Knees Bent, Core Low
Two more elements of a good stance in basketball and life are “knees bent, core low.”
In basketball you must be ready for anything on the court. You have to be ready to move in any direction to chase the ball, to chase a man, to attack the basket. It’s difficult to move when your body is not ready to go.
This is why it is important to have the correct stance in basketball. The correct stance is a basic fundamental of basketball that will give you the best chance of going where you want to go, in the quickest time.
POWER VERSES
“I’m standing my ground, GOD, shouting for help, at my prayers every morning, on my knees each daybreak.” Psalm 88:13 (The Message)
“And Jesus increased in wisdom (mental) and in stature (physical) and in favor with God (spiritual) and man (social).” Luke 2:52 (ESV parentheses added)
Basketball
KNEES BENT
Leverage. In order to make moves in a different direction, you have to bend, twist and push. Sometimes you do this all together. For example, a side-closeout you must:
- lower yourself (bend your knees)
- turn, or twist hips
- push off to propel forward
Machines work this way. Picture the robot arm from a Space Shuttle – bend (retract), twist (turn), and push (extend).
CORE LOW
Studies have shown that the biggest impact to successful movement is body balance. Our center of gravity (our mid section) must be over and between our feet, and our core must be relatively low (butt down), so that we maintain our balance. Our extremities must be ready to move through our center of gravity smoothly.
The reason Michael Jordan was so smooth with all his moves was because he always maintained body balance. Here’s a quick video about the importance of Jordan’s need for knees bent and core low (language warning):
Life
KNEES BENT
“I’m standing my ground, GOD, shouting for help, at my prayers every morning, on my knees each daybreak.” Psalm 88:13 (The Message)
When we move in our life, we need leverage. We picture bent knees. This is a stance of humility, when we bow before God.
Bent knees also symbolizes prayer. We talk to God in this way. God wants us to communicate with Him, say what’s on our mind, always.
And even though God hears us at any time and any place, it is a bent knee that helps us understand the humility, and power in praying to God.
Keep your knees bent, in prayer.
CORE LOW
“And Jesus increased in wisdom (mental) and in stature (physical) and in favor with God (spiritual) and man (social).” Luke 2:52 (ESV parentheses added)
We need balance in our life also. We have 4 main areas:
- mental (our thoughts and learning)
- physical (our bodies)
- spiritual (our relationship to God)
- social (our relationship with others)
Its important to develop EACH of these areas. If one area is off, the rest of us falls out of balance and we don’t perform as well as we could.
Maintain your balance in life.
Steve Sorensen | News Release Basketball Associate Director
Steve has served with NRB for nearly 40 years.
For the past 15+ years he has been the Executive Director.
Steve has also been a high school basketball coach for 30+ years.
