As I have mentioned it in other articles, particularity Basic Training Principals, there are a series of individual components which define fitness. These individual components are separate of one another and therefore require varying stimuli, often bipolar stimuli to produce improvements. This is why an elite 100m sprinter cannot enter and win a 40km distance race, as the two activities require different components of fitness. It should be noted some of the components are closely related to one another and all these components strongly link in with the energy systems used by your body, so before you proceed I recommend reading Introduction to Fitness. Seriously….do it.
Now you have read and understood the articles linked above it is time to get into the components of fitness. Firstly there are two main groups in which these components can be split; physical related and skill related. Physical related meaning they are key indicators of a healthy individual and important for quality of life. Skill related meaning these are skills developed for particular circumstances, usually specialized and not required for quality of life. I have gone ahead and taken the liberty of labeling 1.energy system(s), 2.muscle fiber type(s) and 3.equation(where applicable) predominately used for each component. You need not worrying to much about the fiber types for the moment, however I do plan on doing an article on this later.
Physical related components
Cardiopulmonary Endurance (1.Aerobic Glycolosis 2.Slow twitch/type I)
This refers to the ability of both the heart and lungs; the lungs ability to provide the blood with reasonable amounts of oxygen and the hearts ability to pump that blood and circulate it to the working muscles. This also includes the muscles ability to utilize the oxygen efficiently.
Muscular Endurance (1.Aerobic Glycolosis/Neural 2.Slow twitch/type I)
The ability to contract the same muscle fiber groups repeatedly at a sustained rate.
Body Composition
The distribution of fat and muscle in the body but also including height, lengths and girths.
Flexibility
The capacity of a joint to move through its full rang of motion unimpeded.
Strength (1.Anaerobic ATP-CP/Neural 2.Fast twitch/type IIb)
The extent to which muscles can exert force by contracting again resistance.
Motor Skill related components
Speed (1.Anaerobic ATP-CP 2.Fast twitch/type IIb)
The time it takes to move over a distance.
3. Speed = Distance
———
Time
Power (1.Anaerobic ATP-CP 2.Fast twitch/type IIb)
The ability to exert maximal muscular contraction in as short a time as possible. Power is actually a measurement of mechanical work in which the standard metric unit is the watt.
3. Power = Work
——
Time
Agility (1.Anaerobic ATP-CP/Anaerobic Glycolosis 2.Fast twitch/type II a and b)
The ability to change body position and/or direction quickly.
Balance and Co-ordination
The ability to control body position, stationary or moving, and integrate all components for fluent efficient movements.
There you have it, the components of fitness. You should now be able to recognize which components are necessary for which sports or activities. You should also have a fair idea of which energy systems are being trained when training certain components. Keep an eye out for my article on the different muscle fiber types in the body, their uses and energy systems used.
JG:FitNut 