The Adaptable Athlete Podcast What Is Metastability? Making Theory Practical w/ Alan Dunton
14 snips
Oct 8, 2025 In this conversation with Alan Dunton, a lecturer in Coaching Science with a Taekwondo background, the focus is on the fascinating concept of metastability. Alan explains how adaptability is key for expert performance while examining the balance between exploration and stability in training environments. He emphasizes designing practices that encourage athletes to stretch their capabilities and creatively respond to challenges. The discussion also touches on spatial occlusion research, revealing how elite athletes utilize different visual strategies for enhanced performance.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Stability As Adaptive Flexibility
- Stability means the ability to adapt and return to a functional state after a perturbation.
- Alan argues stability should be 'bamboo-like' flexibility, not rigid repetition.
Metastability Enables Quick Transitions
- Metastability is shallower attractor wells allowing quick transitions between actions.
- It enables creativity because no single response dominates the interaction.
Use Constraints To Invite Novel Solutions
- Manipulate practice constraints (e.g., ring size or distance) to create metastable spaces.
- Push athletes just inside or outside their familiar zones to provoke novel solutions.