In the world of fitness, you learn a few things here and
there but not many want to learn where certain things started or how they got
there in the first place. In just about every program there’s a historical
significance to it. Say you wanted to learn about Barbells and Dumbbells so you
can get strong and usually the first people they learn about is Arnold Schwarzenegger or a today’s Ronnie Coleman or Jay Cutler. There’s a difference
between lifting strength and bodybuilding. If you really want to learn about
those two pieces of equipment you could really learn from guys like Reg Park
Strength
Training dates back thousands of years as far as ancient India with the
wrestling sport of Kushti where you learned to wrestle, run, swim, swing clubs
and the mace which were used as weapons during a period when battles required
the utmost of strength. In the golden eras of Greece
and Rome , they
had to train harder than most can fathom today and especially as soldiers
because they learned how to handle a heavy sword or shoot tough arrows so they
used a style of Isometrics in order to increase the strength and speed of the
arrows in battle. Here’s something you may not have known but in the time of
Leonardo da Vinci at a young age he was quite the athlete and even had strength
to bend horseshoes. You see, fitness and
exercise ends up in places you didn't think were possible. Some of these vary
same things are what makes training today even though mainstream training has
become a nuisance.
We've all
seen records broken right after another but there are records that most people
don’t even know exists. We've all heard at one point in sports like Basketball
where the Boston Celtics won what 8 straight titles but what about one man who
went 15 years undefeated in weightlifting in three different decades 1938-1953,
that man was the legendary John Davis. How about another record that most
likely will never be broken, The great Gama won 5000 matches in wrestling and
not lost once, you know what record is more popular than that, Rocky Marciano’s
Boxing record of being undefeated. Records come and go all the time and
whenever we see one today there’s not much of big thing about it but think
about what record breaking was like back in the 20’s, even when the 1900’s
rolled in, it was huge. How about this, did you know that back in the early 20th
century, pressing more than 350 lbs. overhead was unheard of and was the talks
of the town, now imagine that weight being pressed overhead with one arm, got
nothing to say now huh?
No matter
what you’re in whether its sports, music, weight lifting, Archeology or even
certain types of science, learn the history, educate yourself. Continue to use
your mind and you’ll soon understand why using the mind and body work together,
not just in exercising but with everything. Something always started somewhere,
learn where it came from and learn about the people that made those things
happen. I just wish they can put the history of Physical Culture as an academic
curriculum in schools such as High School and College. There’s a lot to be
learned in this world and the more educated you are with the right tools of
mind and body working together, you’re on the right path.
