text: Physical Readiness
  Figure 7-3. Translation of angular velocity of the body into horizontal velocity
  7-18. In the case of human movement, gravity has to be worked with. When standing still, muscles support
  body weight, maintain a state of rest, and balance under the influence of the downward force of gravity. The
  muscle works to maintain the balanced position or to reposition the body to be able to change support. Unless
  an external force acts upon the body’s weight or muscles reposition that weight, the body remains at rest. If
  Soldiers lose balance, either because muscles have relaxed or an external force acted upon them, they begin
  to fall—they move. Classical mechanics and geometry give a mathematical explanation of how this
  movement happens. Figure 7-4 describes the effect of gravity on movement.
  Figure 7-4. A schematic demonstrating gravity’s influence on movement
  7-19. Like the rocket example, our movement is initially in the horizontal plane—forward—via gravitational
  torque. The body becomes a lever as its mass pivots around the base of support—the foot. The pivot ends as
  the toes are pulled from the ground. If the front of the foot is used as the base of support throughout the
  duration of contact with the ground, less time will be spent pivoting on the ground, allowing an earlier pull.
  The point is not to simply land on a specific part of the foot, the point is to reach a position to continue
  moving forward as efficiently as possible. The movement forward—the fall—can conclude only when the
  foot no longer supports the body’s weight. Falling over can be prevented only by rapidly reestablishing
  balance—a new base to support the body’s weight. To move forward from this new base of support, the body
  must reach a position where it can pull the foot from the ground to fall again. Repeating this action at higher
  frequencies increases speed.
  7-20. Similar to the command “STARTING POSITION, MOVE,” in Conditioning Drills, or the predominant
  poses taught in ballet and dance, or ready positions in martial arts, Soldiers can master the dominant running
  position, or pose, through drills and exercises. They can also master the action required to move quickly in
  and out of this position. The action of the hamstring as it contracts to pull the support foot from the ground
  and under the hip, positions the body for the next fall. The three words—pose, fall, pull—concisely describe
  the “how” of “how to run.” These are the essential elements of running skill. They form a standard against
  which a Soldier’s running skill can be measured.