Impressions of Northern Athletes and Athletics

Exercise The second essential in realising our latent powers is preparatory exercise. Having studied the sciences anatomy and physiology, I soon ascertained the most efficacious and natural means whereby the various muscles could be nurtured and indefatigable stamina generated. In “Scientific Athletics” I say:— The novice who judiciously undergoes an exhaustive preparation before indulging in athletics invariably outvies unprepared and comparatively impotent competitors in these sports. Even individuals who are indued [imbued] with pre-eminent strength and proportions are almost universally defective in particular parts of the body upon which strain involved in athleticism. This may be verified by any casual opportunities testing the athletic capacity of such men, whose initial efforts in say, putting the light shot, generally approximate, but rarely exceed, distance of thirty feet. It would be no exaggeration to say, that the majority these men would, when scientifically trained and skilled by practice, increase their ability in this feat to the extent of ten or twelve feet least, conjunctly with proportional increase in other athletic feats. As this is an all important consideration, I would here that only about ninety per cent, of physical culturists exercise consistently. The generality of them devote much time in undermining their constitutions through baneful so-called exercises. To return to “Scientific Athletics”:- When light dumb bells are advocated, almost innumerable reiterations—which are customarily performed mechanically—are generally prescribed. Consequently the physical culturist executes a preposterous number frivolous gyrations, and eventually become muscle-bound. The muscle thus developed is recalcitrant and practically destitute of strength and utility, and immediately these tedious exercises are suspended, the artificial development acquired practically disappears, leaving the emaciated would-be athlete minus an incalculable degree of strength and vitality.” I regret that it is impossible here to expatiate upon this great key success, which, needless to say, is treated comprehensively in my forthcoming book. Six months, at least, should be devoted to this initiatory adaptation. Specialisation The third great essential proficiency is specialisation—an indubitable fact which must be impressed indelibly upon the novice’s mind. Specialise in a few congenial items, because