The GIM Project

Dynamic correspondence.

Transfer of training.

The name of the game when working with athletes.

Yuri Verkhoshansky coined the term dynamic correspondence in an attempt to explain how certain movements/exercises will transfer to the terminal task based on certain kinetic/kinematic characteristics.

1️⃣ Amplitude and direction of movement.

2️⃣ Accentuated regions of force production.

3️⃣ Dynamics of effort.

4️⃣ Rate and time of maximum force production.

5️⃣ Regime of muscular work.

Depending on the task, certain qualities will have greater transfer to the terminal task compared to others.

What transfer of training is not is trying to emulate or mimic sport specific movements with every single exercise.

What transfer of training is using exercise to drive adaptations for physical qualities that will allow the individual to be successful.

Most coaches can probably push general physical preparedness much longer than they think and still have appropriate transfer.

If you want to dominate on the field, come work with us.

One of the most popular phrases in the fitness industry.

“Don’t load dysfunction.”

It continues to be perpetuated by many fitness professionals not to add load on top of “dysfunctional” movement patterns.

Or that it is not a good idea to add resistance to a position one cannot maintain actively with little to no resistance.

Can we not think of any situations where load actually improves positioning and takes away the “dysfunction”?

Using a dynamic systems lens can help to partially understand the interactions between the person, environment, and the task.

For many individuals, the FMS overhead squat or front rack position with a dowel/light barbell will look less than ideal. Hence, “dysfunctional.”

You know what helps a lot of individuals?

Load.

Could it be that the task of overhead squatting with a dowel or front squatting with a dowel is a different task compared to an 135 lb overhead squat or 225 lb front squat?

Potentially the way in which we self-organize with the addition of load may actually remove the “dysfunction” and lead to improved kinematics in the desired movement task.

Before we begin to unnecessarily regress the task, we should probably utilize various loading implements, environmental constraints, and lateralizations to attempt to achieve the desired outcome first.