Copyright 2005 Mike AdamsHiking along a rocky trail, two of
three friends carefully picked their way from rock to rock. But one leaped from rock to rock, bounding by others like a gazelle running and leaping from rock to rock. Never missing his footing, others wondered at his almost supernatural grace and skill. "How does he do that?" they thought.
When most people think of physical fitness, they think of strength and cardiovascular fitness. If they are really thinking about it, they'll add flexibility to list.
But there's something few people think about when working out, a missing component of physical fitness. You can't get it just by lifting weights or running on a treadmill.
The missing component is agility.
Agility is what let my friend run rings around us, leaping from rock to rock along Pedernales River in Texas. Agility is what you see in top athletes who make great skill look effortless. Agility is what helps a ballet dancer make it look effortless. Agility is how Jackie Chan can still do martial arts even while he is rolling over tables, bouncing off walls, leaping between rungs of ladders.
I didn't understand that until years after hike along Pedernales River. Now, after doing martial arts for almost 30 years, I understand. When you watch someone who moves with grace and skill, you're seeing agility.
Have you ever had an experience where you felt clumsy?
Have you ever fumbled ball, or tripped over your own two feet?
Or have you ever seen someone who is in great shape, but they just can't coordinate, they can't move?
