What is the difference between a building block and a preparatory exercise?

A building block refers to an exercise that serves as a fundamental component aimed at developing specific skills that lead to the successful execution of a more complex movement or exercise. It is designed to address specific elements needed to achieve the goals of the original exercise. This is why a building block must meet the original goal of the exercise, ensuring that it lays a proper foundation for progression.

Preparatory exercises, on the other hand, may focus on preparing the body in a general sense, emphasizing mobility, stability, or strength, but they do not necessarily need to facilitate the direct performance of the original exercise. They are often used to warm up or condition the body for the more advanced movements that follow but do not need to align specifically with the goals of the primary exercise.

Thus, the distinction lies in the building block's direct relationship to the primary movement's outcomes, while preparatory exercises play a broader supportive role.