Bodybuilding is Movement Training!
For instance, squats, deadlifts, lunges, pull ups, rows, bench press, push ups, etc., are all considered functional movement exercises. All these moves also happen to be cornerstone exercises in bodybuilding and sports strength programs.
Athletes Regularly Practice and Play Sports
True “functional movement” training doesn’t come from exercises, it comes from playing and practicing sports. That said, I never understand why so many trainers and coaches freak out when they hear about athletes incorporating bodybuilding concepts into their training.
One of the first publicized examples of how bodybuilding was successfully integrated into a hybrid sports performance-training program was in 90’s when Evander Holyfield was preparing to fight Buster Douglas and then Mike Tyson.
Holyfield did boxing practice in the morning, plyos and conditioning in the afternoon with Dr. Fred Hatfield, and did bodybuilding and strength training with multiple Mr. Olympia bodybuilding champion Lee Haney in the evening.
After the 12-week cycle, Evander recovered quickly from intense activity, his agility and limit strength levels increased. He even withstood Tyson trying to bite his ear off.