This past weekend I traveled to Austin, Texas, to attend the Functional Range Assessment (FRA) certification at the Onnit Academy. As a movement geek, kettlebell enthusiast, and longtime fan of many things Onnit, this was a can’t-miss opportunity. It also felt like the perfect follow-up to my FRC certification last February at Project Move in Colorado. This time, I had a chance to deepen my understanding of the system—specifically through the lens of assessment.
First things first: the Onnit Academy is a must-visit for anyone in the fitness or performance world. If you’re unfamiliar, Onnit describes itself as a total human optimization company. They sell supplements, nutrition-based products, and innovative training equipment. The Academy offers well-coached kettlebell and mace classes, as well as Bang Muay Thai and 10th Planet jiu-jitsu.
It was also my first time in Austin, and I totally get the hype. Great food, live music, and southern hospitality everywhere. I only managed to eat brisket three times in five days—which is honestly a little disappointing—but I hope I brought home enough inspiration to upgrade the next cookout with my buddy David.
Now to the main event: the seminar.
Unlike FRC, which has blown up both in clinical spaces and across Instagram (or “the ‘Gram” as Michael Ranfone jokingly calls it), this was only the second FRA course ever offered by the Functional Anatomy Seminars team. Still, it delivered—just like I expected.
The course was taught by Michael Ranfone (Ranfone Training Systems) and Dr. Michael Chivers. Both brought their A-game. They solidified core FRC principles, re-emphasized critical ideas from the FR system (which I haven’t taken yet), and introduced a powerful assessment process. The goal? A standardized assessment that delivers maximum usable data in minimal time.
FRC itself is incredibly versatile—it’s used clinically, for rehab, and in mobility training. The FRA now bridges those worlds even more directly. It evaluates both passive and active ranges of motion across major joints: ankles, knees, hips, spine, shoulders, elbows, and wrists.
- Passive range = how much movement a joint allows (flexibility)
- Active range = how much movement you can control (mobility)
The FRA focuses on pure joint motion—compensations are flagged and documented. A difference of more than 15–20 degrees between passive and active range? That’s a red flag. This active/passive ratio is then compared with joint-specific CARs and tied back into clinical findings.
The real genius of FRA is its cross-disciplinary relevance. It provides a common language between clinicians, coaches, and movement professionals. It integrates seamlessly with both the manual therapy side (FR) and the training side (FRC), making collaboration smoother and more meaningful.
As a young clinician at the time, it reminded me of other movement screens I’d studied—but with less ambiguity. This felt cleaner, more objective, and far more repeatable.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the weekend was a win. The Onnit Academy delivered. The course was solid and actionable. And I walked away with tools I can use immediately in both evaluations and outcomes. I especially appreciated the blend of coaches and clinicians in the room—it reflected the direction our profession is heading.
If I had one critique, I think the course structure could have been slightly re-ordered to better explain why certain assessment components matter so much. But like all manual therapy skills, this assessment will sharpen with reps.
Next up for me: continue building a Chicago-based network of like-minded clinicians and trainers.
More courses. More collaboration. More tools to help people move better and live stronger.