Cognitive Kinetics Volleyball

Andrew Kuboyama (Coach K)

Andrew Kuboyama, (“Coach K”), Founder, Co Owner, and Head Specialist at Cognitive Kinetics Hawaiʻi, holds a Master’s in Kinesiology with a specialization in Adaptive Physical Education. With over eight years of experience as a PE teacher, Andrew has worked with children of all skill levels — from beginners to developing athletes — including those with unique learning and physical needs.

Andrew’s classroom background gives him an advantage that most trainers don’t have: he understands how kids learn. He combines that expertise with his movement science background to teach proper technique, reinforce understanding, and build confidence.

As a PE teacher in Hawai‘i, Andrew saw that many children were missing the foundation of movement. Some schools had no PE, or classes were taught by unqualified instructors. Kids were being sent straight into sports or strength programs without ever learning how to move properly.

Cognitive Kinetics was founded to close that gap — to give every child access to true movement education, grounded in science, so they can perform better, move safer, and stay active for life.

Volleyball Through the Movement Education Framework

At Cognitive Kinetics Hawaii, we believe volleyball is more than a collection of technical skills. Before athletes learn to pass, set, attack, or defend, they must first understand how to move.

The Movement Education Framework helps athletes develop movement awareness through four concepts: Body, Space, Time & Effort, and Relationships. These concepts provide the foundation for sports skill acquisition and eventually sport-specific performance.

Rather than memorizing techniques, athletes learn to solve movement problems. As they become more aware of their body, the environment, and the demands of the game, volleyball skills become more efficient, adaptable, and transferable.

Understanding Planes of Movement Through Cognitive Kinetics

At Cognitive Kinetics Hawaii, we teach athletes to understand how the entire body moves, not just which muscles are working. One way to understand movement is by learning the three anatomical planes of motion. While each plane describes a primary direction of movement, athletic performance requires the upper body, trunk, and lower body to work together across multiple planes simultaneously.

Sagittal Plane

The sagittal plane divides the body into left and right halves. Movements in this plane primarily occur forward and backward.

Lower Body Examples

Walking
Running
Sprinting
Jumping and landing
Lunging
Squatting
Forward and backward weight transfer

Upper Body Examples

Shoulder flexion and extension
Elbow flexion and extension
Reaching forward to pass or set
Raising the arms to block
Swinging the arms during running

Frontal Plane

The frontal (coronal) plane divides the body into front and back halves. Movements occur side to side.

Lower Body Examples

Shuffling
Side lunges
Lateral jumps
Side stepping
Hip abduction and adduction
Ankle inversion and eversion

Upper Body Examples

Shoulder abduction and adduction
Lateral reaching
Side bending (lateral flexion) of the trunk
Raising the arms out to the side during blocking
Stabilizing the shoulders during defensive movements

Transverse Plane

The transverse (horizontal) plane divides the body into upper and lower halves. Movements occur through rotation around the body's vertical axis.

Lower Body Examples

Hip internal and external rotation
Pivoting on one foot
Rotating the pelvis
Changing direction through hip rotation

Upper Body Examples

Trunk rotation
Spinal rotation
Shoulder internal and external rotation
Horizontal shoulder adduction and abduction (such as a chest fly)
Volleyball serving, attacking, and overhead passing
Rotating the shoulders while preparing to contact the ball

Understanding Whole-Body Movement

Athletes rarely move using only one body part or one plane of motion. Instead, the upper body, trunk, and lower body work together to create efficient, coordinated movement.

Example: Volleyball Attack

A volleyball attack is a whole-body movement.

Lower Body

The approach and jump primarily occur in the sagittal plane.
The hips rotate to help generate force in the transverse plane.
The legs stabilize during takeoff and landing, using movements in the frontal plane.

Trunk

The trunk rotates to transfer force from the lower body to the upper body (transverse plane).
The trunk remains stable and balanced while airborne (frontal plane).

Upper Body

The hitting arm moves forward toward the ball (sagittal plane).
The shoulder rotates internally to generate power (transverse plane).
The shoulders stabilize to control the arm swing and maintain body alignment (frontal plane).

Although we describe these planes separately, the athlete experiences them as one coordinated movement.

Example: Volleyball Forearm Pass

A forearm pass also requires whole-body coordination.

Lower Body

Step forward or adjust position (sagittal plane).
Shuffle to the ball (frontal plane).
Rotate the hips to square up to the target (transverse plane).

Trunk

Rotate slightly to align with the target (transverse plane).
Maintain posture and balance throughout the movement (frontal plane).

Upper Body

Extend the arms toward the ball (sagittal plane).
Rotate the shoulders to align the platform (transverse plane).
Keep both arms connected and stable to control the pass.

Again, the body does not think in separate planes—it coordinates them simultaneously to solve the movement problem.

Twisting vs. Turning

Although these words are often used interchangeably, they describe different movement patterns.

Twisting

A twist occurs when one body segment rotates relative to another.

Examples:

The trunk rotates while the pelvis remains relatively stable.
The shoulders rotate while the hips face forward.
The spine rotates independently of the lower body.

Twisting creates separation between body segments. This separation stores and transfers force efficiently, which is essential for volleyball serving, attacking, tennis strokes, baseball hitting, and many throwing actions.

Turning

A turn occurs when the entire body rotates together.

Examples:

The head, trunk, pelvis, and feet all rotate in the same direction.
The athlete turns to face the ball or a new direction on the court.

Turning changes body orientation, while twisting creates rotational movement between body segments.

Why This Matters

At Cognitive Kinetics Hawaii, we teach athletes that movement is whole-body, coordinated, and adaptable. Sports are not performed one joint or one plane at a time. Every movement requires the upper body, trunk, and lower body to work together while responding to the demands of the environment.

Understanding how the sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes interact helps athletes:

Develop whole-body coordination.
Transfer force more efficiently.
Improve balance and body control.
Create smoother movement patterns.
Adapt to changing game situations.
Build movement skills that transfer across multiple sports.

Rather than memorizing isolated movements, athletes learn how the entire body works together to solve movement problems. That understanding is the foundation of sports skill acquisition and lifelong athletic development.

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