Athletics of To-Day 1929

Athletics of To-day introduce into the throw the check which generates the" jerk," dealt with fully in Chapter XIX (Throwing the Javelin), and the athlete has the throwing position, as shown in Picture No. 5, Plate 48, of H. Hoffmeister, the great German master thrower. Note the walk position of the legs with knees not yet straightened in the drive, the long loose hang of the throwing arm, with discus so well controlled that one surface still rests against the forearm. If the discus is allowed to lose this position it will wobble badly in flight. Note also how the head FIG. 38 is being bent back to aid the shoulder twist and right arm throwing-swing around the body, and the compensatory balance position of the left hand and forearm. The right leg now pushes the body, and particularly the right hip, forward, as seen in Picture No. 6, Plate 48, of Flaxman, in which also the shoulders are being twisted violently from right to left, although the arm does not begin to strike until it is well off the shoulder and both shoulders and hips are square with the direction in which the discus is to be thrown. In Picture No. 7, Plate 48, the athlete is applying all his force to the throw, by stretching his legs and forcing his right shoulder forward, while the slight blurring of the discus in the photograph shows that the right arm has commenced to make its con– tribution to the throw and is moving forward on its own swing at the necessary speed to provide a good "jerk," which will give the discus its initial velocity in flight.