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THE PHYSICALDEVELOPMENTare fitted la with dftlls to provokemore interest. The same Ideal govern* the whole course, to fit * manphysically for the struggles of Ilf**. Health is within reach of almostMANKINDeveryone, and only those who enjoy vigorous health can appreciate David’s Song of Life la Browning'sSaul.’I 4How Greeks Brought Art ofPhysical Culture to Highest State of Perfection.OUTDOORSPORTS.i“Oh, our manhood’s prime vigour!no spirit feels waste.Not a muscle is stopped in its playing, nor sinew unbraced.Oh, the wild joys of living! the leaping from rock up to rock—-The strong rending of boughs from the tir tree.—the cool silverIPhysical Culture Class Un-1ft . *itder the Auspices ofThe Y.M.C.A.(Prom a Correspondent.)Systems of physical exercises have been employed from earliest times both In the treatment of disease and intree,-shockOf the plunge in a pool’s living water,—the hunt of the bear, And the sultriness showing *he lion is couched in his lair.And the meal—the rich dates—yei-- V - Ilowed over with gold dustmaintaining vigorous bodily health. The Greeks brought the art to the highest state of perfection and the “Pentathlon’' consisting of run-ning leaping, throwing the lance and casting the Discus were assiduously practiced in their gymnasia. These were taken seriously, whilst swimming, boxing and various ball games were indulged in as recreations. The Romans copied the Greeks in their amusements as in many other things and excavations show that gymnasia 'were attached to most of the public baths.In Japan a system of training known as Ju-Jitsu has flourished for 2,500 years. Until recently the sec rets of this art were only taught to the “Sumurai” or Military class but now all who wish may learn the art.In India the “Pahlwan” or professional athlete is a welcome visitoi In any hamlet or village, and his tricks have become, seemingly a part of any religious festival. These men train pupils who become experts in the mysteries of attack and defence. Most of these systems have one great fault, they are only suited for the naturally strong and robust. There was no place given to making tho weak strong or for making the ordinary man more fit for his daily occupation; the result was to produce a minority of great athletes and a few men of enormous power. With the decline and fall of the Romandivine,And the locust’s-flesh steeped in the pitcher; the full draught of wine,And the sleep In the dried fivei-chaunel where bulrushes telliThat the water was wont to go warbling so softly and well.How good Is man’s life, the mere living! how fit to employ All the heart and the soul and the senses, for ever In joy!”The Young Men’s Christian Association of Kingston has’given spec ialattention to the physical side of its work. During the early months of the year a Physical Culture class was held tw’ice weekly and strikingevidence was given of the benefits ac cruing to those who attended regularly. On the King’s Birthday nine of its members walked from Papine to the Bluo Mountain Peak, spent the night on the Peak enjoyed a gor geous sunrise and returned on foot, to Papine without undue fatigue. On August the 1st, another party of ten tramped to Castleton Gardens and back which is no small undertaking.Empire, physical education as a system became a lost art In Europe. The people, especially In England indulged in outdoor sports and games and the nobility constantly practiced the arts of war, and fitted themselves for taking part In the jousts andtournaments so common In the middle Ages. It is only during the last 100 years that physical culture as we know it to-day—a scientific train lug, exercising, and consequent development of the whole body found-: jg ‘ed on physiological facts—has been built up.Prof. Peter Henry Ling of Sweden about a century ago, published a sys tern of free movements to produce ecienttfio effects. These exercisesThe Y.M.C.A. Physical Culture class has been in abeyance during August and September.A mooting was held on Friday last and it was decided to ask Mr. E. B. Hallett, Y.M.C.A. General Secretary to act as Honorary Instructor and Mr A. V. Surridge w-us re-elected Hon. Secretary for the class when It ro starts. The fee is a very small one, and Y.M.C.A. members are urged to support this class which meets on Tuesdays and Fridays at 5.15 p.m. Tlie course will combine basket bad, volley ball, medicine ball, punching ball, and group games with Swedish drill. Boxing and wrestling will also be included as the course progress es. Young men who are not members of the Y.M.C.A. are invited to call at Y.M.C.A. House, Hanover St., to ask for particulars of membership.carried out faithfully, especially dur Jng youth and early manhood, build up a strong constitution—a strong arm, a stout heart and a clear brain.A BIG DEVELOPMENT.A big development has taken place during the last decade, and numerous systems as well as many physical culture schools have been started but the free movement are still known, In honour to Paof. Ling, as SwodishDrill or Swedish Exercises. In mo dern gymnasiums the skilled instructor does not seek to turn out a few'skilled acrobats or very strong men, but to improve the general standard, of health and strength among his pupils. More attention is paid to the weak than to the strong. Games
Newspaper Details
Kingston Daily Gleaner
Kingston, Kingston, JM
Wed, Oct 04, 1922
Page 13
Full Page
Clipped by
Robert B.
FL, USA 14 Jul 2021
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