The term ‘dynamic correspondence’ is being seen more frequently in the literature. But with every appearance it seems that the authors are using a slightly different interpretation of the term. Rather than examining what others are saying it may be more effective to examine what was meant by this term by the person who coined the term.
Dynamic correspondence was first used by Dr. Yuri Verkhoshansky, of the former Soviet Union. He did extensive research with athletes in the area of what was then known as specialized exercises, to improve performance. Specialized exercises were known as exercises that had specific criteria.
Some of the more important criteria were: 1. That the exercise duplicate the same neuromuscular pathway as seen in execution of the competitive skill.
2) That the exercise develop strength over the same range of motion as it is displayed in execution of the competitive skill.
3) That the exercise duplicate the same type of muscular contraction as seen in execution of the competitive skill.
Because specialized exercises applied to many areas of the athlete’s training, in time other terms came into use to simplify particular aspects of the specialized exercise. And so the term dynamic correspondence evolved to describe an exercise that was very similar to or duplicated a specific joint action seen in execution of the competitive skill.
In essence, dynamic correspondence is the same as a specialized exercise in that it duplicates the same technique, range of motion and muscle contraction regime. It is not as precise as a specialized exercise, but for the most part, it serves the same purpose.
Thus, when you see the term dynamic correspondence, visualize an exercise that duplicates a specific joint action that occurs in execution of the competitive skill. Note that you duplicate only one joint action. You do not duplicate the entire or most of the entire skill.
To create dynamic correspondence type exercises, you must first have a strong background in what constitutes effective technique. Prescribing exercises that are not very similar to the competitive skill can do more to worsen the athlete’s performance rather than improve it significantly as an effective true dynamic correspondence exercise does.
Specialized (dynamic correspondence) strength and explosive exercises were one of the key reasons why the former Soviets had so much great success in sports. According to their coaches and studies conducted by them, specialized exercises were the key to improving performance of high-level athletes. They were used only sparingly with lower-level or novice athletes.
Many coaches including myself, have found that specialized exercises have an immediate and profound effect on athletic performance. For example, I have been using such exercises for well over 30 years with great success. It appears that with each new year I add still more specialized — dynamic correspondence — exercises to the training.
With my strong background in the biomechanics of sports technique I continue to create new specialized exercises for different sports. Many of these exercises have been written up in some of my books such as Explosive Running, Explosive Basketball Training, Explosive Golf, Explosive Tennis and Women’s Soccer. Most of these exercises can also be seen on DVD’s that I have created such as, Explosive Golf, Specialized Strength and Explosive Exercises for Baseball, and Explosive Tennis. See Dr.Yessis.com for information on these products.