Virtuosity is defined in gymnastics as performing the common uncommonly well. Unlike risk and originality, virtuosity is elusive, supremely elusive. It is, however, readily recognized by audience as well as coach and athlete. But more importantly, more to my point, virtuosity is more than the requirement for that last tenth of a point; it is always the mark of true mastery (and of genius and beauty).
There is a compelling tendency among novices developing any skill or art, whether learning to play the violin, write poetry, or compete in gymnastics, to quickly move past the fundamentals and on to more elaborate, more sophisticated movements, skills, or techniques. This compulsion is the novices cursethe rush to originality
and risk.
~ Coach Glassman, Crossfit Journal
I’ve seen countless examples of this in the gym and in my martial arts experience. My old sensei from Korea would always lecture me about the Western mind and how new students become bored very quickly due to the seemingly unending repetition of basic movements. Something as simple as an air squat should be appreciated – not glossed over. If you simply crouch down without giving thought to ideal body mechanics, your efforts to overhead squat your body weight 15 times will never be rewarded. It’s the appreciation and mastery of the simple that will, in the long run, reward you with superhuman PR’s.
The Forge meets The Chief….
Boy, that was my worst workout in a long time! I need to work on my lifts, weight and form. Can’t keep letting them kick my butt!