Old Time Exercises - The Daily Dozen

David Trammel's picture

Almost everyone in our modern world is way out of shape. I am and I'll bet, you are too. And yet it seems like our only option is some expensive gym membership where a fix trim youngster yells encouragements at us while we gasp for breath and sweat. Its not though. There are a variety of simple calisthenics routines which can increase our flexibility and give us real health benefits if practiced on a regular basis. Even something as simple as 15 minutes a day.

In a recent post on Greer's Dreamwidth blog, the exercise routine "The Daily Dozen" created by Walter Camp in the 1930s was mentioned.

The famous exercise routine was created by Walter Camp, a former college athlete, successful businessman, and prolific writer of books and articles on sports and the outdoors. As a student at Yale, Camp rowed, boxed, played tennis, and frequented the school’s gymnasium in his spare time. He also ran track for the university and was a varsity baseball and football player. It was that latter sport that constituted his most enduring and ultimately influential interest. First as a player, and then as a coach, Camp introduced so many innovations to the gridiron — including the line of scrimmage and the system of downs — that he became known as the “Father of American Football.”

During WWI, Camp’s athletic know-how was marshaled by the U.S. military, which made him an advisor on physical fitness. Concerned that the old style of calisthenics then employed by the troops was not sufficiently effective in getting them in fighting shape, the brass asked Camp to create a new program of exercise. His answer was the “Daily Dozen” — a short routine of physical movements designed to keep the country’s sailors and soldiers healthy and nimble, without inducing excessive fatigue.

You don't need to be going to war to benefit from this series of simple exercises. Give them a try.

"The Daily Dozen" on the Art of Manliness website

I'd posted earlier on Green Wizards about the Royal Canadian exercises.

They work too.

Exercise every day, some kind of exercise, and you'll do better.

Strength, flexibility, and aerobics all contribute to a healthier body.

Admin Added: PDF for the 5BX/XBX: https://csclub.uwaterloo.ca/~rfburger/5bx-plan.pdf