The Art Of Motion
Biomechanics was one of the most challenging classes I took in college, but it completely reshaped how I understand movement. Before diving into principles like force and momentum, we started with the fundamentals: Newton’s Laws of Motion, mechanical energy, and lever systems. Much of our time was spent in the lab, testing these concepts and analyzing how the human body generates and controls movement. While in college, I also worked as a fitness trainer for the Marine Corps, applying these lessons in real-time. My job was to enhance military readiness, training service members to move more efficiently, lift heavier, and run faster. Every day was a reminder that the body is capable of incredible feats when its movements are fine-tuned. In class, we learned to see the science behind motion; on base, I saw it come to life.
Leonardo da Vinci’s studies of flight remind me of those biomechanics lab sessions where we broke down movement into its essential components. Da Vinci’s fascination with birds in mid-flight went beyond their elegance; he was uncovering the science of motion. His meticulous observations of how birds generate thrust to lift into the air and use force to stay aloft mirror the principles I learned and applied as a trainer. Thrust powers every controlled push-off or deliberate rise, while force stabilizes us during balance exercises or propels us forward in steady motion. Da Vinci’s work shows that movement is as much art as science, a delicate balance between precision, power, and flow. Just as he learned from nature’s design, we can use these timeless principles to fine-tune the human machine.
Force and momentum are powerful words that often bring to mind high-impact actions, like a sprinter exploding off the blocks or a Marine powering through an obstacle course. However, these principles remain relevant as we move through life’s stages, even in less intense scenarios. Concepts like time under tension (TUT) demonstrate how force can be applied in controlled, deliberate ways to build strength and stability. Whether holding a position during a chair squat or slowly lowering a weight to focus on muscle engagement, TUT allows us to build strength without high-impact movement. Momentum, meanwhile, is evident in the fluid transitions of daily activities, such as walking or reaching, where smooth and efficient motion reduces strain on the body. Whether through deliberate strength or effortless movement, these principles shape how we interact with the world. Leonardo da Vinci’s studies remind us that, like the flight of a bird, motion is both art and science, blending strength, balance, and grace to carry us through life.
da Vinci’s drawing of a bird in flight
