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How did people in ancient times train?


Alan Tseng
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Connor Davies

I seem to remember similar studies about long-bowmen in medieval England. - you just couldn't find enough people capable of firing a bow as far/fast/long as they did if you wanted to mount a comparable army, even though the population is much larger today.

I heard they couldn't find anyone at all.  What's the drawstring on those old longbows, 200lbs?  For most people that's a weighted one arm pullup, while pushing back with the opposing arm.  There must have been tremendous loading on the core, and to have to aim under these conditions.... 

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I heard they couldn't find anyone at all. What's the drawstring on those old longbows, 200lbs? For most people that's a weighted one arm pullup, while pushing back with the opposing arm. There must have been tremendous loading on the core, and to have to aim under these conditions....

Not as extreme.as the English longbows but in Japan i had the opportunity to try traditional style kyudo. It was educational; near impossible for me to bend the bow the smallest girl was using with arms alone. The instructor had a mid back that looked like an artists' impression in marble that was thrown out for being too exaggerated.

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Matthew Proulx

archers of medieval times did draw some big poundages but they trained from 10yrs old to build up to that also they were known to be cripples in mid ages and have crooked backs. 100lbs was the average, i have tons of books on archery, and collected a few bows, was one of my obsessions for a spell. Definitely a skill you must eat sleep and dream to master

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they were known to be cripples in mid ages

Perhaps sheer physical achievement has declined as technology increased, but preventative measures and rehab etc have increased general health?  Except for all the soda and cheeseburger a day obeses, in that sense general health has probably declined.

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Connor Davies

Perhaps sheer physical achievement has declined as technology increased, but preventative measures and rehab etc have increased general health?  Except for all the soda and cheeseburger a day obeses, in that sense general health has probably declined.

Yeah we're at the point where for the first time in human history most of us don't actually have to do anything physical in order to survive.  This makes health and fitness entirely optional.  I just wish that more people would realise that just because they can let their bodies fall apart doesn't mean they should.

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Yeah we're at the point where for the first time in human history most of us don't actually have to do anything physical in order to survive.  This makes health and fitness entirely optional.  I just wish that more people would realise that just because they can let their bodies fall apart doesn't mean they should.

'Merica, land of the free

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I've seen dogs do handstands, so yeah, primates can definitely do that.^^

 

 

Maybe not all of them though, can't imagine gorillas doing this.

I've seen dogs do planche/planche presses too. :)

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I like to think that we Americans are the best at it, like everything else. ;)

Hey, you're welcome to it! :D

Per head of population, though, I think Australia could put up a strong showing in the obesity games.

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James Janssen

Makes me wonder what the average human will be like in the far future. Our bodies are still evolving after all. Can we even de-evolve and lose characteristics that we've worked and adapted so hard for?

It's good we're still challenging the body. Gymnasticbodies to save mankind 8D

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  • 4 weeks later...
Connor Davies

Found this quite:

 

Long before the invention of the plate loaded barbells and dumbbells, history spoke of men of seemingly superhuman strength. On display at the Archaeological Museum of Olympia in Greece is a 316lb sandstone, dating back to early 600BC, with the inscription “Bybon son of Phola, has lifted me over his head with one hand."

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