Before you can move better, you need to know what good movement actually looks like.
Your nervous system needs a reference point. That’s why watching elite athletes move at their best is such a powerful, and often overlooked, part of learning biomechanics.
Athletes like Usain Bolt, Barry Sanders, Bo Jackson, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, and Floyd Mayweather stand out not just because of their records, but because of how they move compared to their peers. They solve movement problems in real time, avoiding contact, staying organized under pressure, and adapting without breaking down.
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Why Watching Movement Works (and Where It Falls Short)
Watching movement helps the brain understand coordination, timing, and sequencing. The eyes take in the pattern, the brain stores it, and your body gains a clearer target.
But watching alone isn’t enough.
You still need to practice, ask questions, make mistakes, and develop proprioception. Observation fills a critical gap, it shows you what you’re working toward, but your body has to experience the movement to own it.
Why FP Uses Film
This is why Functional Patterns practitioners often recommend filming yourself.
When clients record their exercises or sports movements, they see how they actually move, not how they think they move. Comparing your own footage to high-quality movement creates immediate clarity and speeds up learning.
You Can’t Fix What You Don’t Recognize
To correct biomechanics, you first need a reference for good mechanics. At FP, we look at sequencing, angles, and how the body organizes force through movement.
For those dealing with pain or limitations, we would say it’s not about copying elite positions perfectly, it’s about understanding how good movement is organized so your body can rebuild toward it.
Watching Good Movement Changes You
Regularly watching high-quality movement begins to normalize it. Over time, your nervous system becomes more familiar with efficiency, timing, and organization, making it easier to recognize what’s missing in your own movement.
Watching great movers doesn’t replace training.
It guides it.
And when paired with practice and self-observation, it becomes one of the most effective ways to learn how to move well.
