Talk:Dynamic tension

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

His attack on white bread was pretty radical for the 1920s. This may be true, but doesn't have much to do with dynamic tension. ^_^ --Starwed 21:51, 10 December 2005 (UTC)

Actually it does as Charles Atlas included personality and health advice as part of his course which he claimed was more than as imple body building program.--Gary123 22:58, 11 December 2005 (UTC)

This is not an article on his body building program, but on the specific type of excercise. As such the line about bread appears to be a non sequitur Also, check your punctuation... ^_^ --Starwed 16:23, 12 December 2005 (UTC)

_________________________________________________________________________

Charles Atlas did not "create" dynamic tension exercises. Rather, he popularized them and registered the term Dynamic Tension as a trademark. Dynamic tension exercises go back to the 6th century A.D. in a Shaolin monastery where the Indian monk Bodhidharma, also called Da mo, developed what were at that time called the Yi Jin Jing exercises. Charles Atlas learned dynamic tension exercises from Alois Swoboda and helped popularize them.

Several other physical culturists of Atlas' generation also utilized and promoted this type of exercise. The exercises continue to be popular today among martial artists (see the book Dynamic Strength by Harry Wong) and a small but growing number of "old school" physical culturists.

The best known current proponent of Atlas' methods is John Peterson who has published two books dealing with this type of exercise, “The Miracle Seven” and “Pushing Yourself To Power”. Mr. Peterson is a glowing example of the effectiveness of this type of training. Now in his mid 50's, he has the build and vigor of a man in his 20's. Mr. Peterson does not claim to have invented dynamic tension exercises. He graciously gives due reference and respect to Charles Atlas and others from whom he has learned. He is an enthusiastic proponent of various methods exercising without weights - bodyweight callisthenic type exercises, isometrics and dynamic tension. Due to trademark issues, he refers to his system of exercise as "Transformetrics". He recently published a book entirely devoted to Isometrics titled “The Isometric Power Challenge” in which he not only teaches isometric exercises for the entire body, but also devotes a significant part of the book to the health benefits of isometrics, citing scientific studies and great physical culturists of the past who relied heavily on isometrics to build strength.

Anyone who gives this type of training a chance soon sees and feels the effectiveness, benefits and safety of it. Unfortunately, dynamic tension exercises continued to be ridiculed by many in the fitness community for two primary reasons:

1. Money – since no equipment or gyms are needed, widespread acceptance of this method of exercise would cost health club owners and equipment manufacturers a lot of money.

2. Unbelief – since this method of exercise is so radically different from what the general population has been led to believe is needed or required to be physically fit, most people simply dismiss it and won’t even give it a try.

The benefits of this type of exercise are enormous:

1. Convenience – it can be done anywhere at any time since no equipment is needed.

2. Safety – the chances of being injured with this type of exercise are almost nonexistent. It builds muscle and fitness without the chance of injuring or harming your joints as with weights. It may be performed by persons of any age.

3. Health – this system of training invigorates and revitalizes the body without chance of injury and can be done for a lifetime.

4. Economical – it does not require equipment, just one or two good courses, such as those by Charles Atlas, John Peterson, Jim Forystek or Harry Wong. Jim Forystek even has a DVD which demonstrates this type of training.

One last note though, this system is not for lazy people. It may be different, but it still requires time (less than most other systems), effort, commitment and consistency in training. People that are not willing to put in those four ingredients shouldn’t waste their money on anything fitness related since they will never attain any type of physical development or fitness. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Pardoned (talk • contribs) 16:50, 10 March 2007 (UTC).