Ability and skill

Here is some of what I learned in class today:

The Guthrie Knapp definition of skill - The learned ability to bring about predetermined results with maximum certainty often with the minimum outlay of time or energy or both.

The Welford definition of skill - An organised coordinated activity in relation to an object or situation which involves a whole chain of sensory, central and motor mechanisms.


Here are the eleven types of ability as defined by Fleisham (1972) -

1 Limb coordination- the ability to coordinate the movement of a number of limbs simultaneously.

2 Control precision - the ability to make highly controlled and precise muscular adjustments where large muscle groups are involved.

3 Response orientation - the ability to select rapidly where a response should be made as in achoice reaction time situation.

4 Reaction time - the ability to respond rapidly to a stimulus when it appears.

5 Speed of arm movement - the ability to make a gross, rapid arm movement.

6 Rate control - the ability to change speed and direction of response with precise timing, as in following a continuously moving target.

7 Manual dexterity - the ability to perform skillful, well-directed arm hand movements, when manipulating objects under speed conditions.

8 Finger dexterity - the ability to perform skillful controlled manipulations of of tiny objects involving primarily the fingers.

9 Arm hand steadiness - the ability to make precise arm, hand positioning movements where strength and speed are minimally involved.

10 Wrist finger speed - the ability to move the wrist and fingers rapidly, as in a tapping task.

11 Aiming - the ability to aim precisely at a small object in space.

Hope this helps some of you, I think it's very interesting and i'm glad i'm studying sports science.

Here's a task for any of you who are bored, work out which of these abilities are used in the various different martial movements or so called styles.

Shouldn't be too hard.

If at any point you guys think I go a bit too far with posting all this info, just tell me. I'm doing it to help reinforce its imprint on my mind as well as trying to help you guys out, so no worries, just tell me to shut up.

Enjoy

[JasonE]

Thanks for the post, Ed. It's nice to be reminded of fundamental sports science principles so we can more easily see how CST accomodates and takes advantage of them.

I've received a tremendous education from absorbing the collective notes and observations of many others, and I'm happy to learn from you too. 8)

No problem Jason, concratulations on passing the exam and being an instructor!!