What is High Quality Movement?
"Comprehend and copy nature"
Viktor Schauberger
In all things given in nature, quality is a byword for purity. For example, the level of purity of spring water, and therefore quality, depends on how close it is to it's natural state, without being adulterated by human beings.
With movement, it's a little more complicated, but the principle remains the same. Our challenge is not to get in the way of nature, because when we do not obstruct it's inner workings the results can trigger an awareness of a much greater potential for ourselves and our fellow human beings than we previously realised. That is, nature can teach us what quality of function really means via the expression of its own inherent qualities, either directly in our own inner processes or observed in the motions of animals, the wind, the ocean and so on.
It will be clear to anyone who has keenly observed animals in motion, that their movements not only appear flawless (and indeed frictionless) in their functioning, but also exhibit a quality of power output that has remarkable continuity and effectiveness, like a wall of surging water.
Take the Wagtail, for example, whose running performance here is every bit as impressive as the more celebrated Cheetah:
Notice that the bird runs without apparent effort, with the head remaining totally still and composed while retaining the freedom of movement to peck at the ground at will. This astonishing display demonstrates a quality and efficiency of movement that puts even our greatest performers to shame. No energy appears to be wasted and the movement is totally unified and effective. In summary, the following observations can be made:
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Astonishing overall straight-line speed; legs turn over at alarming speed, with machine-like efficiency and regularity
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Smooth, effortless acceleration and changes of direction, which happen instantaneously without apparent postural adjustment or breaking of momentum
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Body zips along as if on a travelator i.e. entirely in the horizontal plane
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Immaculate control of acceleration/deceleration; frictionless instantaneous braking
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No change in posture or cadence while running up the slope
Overall, the Wagtail exhibits a phenomenon that can be called 'Continuous Power' where the power profile of its centre of mass does not appear to show fluctuations. In other words, all of its momentum is directed in the horizontal plane, with seemingly no vertical oscillation of its centre of mass. Generally with humans, on the other hand, because the body directly pushes against gravity (creating shear forces), the power output cannot be maintained (i.e. is discontinuous) and so its consistency and quality of transmission is compromised. As well as scientific analyses that measure power fluctuations of the centre of mass, the quality of power output of human locomotion can also be assessed using rudimentary but effective resistance tests, which are shown in various demonstrations of continuous power here. See also a Wagtail-esque running demonstration here.
Another example of high quality movement is provided by our friend below:
Some commentary on the above:
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Notice the very pronounced pelvic/hip rotation, which is clearly driving the movement, rather than simply passively reacting to being pulled upon by the legs.
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The toddler appears to corroborate Serge Gracovetsky's Spinal Engine theory, which suggests that the purpose of the legs is to express the motions coming from the core, rather than being responsible for driving the forward propulsion.
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The toddler is clearly not pushing off from the ground in order to propel himself along. Another mechanism is therefore being used, which appears to be mediated by the rotations in the pelvis and results in a smooth displacement of the centre of mass with little vertical oscillation, which is clear from observing the shadow cast on the road.
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Compare the instinctive fluid and relaxed joint movements of the toddler with the self-conscious older child (appearing from 1:05 onwards). He has copied his elders in adopting an already rather stiff marching style with very little proactive joint rotation, reflecting the widespread but erroneous assumption that the spine is a passive passenger and the legs are the engine of locomotion.
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Even though the use of the shoulders and arms is not yet fully developed in the toddler and are relatively uncoordinated, the right arm in particular swings freely much of the time, as a result of the momentum generated by the counter rotation of the shoulder.
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The toddler's posture is bolt upright with body relaxed and it remains so even when accelerating.
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Finally, the toddler's acceleration appears to be brought about by increasing the freqency of the rotations in the pelvis and is rapid, instantaneous and remarkably controlled. This is in constrast to the assumption that locomotive acceleration can only be achieved via driving and pumping the arms and legs with increasing speed/intensity and with inclined posture.