Rafe Kelley, founder of Evolve Move Play and a renowned movement practitioner, discusses the misconception of athleticism, the upcoming Skill Acquisition Retreat, the concept of being a natural athlete, misconceptions in sports preparation, the role of variability in human movement and development, parkour practices, origins and applications of rough and tumble play, and the importance of physicality and play as a form of communication.
Autonomous and play-oriented parkour practice allows for individual expression and problem-solving, leading to greater enjoyment and growth.
Integrating different types of practices cultivates a well-rounded and adaptable athlete, enhancing overall skill development.
Being a natural athlete goes beyond genetics or measurable factors, emphasizing holistic training and individualized approaches to reach athletic potential.
Deep dives
Parkour practice and autonomy
Parkour practice is predominantly auto-telic and play-oriented. Practitioners warm up and then explore the environment, finding intriguing movements and gradually drilling and linking them together. Autonomy is given to the performer to choose their movements and build lines. This autonomy and freedom in practice allow for individual expression and problem-solving, which can lead to greater enjoyment and growth.
The concept of an ecology of practices
The concept of an ecology of practices involves integrating different types of practices to cultivate a more well-rounded and adaptable athlete. It emphasizes the importance of variability and diverse training approaches, rather than solely focusing on specific skills. The idea is that different practices interact and create emergent effects, enhancing overall skill development and transferability to different sports or activities.
The natural athlete myth and debunking common beliefs
The concept of being a natural athlete is often associated with inherent aptitude for athletic tasks. However, it is important to recognize that athletic potential is not solely determined by genetics or measurable factors like strength. The podcast challenges the belief that achieving a certain squat or jump output automatically translates to being a great athlete. It highlights the importance of holistic training, skill development, and the need for individualized approaches to reach athletic potential.
The importance of movement variability and skill transfer
The podcast discusses the concept of movement variability and skill transfer in different sports and physical activities. It explores how certain movements can transfer skills to other related activities, such as parkour athletes' ability to transfer their jumping skills to track and field. The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding which movements have the most beneficial transfer and asymmetrical donation capacity.
The power of physical play and attuning to others
The podcast highlights the significance of physical play and its role in human communication and development. It emphasizes the need for humans to reconnect with physical movement and explores how nonverbal communication through play can create a deeper connection between individuals. The speaker discusses the benefits of rough and tumble play, as well as its applications in martial arts, dance, and even romantic relationships. The podcast encourages fostering physical interaction and attunement to enhance human connection on a deeper level.
Rafe is the founder of Evolve Move Play and is one of the foremost movement practitioners on the world. He's studied and practiced everything from parkour, gymnastics, various martial arts disciplines, and much more.
Rafe absolutely crushes on this podcast and we discuss some very deep and interesting topics. If you want to learn more about Rafe and the EMP content, then I highly suggest visiting his website!
We are launching a new program called the Skill Acquisition Retreat! We will be hosting the first one in Arizona on February 17th, 2024. ..Click here to learn more!
If you like today's episode, leave a review here....If you want to reach me directly, contact me on social media or shoot me @javier@emergentmvmt.com
