALWAYS be more accurate than a mindless “going through the motions” type of habitual performance as is often the greater part of our modern, daily, waking daily lives..

Since we are embarking on some new territory here, I’m going to forego our usual performance of a “Metrics Monday” and will instead spend the month on refining the training strategies for this “Functional Accuracy”. I’m certain I will have some meaningful tests with which to demonstrate growth or decline before the month is over. Our Methuselah Fitness Program uses a two year template that will cycle through each minor attribute three times. Our work in this month will provide the basis for when we visit Accuracy again in Feb. 2019 & Sept. 2019.

For our classes, the training for Accuracy will involve movements that include throwing, kicking, agility and mindfulness. The kinds of activities you’re likely to see are:

• Throwing Darts
• Cornhole Toss
• Refinement of our Agility Ladder Drills
• Special Gait and Walking Drills (Including the introduction to “Walking Meditation”)
• Fine motor hand and foot drills
• Soccer cone drills
• Special attention to accuracy within ALL of our movements this month.

Your "Lifestyle Application" of Accuracy

As I'd previously mentioned, this attribute can be practiced for any movement we do as long as we're mindful of what we're doing! It is for this reason that I highly recommend the practice of meditation since it can most certainly help to cultivate mindfulness in our daily lives. In our busy, distraction fueled modern world, it's particularly difficult to be mindful in all we do and meditation can help. Some community colleges offer classes in meditation and there are plenty of resources online. A popular choice in books is "Meditation Made Easy" by Lorin Roche. There's even a phone app that I've found helpful called "Insight Timer" which has thousands of guided and free meditations many of which are suitable for beginners. 

Other lifestyle applications to help us maintain our accuracy include:

• Darts
• Horseshoes
• Bowling
• Dance
• Roller and Ice Skating
• Tai Chi
• Martial Arts (Judo, Karate, Kung Fu)
• Archery

These are just a few of the many ways we can utilize the attribute of Accuracy. I'm sure there are many more and I'd LOVE to hear your additional recommendations.

This week’s training involves the previously mentioned monthly attribute of Accuracy along with our weekly focus on Balance. We can therefore expect balance drills during our warmup, workout & mobility work at the end.  

While we’ll most certainly have some time (perhaps outdoors) for our traditional meditations, we can also expect to see some more “Walking Meditation” to add to our repertoire.