WHAT IS A MOVEMENT MAP?
A system for mapping and assessing an individual's movement practice by defining five pillars of movement culture: acrobatic, martial/combative, dance, somatic, and object manipulatory. Early experiences often lead to imbalanced practices, but this model allows for a wide perspective on human movement, going beyond personal likes and dislikes. To apply this, draw a polygon representing these five areas and then rate their experience from one to four in each, with the resulting polygon shape visually representing their current practice. This graphical representation is presented as a useful tool for self-assessment, guiding the development of a more balanced practice, or analyzing the scope of a group's training. The goal of using this map is to move toward a wholesome and balanced engagement with the breadth of available human movement practices.
THE FIVE PILLARS OF MOVEMENT CULTURE
Acrobatic
Martial/Combative
Martial/Combative
The acrobatic pillar represents the human spirit’s desire to rise, to flip gravity on its head, and to reclaim the air as part of our natural domain. Through balance, inversion, tumbling, and flow, the acrobat reminds us that freedom begins where fear ends. It is the study of courage and coordination, the dance between control and surrender. From handstands to backflips, the acrobatic path teaches trust in one’s own structure and the exhilaration of flight within human form.
Martial/Combative
Martial/Combative
Martial/Combative
The martial pillar is movement with purpose: precise, protective, and primal. Here, we study power, distance, timing, and intent. Through the lens of combat arts like jiu-jitsu, wrestling, boxing, and swordplay, we discover discipline, adaptability, and respect for confrontation as a mirror of the self. The martial mover embodies awareness: every strike, every block, every feint becomes a study in presence. It is not violence that is trained, but clarity — the ability to act without hesitation when life demands it.
Dance
Martial/Combative
Somatic
The dance pillar is movement as expression — the meeting place of rhythm, emotion, and story. Through dance, the body becomes a brush painting, invisible strokes across space, translating sound and sensation into language beyond words. From ancient tribal rituals to modern street styles, dance connects us to lineage and liberation. It celebrates humanity’s creative pulse — to feel deeply and to express that feeling through the poetry of motion.
Somatic
Object Manipulatory
Somatic
The somatic pillar is movement as awareness. It is the quiet revolution of sensing before acting, of listening before moving. Grounded in the work of pioneers like Moshe Feldenkrais, Ida Rolf, and Elsa Gindler, the somatic traditions restore our dialogue with the nervous system and refine our inner perception. Here, movement becomes medicine. A way to heal, align, and rediscover the body as an intelligent ecosystem. The somatic mover learns that mastery begins not with effort, but with awareness.
Object Manipulatory
Object Manipulatory
Object Manipulatory
The object manipulatory pillar explores the dialogue between human and object juggling, staff work, ball play, rings, or tools of art and craft. It’s a study in coordination, rhythm, and relationship. The object becomes an external extension of the mover’s nervous system, revealing patience, precision, and play. In this pillar, mastery is found not in domination of the object but in harmony with it the balance between focus and flow that turns practice into meditation.