The Adventure Athlete Training System is a unique approach to fitness that weaves together ancient and time-tested strength and conditioning methods, scientifically-backed corrective and rehabilitative techniques, and the practice of natural movement.
To best explain the Adventure Athlete System, think of a strong and healthy oak tree. At the base of the tree are the roots, which provide a foundation of stability and strength. The roots also provide the oak with all of the nutrients it needs to grow!
These roots represent the 5 Nutritious Movements of the Adventure Athlete System. By mastering these 5 movements, we build a strong and rooted foundation of fitness. These are essential, “nutrient-dense” movements that maintain our health and maximize our quality of life.
As the mighty oak develops, it must grow in a balanced way. If the trunk is twisted or bent, it is more likely to break. If the branches grow in an unbalanced way, the tree may blow over or not receive enough sunlight. If the tree is not armored by thick bark, it is susceptible to injury or illness.
The human body is no different! Our habits, lifestyles, environment, genetics, and past injuries all affect how our body develops over time. The Adventure Athlete System pro-actively focuses on reducing pain and preventing injury by making sure the body is developing in a balanced, protective way.
With strong roots and a balanced trunk, the oak can now flourish! By spreading a thick canopy of leaves, the oak basks in the nourishing sunlight and breathes in the fresh air. Even though we can’t see the benefits of photosynthesis, the oak could not survive without it!
Like an oak leaf swaying in a sunny breeze, humans experience countless unseen benefits by moving naturally. The Adventure Athlete System brings it all together by teaching 12 Nourishing Natural Movement Skills. While these skills further our physical fitness, they also provide a primal sense of joy, confidence, freedom, creativity, and connection to the Earth that is not found in other forms of exercise. This is essential for creating a well-rounded and adventurous person!
The 5 Nutritious Movements
When we take any advanced or athletic movement and break it down into its most basic components, we discover 5 fundamental movement patterns: Squatting, Hinging, Pushing, Pulling, and Rotating.
These patterns are the building blocks that, when combined, produce an endless variety of advanced movement potential. Just like the vitamins and minerals in the soil, these 5 movements are “nutritious” and essential for the human body. By learning and strengthening these patterns, we benefit in the following ways:
Develop movement competency that can accelerate the learning of more advanced movement skills.
Teach the body to work as one synchronized unit, rather than individual muscles.
Build a level of strength that protects the joints and allows for a wider variety of activity.
Grow and maintain a level of functional flexibility that prevents injuries and improves quality of life.
Build a balanced suit of Armor
Our modern lifestyles do not require a wide variety of movement. Instead, we often get stuck in habitual positions or tasks that cause certain muscles to lose flexibility and strength. These imbalances lead to the most common complaints of pain and injury in people, today:
Back or Neck pain
Knee pain
Shoulder pain
Wrist or Ankle pain
Sitting is the number one culprit, here! We sit in our cars, we sit at work, we sit when we are at home. Most of our leisure time involves sitting, and even most exercise machines have a place to sit!
As we strengthen the 5 Nutritious movements, we will uncover areas of the body that have become imbalanced due to sedentary behaviors or habitual movements. This is what we call Building Your Armor, and it is crucial for safety and longevity. The Adventure Athlete System targets these areas directly through a series of scientifically-backed methods designed to:
Improve posture
Improve tendon and joint health
Improve circulation
Improve muscle mass
Improve muscular balance
Improve mind-muscle connection
the 9 Nourishing Movements
The 5 Nutritious Movements provide the building blocks for becoming strong and capable. Building Armor alleviates pain and helps to prevent future injuries. Any competent strength and conditioning plan should do the same!
What makes the Adventure Athlete System truly unique is its focus on developing 12 Nourishing Natural Movement Skills:
Ground Movement
Balance
Jumping
Get Ups
Vaulting
Running
Climbing
Lifting
Carrying
Throwing
Crawling
Defense
These movements are nourishing because they have value far beyond anything we can instantly see or measure. These movements provide the “why” behind the training:
Expand our movement “vocabulary”
Engage in activities that are fun and creative.
Encourage exploration and play.
Deepen our connection to Nature.
Build greater self-confidence and independence.