General Physical Preparedness (GPP): A Balancing Act

The broad, general, inclusive nature of our General Physical Preparedness (GPP) program invites an important balance. The balance we are trying to achieve is enough variance to support the development of a broad list of desired fitness qualities, but not be too varied to impede progression in those qualities. 

At our Venice location, for example, students might be shocked to know that this week has some notable elements in balance:

• All energy systems (phosphagen, glycolytic, and oxidative)
• All planes of motion (sagittal, fontal, and transverse)
• All movement patterns
  • Horizontal Pulling
  • Vertical Pulling
  • Horizontal Pushing
  • Vertical Pushing
  • Hinging 
  • Squatting
  • Locomotion
• All load volumes (bodyweight, light, moderate, and heavy)
• All time domains
• Task and time oriented efforts
• All load patterns (unilateral and bilateral)

Each month a team of eight coaches evaluates and critiques the next month’s training for these elements and more. After all, general physical preparedness is a balancing act!