I'm working on a webpage titled "The Definition of Physical Fitness"
It may seem obvious, but if you think about it it is pretty hard to write a simple definition that makes sense for the masses. "To Get Huge" does not cut it
Here's what quickly Came to Mind for Me:
At the very least, the human body's physical ability to efficiently cope with the specific imposed demands which occur on a daily basis.
-Mike Behnken, MS, CSCS
I know I'm missing something important.
Post your definition along w/ a quick signature and I will post it on my webpage, I'm looking for at least 20 different definitions from different trainers.
"The Definition of Physical Fitness"
The human bodies ability to move with desired speed, balance, agility and strength gained through proper exercise and nutrition
"The Definition of Physical Fitness"
The human bodies ability to move with desired speed, balance, agility and strength gained through proper exercise and nutrition
Cool Don,
You hit it from more of an athletic perspective, I will send you a link when I put up the webpage
__________________ 'I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day. ' ~Frank Sinatra
WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may create the illusion that you are tougher,
smarter, faster and better looking than most people.
Physical fitness has two definitions: one being based on the statistical average, and the other more personal being: to live long if you want to live long, and to jump as high as a kite if you want to jump as high as a kite, eh?
Based on averages I would say, the ability to decrease risk of injury and disease, increase life satisfaction and wellness, and to learn and grow towards our individual goals.
Physical Fitness:
The synergy of flexibility, mobility, power, strength and endurance over a continuous set of cyclic or acyclic movements in order to beat the opposition
Physical Fitness:
The synergy of flexibility, mobility, power, strength and endurance over a continuous set of cyclic or acyclic movements in order to beat the opposition
Thanks Fred, Can I use your definition on the page I wrote? I just need your location so I can quote you properly.
I tried to define physical fitness for humans by looking how it is important in the animal kingdom I used Maslow's hierarchy of need...
Physical Fitness:
The synergy of flexibility, mobility, power, strength and endurance over a continuous set of cyclic or acyclic movements in order to beat the opposition
...I like this, aside from the term acyclic, because it is adaptable to each individual's goals.
__________________
"If it's a penny for your thoughts and you put in your two cents worth, then someone, somewhere is making a penny." — Steven Wright
I was having a debate as to whether fitness was relative or not.
Argument for relativity:
In order to quantify physical fitness as a measurement of improving the physical body there needs to be yardsticks to which physical fitness can be measured against, ie others. Therefore fitness is relative.
Argument against.
Someone can run distance and lift heavy etc in complete isolation, because that person has no one to measure against does that mean they aren't fit.
Sorry for the brief hijack but since someone mentioned @fit from that article:
Quote:
Our specialty is not specializing. Combat, survival, many sports, and life
reward this kind of fitness and, on average, punish the specialist.
I get what they are after in the article but it's this kind of "broad modal domain" pseudo-scientific garbage that gets Glassman bashed (deservedly).
Sports punish the specialist huh? Name one sport where the participant doesn't benefit from training specific fitness qualities needed.
And what sort of combat is referred to? I've heard from many that have been in actual combat that testify improving your Fran time won't do jack. And no top MMAers really do @fit.
But enough of that.
Some pretty good definitions of fitness.
__________________
Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
you know what Glassman means though, right? He means that if a bodybuilder (who trains exclusively for that sport) wants to play soccer he wouldn't be fit for it, or if a long-distance runner (who only trains for long distance running) wanted to play rugby or had to do some heavy labor in real life he might not be fit for it. I don't think he (Glassman) is really trying to make it be more than that in that document.
But Glassman does make more of it - claiming they produce the fittest & best athletes.
The point remains that to be very good at what you do you need to train specifically for that.
If an endurance athlete, bodybuilder, or anyone with an athletic background wanted to play rugby at some level then they'd have to train for that, and I'll bet $$ they'd do just as well if not better than someone using @fit WODs. I'd even take a random group of bros from my gym over what I've seen at @fit gyms.
That's not to say there aren't some good ideas embedded or that some running affiliates aren't doing good work, but it's the hype and bullshit that needs to be called.
__________________
Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
I think things have got kind of out of control. Crossfit is a gimmick, plain and simple.
Physical fitness is all about the environment. The environment determines what physical fitness is for individuals.
For someone who loses their leg in the war and are trying to adjust, it means something completely different than someone who puts themselves in the crossfit environment and relishes getting injured and trying to train through it.
It is a broad definition, of physical fitness which relates to the human species. Maybe we've went off on a tangent of the definition of physical performance?
To me fitness is is the ability to conquer obstacles, which I set to overcome, in an efficient manner.
And you are right this question is harder than you might think.
I had a couple of interviews for personal training jobs where they asked me "why I was interested in a fitness job".
UH....degree in a related field an internship at velocity sports perfomance, 15 years of competitive soccer, 5 years of martial arts on and off, about 5 years of baseball, learning how to rehabilitate my bad back because my therapist was a moron, too much weight training to remember.
Of course I didn't put it in that tone. But, she still didn't get it. Then it hit me. She had a different idea of what fitness was. She saw all the sports experience and wondered why I wasn't working with athletes. My question was what is the difference between working with athletes and working with joe schmoe? Joe schcmoe wants to get a little stronger, feel better lose some weight and be able to run around with little joey for a little longer. Mr. athlete wants to feel better(see not get injured), lose or gain weight (especially for weight class sports), be more mobile, get stronger and faster etc.
So whats the difference?
And the funniest thing was one of the interviewees thought I should be training athletes and one thought I should be a physical therapist.
But, I am getting off topic.
I think the take home message is fitness is a way of life and not a destination. And you have to define what it means for YOU not what some book tells you because without that definition you
When I had this job where I had to walk ten miles a day everyone I knew would tell me how "fit" I would be. Is being able to go through 5% of hip flexion repeatedly really what most people think fit is?
I like CrossFit's definition, but here's a stab at another one. There's a lot you can say about what fitness is or isn't, what's necessary and what isn't. In a funny way a person's training revolves around their own idea of fitness. Here's mine:
Fitness is the body's ability to do work, perform tasks, meet challenges and overcome obstables, requiring strength, balance, agility, flexibility, speed, endurance, and health.
I'm working on a webpage titled "The Definition of Physical Fitness"
It may seem obvious, but if you think about it it is pretty hard to write a simple definition that makes sense for the masses. "To Get Huge" does not cut it
Here's what quickly Came to Mind for Me:
At the very least, the human body's physical ability to efficiently cope with the specific imposed demands which occur on a daily basis.
-Mike Behnken, MS, CSCS
I know I'm missing something important.
Post your definition along w/ a quick signature and I will post it on my webpage, I'm looking for at least 20 different definitions from different trainers.
Thanks
"Physical fitness is not just about the ability generate force. It is the result of a lifestyle that leads to a balance of optimum strength, balance, flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, and obtaining and maintaining and ideal bodyweight."
Know thyself - how beautifully can you move your bodywieght, and how efficiently can you move a weight overhead - Finally, who will be the last one standing? You, or the one who beat you?
Strength, Power, and Power Endurance - the elements of a Superman
Definition of Physical Fitness
Linear Mode
