Are you "Born" athletic or can you become athletic?

[L3B120N J4M35]

pretty much title. i think that's a reason why i got cut.

[miggyme1]

pretty much title. i think that's a reason why i got cut.


ill be honest with u. the word "athletic" is used so loosely these days. if u play sports u are an athlete meaning you are athletic. now with that being said there are more gifted athletes than others..like some people are born naturally fast or quick...doesnt mean u cant achieve that level of speed or quickness..just means u have to work harder to attain it. thats anything in life....some people are born with a silver spoon in their mouth others have to work hard to achieve it.

[Rake2204]

ill be honest with u. the word "athletic" is used so loosely these days. if u play sports u are an athlete meaning you are athletic. now with that being said there are more gifted athletes than others..like some people are born naturally fast or quick...doesnt mean u cant achieve that level of speed or quickness..just means u have to work harder to attain it. thats anything in life....some people are born with a silver spoon in their mouth others have to work hard to achieve it.Good stuff. I think I am probably in agreement with you, though I've always wondered about where the line stood between natural ability and earned.

I feel I had to earn my skills, and it was a lifelong process. Yes, I trained hard through my teen years and beyond, but even in my youth, I was outside playing sports all the time - soccer, basketball, football, baseball, whatever - and I think early involvement, both organized and not, can help set the stage for one's athletic prowess as time moves forward.

[C_lake2802]

Always been under the impression, to have an elite athletic skill you gotta have natural abilities + hard work. But little athleticism + working hard can get you really good. There just something different about people who just have it naturally.

[JimmyMcAdocious]

Got to be a little of both. You can work your ass off all you want, but chances are you will never be Russell Westbrook. Same with most things, imo. That Seinfeld quote comes to mind:

"It's like saying to Pavorotti, "Teach me to sing like you."

But you can become pretty damn athletic if you put forth the effort. Even with whatever natural physical limitations you are born with.

Anyone try those jump programs? I did air alert back in high school. Didn't complete it all the way, but there was a noticeable gain in my vert after 2-4 weeks.

[ILLsmak]

pretty much title. i think that's a reason why i got cut.

There are levels of athleticism...!

When I was younger, I met this dude who I balled with. Think he was like 2 years younger than me, but he'd cut thru in front of my house and I had a hoop. He was one of those outgoing kids... and anyone who was like 'yo u wanna ball' would always get me going.

Anyway, we got older, and at some point, he finally overtook me athletically. He wasn't an athlete like me, but he put in the work. Was a football player, and really took shit seriously. I mean, if he took off his shirt and I took off my shirt, people would think he was the real athlete of us. Where as, I would just sleep all day and then ball at like 1pm. lol.

I still stay in shape. I ****ed my ankle and got to see the other side of the argument, per se. It's really kind of a curse to be athletic or great at anything. You end up looking for someone who is better. And dudes on TV might be better, but until you have access to someone who is better/more athletic than you... you're not going to work. At least that's my POV.

So, to follow up, if you're questioning yourself, you should think about it. Maybe you're accepting defeat. It's stupid to stay doing something to prove yourself wrong. If you have a gut feeling you can succeed, work harder, if not, keep it as a hobby and find something else.

Edit: And that's why I could never see why people were so mad at Shaq. Just like dude said, "a little athleticism plus a lot of work." Well, it is the same as a lot of natural athleticism and a little work. It'd be hard to live in the gym if you were Shaq. And people probably do cap out at some point.

-Smak

[iznogood]

If you're not a professional athlete you should worry about being the best you can be and not worry too much about wether you're genetically gifted or not. Be smart about the work you put in, more is not always better.

[russwest0]

its both nature and nurture.

some kids are born average but their parents feed them very well according to the daily values chart and it puts them ahead of others who may have been born more athletic

there are also genotypes that give you more stamina and shit so you can get your dna tested and check that out

[mr beast]

pretty much title. i think that's a reason why i got cut.


why not use this feeling to fuel yourself, work hard this year and you'll make the team

many people already said this but yes some are just born with it but it's definitely not impossible to obtain better than average athletic ability through hard work

[Ai2death]

pretty much title. i think that's a reason why i got cut.

Sounds like you're trying to find an excuse. As stated earlier, use the cut to motivate you to be better.

[tgan3]

I would say a mixture of both. Some are already born athletic, but then you still need training to bring out the best of your potential. Some are not athletic, but even then with perseverance and hard work then can be very athletic too.

For example:

Born athletic+ hard work: Derrick Rose, Westbrook
Not born athletic+ hard work: Irving, Deron Williams

[The Iron Sheik]

athleticism is something you're born with. i classify it under "talent". think of talent as an aptitude: you have certain limits. of course one can train to make themselves better, but everyone has a personal ceiling.

for instance, i could train as hard as kobe bryant, shoot as many practice shots as he does, eat the same things he does, etc, but would never be as good as he is simply because i wasn't born with the same things he has. whether it be readily apparent like height or wingspan, or the "intangible" stuff. everyone has it. some just have more of "it" than others.

[L3B120N J4M35]

Sounds like you're trying to find an excuse. As stated earlier, use the cut to motivate you to be better.

i mean I'm using it as motivation but its kinda hard when the coach never gives me a chance. i know I'm as talented as a lot of those kids that are playing on the team.

[tgan3]

athleticism is something you're born with. i classify it under "talent". think of talent as an aptitude: you have certain limits. of course one can train to make themselves better, but everyone has a personal ceiling.

for instance, i could train as hard as kobe bryant, shoot as many practice shots as he does, eat the same things he does, etc, but would never be as good as he is simply because i wasn't born with the same things he has. whether it be readily apparent like height or wingspan, or the "intangible" stuff. everyone has it. some just have more of "it" than others.

You may not be kobe, but I believe with real dedication and hard work anyone can be a professional baller somewhere, provided you are not a midget.

[01amberfirewv]

You may not be kobe, but I believe with real dedication and hard work anyone can be a professional baller somewhere, provided you are not a midget.

Why limit yourself?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LutLU6HW3Xk&safe=active

I agree though you are born with gifts (i.e height, weight) but what most consider athleticism is earned

[tgan3]

Why limit yourself?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LutLU6HW3Xk&safe=active

I agree though you are born with gifts (i.e height, weight) but what most consider athleticism is earned

That guy isn't even good, he's just an interesting sideshow because he's so short...

[pauk]

You can only become as athletic to that specific point where your genetics allows you to....

If me and you are born on the same day... and eat, sleep, run, lift, jump everything identically until we are 20 years old.... then i might have a 37" vertical with a 4.3 sec 40 yard dash while you have a 46" vertical and a 4.6 sec 40 yard dash... you might have biggers biceps, me bigger quads... and so on... Its genetics, muscles, fibers, bones, everything.... we all are same, but differently gifted....

[Underballer]

yup you can become athletic. understand that running and jumping on the court are expressions of power. a lot of people aren't good athletes simply because they lack the strength, and because their playing style doesn't favour playing athletically, they never get the chance to develop it. so if you naturally weren't a very good slasher to the hoop or a high riser, then you're gonna have to develop that strength, and that starts in the weight room.

[blazersfan52]

I'd say both, but having to work towards athleticism brings how far you can go lower than if you were born athletic, I am athletic yet I never actually work out except occasionally, yet I can almost dunk consistently, I have good genes for it, my grandfather played football and was offered a scholarship to play for like Washington state or Washington I can't remember, and my dad before he hurt his back at like 5'7 and something like a 6' 6'1 wingspan could grab rim easily.