Scientists put Yamal in the same group as... Bruce Lee, why?

Giới khoa học xếp Yamal cùng nhóm với... Lý Tiểu Long, vì sao? - Ảnh 1. — Yamal has extraordinary football ability at the age of 17 - Photo: REUTERS

Model athletes of motor neurone

In a recent analysis of Lamine Yamal's exceptional talent, Dr. Pedro Gonzalez of the University of Madrid (Spain) commented: "I would classify Lamine Yamal as a "neuro-athlete prototype" athlete, meaning those who have optimal neural connections between the eyes, brain and motor system."

What is a neuro-athlete prototype?

This is a concept that describes an ideal person who possesses:

- Super fast nerve reflexes.

- Ability to coordinate movement and sensation beyond normal standards.

- Superior spatial-temporal awareness and motion prediction ability.

- Perfectly synchronized physical and mental state.

According to Dr. Andrew Huberman (Stanford University, USA, expert in visual and motor neurology): "An optimal athlete is not only strong - they see the world differently from us: they feel time slowing down, they see what ordinary people miss. That is advanced neurological ability".

Few people know that the concept of neuro-athlete prototype was born from Bruce Lee. The extraordinary feat of the Hong Kong-born American martial artist has made scientists interested in studying his body.

Yamal - Ảnh 2. — Bruce Lee is considered the model of neuro athlete prototype - Photo: TB

One of the things that fascinated scientists about Bruce Lee was his “one-inch punch.” Neuroscientists have studied how Bruce Lee generated force, moved his entire body, and then threw a punch.

Ultimately, most scientists agree that Bruce Lee's super-fast striking speed came from his very special motor nervous system.

A study from Edith Cowan University (UK) showed that the group of martial artists with the highest level of skill had muscle activation time about 35% faster than normal people. And Bruce Lee is a typical example.

The explanation for the difference

For decades, neuroscientists have used Bruce Lee as a model for a neuro-athlete prototype to compare with other sports stars.

And those listed in this group include Lionel Messi (football), Michael Jordan (basketball), Muhammad Ali (boxing), Ayrton Senna (F1 racing), Novak Djokovic (tennis)...

Lamine Yamal is the latest name mentioned by the world's neuroscientists about the neuro-athlete prototype. This can be considered the explanation for Yamal's special talent.

Yamal - Ảnh 3. — Messi is also a football star with an optimal motor nervous system - Photo: REUTERS

La Masia is obviously very special, with a system of training and nurturing young footballers to perfection. But the difference between Messi and Yamal almost goes beyond the boundaries of sport.

A player at the age of 37, can still observe, think and find the most reasonable way to handle the ball in the shortest possible time.

A 17-year-old boy can still make every defender in the world helpless when trying to stop him.

The concept of neuro-athlete prototype is being considered as the solution to the very special case of Messi as well as Yamal. Of course, talent is only a part, both of these stars have to practice constantly to promote their special qualities.

In recent years, football clubs have always sought to train and improve the motor nervous system of players. A typical example is the German team with VR technology to practice 360-degree reflexes at the World Cup.

A 2016 study in Japan found that people who practiced reflexes based on sound and images simultaneously activated the areas of the brain that process strong feelings 40% more than normal people.

"In two or three decades, we will no longer compare who is faster, but who has a more optimized nervous system," said Dr. Huberman.