Instagram story viewer> @thoughtfulmeathead> Posts

Patrick Koo, BKin, CSCS

@thoughtfulmeathead

74.1K

followers

917

following

🏋️‍♂️ Coach & movement educator
📍 Vancouver, BC
👇 Links to train & learn

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

You don’t move more smoothly by stretching.

Again, for those in the back: YOU DON’T MOVE MORE SMOOTHLY BY STRETCHING.

Having the ability to move smoothly = movement options.

Movement options = degrees of freedom.

Degrees of freedom = how much potential movement, and speed of movement you have, in all three planes of motion at each individual joint, multiplied by all the joints in your body.

I don’t know the exact mathematical equation for the number of movement outcomes that might come out of that, but it must be near infinite.

Smooth movement is achieved through…
- Specific practice of specific skills.
- Increasing physical literacy or athleticism.
- Relaxation (most of the time).
… All of which are neurological qualities.

The movement quality rabbit hole runs deep. And the lessons learned help get us out of our heads and into our bodies. And I am strongly of the opinion that life is better when we live an embodied existence that’s grounded in physical reality.

Jump into the rabbit hole by following this page, and subscribing to the FREE Thoughtful Meathead Newsletter for more movement and training breakdowns like this (link in bio) 🤙

#biomechanics #movementquality #movementgains #athletictraining #athleticism #mobilitywork by @thoughtfulmeathead

607

26

3 years ago

Hanging creates space in all 3 parts of your shoulder: your ribcage, your shoulder blades, and your ball and socket joints. In that way, it’s one of the biggest bang-for-your-buck exercises for improving “total” shoulder function.

Hanging also strengthens your hands. Stronger hands = a brain that will ALLOW for more degrees of freedom (i.e. movement options, or “mobility”) through the shoulders. And you can try this yourself the next time you hang. The more tension you can create in JUST your hand(s), the less tension you’ll hold upstream.

So go ahead and hang yourself. You’ll feel so much better because of it 🫡

P.S. I’ve recently opened up a couple more spots in my online coaching roster. If you have tricky health or physical performance issues you’re trying to solve (read: train) for, shoot me a message and we’ll see if my coaching services are right for you 🤙

#hanging #deadhang #deadhangchallenge #shoulderhealth #shouldermobility #gripstrength by @thoughtfulmeathead

24k

312

3 years ago

Using gravity, rhythm, and momentum to shift your BONES AND JOINTS around teaches you to move more comfortably, athletically, and with less stiffness...

… It’s much more effective than using stretching to ELONGATE SPECIFIC MUSCLES, where no context is provided as to the “where”, “when”, or “why” those muscles are being lengthened in the first place.

Long story short: focus on moving your bones and joints around with rhythmic, full-body movement and it’ll lead you to the movement quality gains (smoother, more comfortable, less stiff) that you want. Stretching MAY get you halfway there, but eventually you’ll have to figure out how to integrate those newly relaxed muscles within the entire system (of systems) anyways 🤷‍♂️

Follow @thoughtfulmeathead for more movement breakdowns like this.

#shaking #wiggling #feldenkrais #movementculture #feldenkraismethod #stressrelieftips by @thoughtfulmeathead

91k

2k

3 years ago

Fitness Vs Skill - Where Do You Spend Your Time?

Awesome Conversation With @thoughtfulmeathead Who Answered This Question And Took Us Down A Deep Rabbit Hole Of Relaxation - Rhythm And Motor Control

Take A Listen On Spotify Or Watch Entire Podcast On Youtube

Keep Chopping Wood by @thoughtfulmeathead

3

7

6 months ago

✨07.14.2025. taken in Algarve, Portugal by @thoughtfulmeathead

731

222

a year ago

When several movement systems/sciences point to the same concept or idea, albeit with different words, we know we’ve likely found a “truth” of how things work.

“Stored trauma” is one of those concepts.

God bless @iamkevingates 😂 by @thoughtfulmeathead

401

19

a year ago

Alternative titles:

1) Stuart McGill’s wet dream of a fighter.

2) Great athletes problem solve in unique ways.

3) We should never be so arrogant as to know for sure what “optimal movement” is for an athlete.

@gunninelson I’d love for you to share the motor learning factors that oriented you towards this particular way of moving. by @thoughtfulmeathead

818

28

a year ago

“Good” or “safe” movement IS NOT as limited of an experience as what most coaches and physios make it out to be.

Better movement IS NOT avoiding certain body shapes (e.g. knee valgus, shoulder elevation).

Better movement IS expanding movement options. So we have more ways to adjust and compensate.

Better movement IS becoming a better athlete. So we’re more coordinated. More reactive. Better able to solve complex physical tasks.

Better movement IS getting stronger. So we can be more expressive, and have a larger buffer against the forces imposed on our tissues. by @thoughtfulmeathead

192

7

a year ago

Alternative titles:

Drum and bass is the key to athleticism.

@usykaa is the people’s champ of rave culture. by @thoughtfulmeathead

4k

95

a year ago

Curved treadmills are super underrated.

🦵 Improves running mechanics through the constraint of the self-propelled curve.

🦶 Is a (very) safe intro to barefoot running/sprinting.

📈 Is an easy way to track max velocity, which informs training decisions and gamifies the process.

I feel like the curved treads are a love/hate thing, so if you’ve got an opinion on ‘em, share it in the comments below 🤙 by @thoughtfulmeathead

118

13

a year ago

If a joint has the ability to move, we should allow it to move and not worry about it…

Unless we lack the fitness (strength, endurance) or athleticism (coordination) to safely do it…

Or it becomes our only movement strategy as our movement options dwindle over time due to poor training/movement habits. by @thoughtfulmeathead

107

6

a year ago

The rate of change is ever-increasing. Stay grounded and take pleasure in your durable, ever-adaptable, sensorimotor meat suit.

Humans are still cooler. by @thoughtfulmeathead

96

4

a year ago