A post that can also apply to instrumentalists or anyone else in the realm of performance.
In the end any throwing event is a rather complex motion. There are so many variables involved and so many things you can do to add (or subtract) distance.
For this very reason, it is paramount that we do our best to keep things as simple as possible. The more complex the task, the simpler we should get. There are simply too many things going on to consciously control every single aspect. We aren’t built to do that. We are extraordinarily sophisticated machines. We react to stimuli and direction. Not micromanaging.
When I first started back to throwing after my ten year lay off I told myself some very important things. Always keep it simple. It will never be perfect, so don’t count on it. In fact, it would be foolish to expect perfection. In the world of performance, perfection is never present. It’s all a matter of thriving in the realm of imperfection. When I look back to film of myself throwing during that beginning time I see a lot of things about the thrower then that are way better (and most importantly more effective) than the thrower I see now. As I’ve progressed more into the throw, I’ve started to make it complicated and lost a hold of the idea that simplicity is paramount....and some things are flat out not as good...ironic, considering that I’ve spent more time trying to “improve” by adding things here or there and moving away from simplicity.
Also, there are a lot of essential movements in the throw that happen naturally. When I do go back to making it simple, I usually get a good throw with half the effort...that is the goal.
Over anything for any thrower of any level The most important aspects of the throw can come down to 2 things. Rhythm and athleticism. I don’t care how awesome your right foot looked. I don’t care how cool your left arm looked. I don’t care how sweet your eyebrows looked blah blah blah blah...if you have bad rhythm, you cant deliver the implement properly. Additionally a lot of very essential moments of the throw occur naturally when in the pursuit of athleticism... your body recruits certain movements in the chain reaction that is throwing the discus. I have found it very counter productive to fixate on too many parts of the body thus leading to negative results through an inorganic method and process of “fixing the symptoms not the conditions that lead to them”. When we pursue athleticism, we are generally'for the most part -recruiting the correct movements.
If you are mastering simplicity THEN you are in a position to apply a little more here a little more there. But you must always proceed from simplicity and rhythm. You awaken the system in which your body is most able to operate. Stimuli and reaction. Don’t put your awesomely excellent system to sleep by over over programming yourself.
Every practice should start with simplicity. Never expect anything more than ease and simplicity at the start. Proceed from a place of comfort even if it’s not perfect. What the hell is perfect anyways? Stay patient. Let your body awaken. Let your mind connect to your body. Don’t expect it to be instant. Be patient. It is crucial.
