Thought of The Day: An Open System

 ‎"All fixed set patterns are incapable of adaptability or pliability. The truth is outside of all fixed patterns." - Bruce Lee

A fixed set pattern is rigid and unpliable.  Things are done in a particularly way because it has always been this way or because of the adherance to dogma.

An open system (which is inherently not a fixed set pattern) on the other hand is adaptive. There is a constant exchange of energy and matter from the surrounding environment.  It is the same for nature, for society, for humans and all other life organisms.  Indeed most of the systems within the human body such as the respiratory system, digestive system and so on work on the same basis.

An open system responds to external stimuli, in conjunction with its environment and other feedback mechansms. It is constantly and continuously open to influence in order to meet its desired objective and to deal with exceptions when it can't meet that objective.

Computers?

When I worked as a computer programmer - the analysis would involve trying to keep these computer systems as self-contained as possible.  Closed systems with rigid fixed set patterns.  There would also be emphasis on providing many layers of abstraction to simplify operation and to aid in troubleshooting issues.  This will theoretically reduce bugs and so makes it easier to provide solutions to known exceptions (errors).  Unfortunately even with the best will in the world - if an unknown situation occurs during the execution of these programs (otherwise known as an unhandled exception) - the system will crash.

I feel sure that as the human body is an open system then our attitude to programming for our training and playouts should work on that basis too.  To be able to deal with the known tasks but also the unknown and exceptional tasks.  Do you only want to be able to do what you have trained for?  

Deadlift

If I can deadlift an olympic bar off the ground, but can't adapt to lifting an individual or a sack of sweet potatoes off the ground then my deadlift is limited outside the world of olympic lifting.  

What if I can only pick the weight up off the ground but can't carry it or set it down gently because I have to drop the weight immediately?  The deadlift only then serves the purpose of picking something up - but is not truly functional in a practical sense when you think about it.  

It doesn't mean deadlifting using an olympic bar is invalid, but for most who deadlift this way: they will only ever deadlift this way.  

Even with a basic movement such as the deadlift we can easily demonstrate limitations if we only focus on that set movement pattern, using the same stance, grip and object.  Instead use your imagination and apply variance and modify variables other than time, volume, speed, sets and reps.

Don't make something overly complex when a simpler variant will do.  Be responsive to change, reactive to many stumuli and to be adaptable rather than adapted.  

These were some of my thoughts around the Fitness Explorer philosophy of PRIMALity.  To be open, to be curious, to analyse and to never stop questioning - if nothing else it makes the fitness exploration even more interesting...

Video: The Terminator Crawl

Workout: Tabata Tuesday

Workout:

Tabata Intervals (A 24 minute workout - including rest periods)

• 20sec Alternate Single Leg Hops, 10sec rest - (repeat for 8 rounds).
• rest - 1 minute
• 20s Backwards Bunny Hop, 10s rest - (repeat for 8 rounds)
• rest - 1 minute
• 20s Double Unders 10s rest - (repeat for 8 rounds)
• rest - 1 minute
• 20s Crocodile Walk, 10s rest - (repeat for 8 rounds)
• rest - 1 minute
• 20s Squat, 10s rest - (repeat for 8 rounds)

* Go as hard as you can as strict as you can and as fast as you can during those 20s periods of work and play

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Note:

Please scale all Fitness Explorer workouts and playouts to your current ability.  This may mean increasing or decreasing the weights prescribed, modifying distances and times, or changing number of sets and reps to complete.  Get adequate rest and sufficient nutrition to fuel the activity and to aid in recovery.  Work hard and play hard but never sacrifice correct form.

Please visit the exercise FAQ for details on individual exercises or consult the advice of a registered exercise professional to ensure safe execution of the above movements.

If you are new to this mode of exercise, try one of the beginner's circuits

Perform a warmup prior to activity, here's an example Fitness Explorer warmup

Watch    Fitness Explorer video's here on YouTube

Testimonial: PRIMALity Playshop @ Paleo FX

Forgive my constant reference to laughter in your playshops, but it is such a striking characteristic for me. So I'll beat it into the ground until people realize how much fun you bring to movement.

"Walk into any gym anywhere and you'll hear all sorts of things: the hum of treadmills, the clank of weight plates, an occasional grunt. But you won't hear the one thing that is a constant sound in Darryl's playshops—laughter. Darryl brings so much to these explorations of movement that it's impossible to call it exercise: collaboration, fun, problem solving, play, engagement, interaction. One word of warning—you won't be giggling the next day when you feel how sore you are. But you'll also be invigorated and plotting your next PRIMALity adventure."

Thanks, Darryl! 

- Karen Phelps - PaleoPeriodical.com