Origin Of Physical Training In Order example essay topic

Sport training today has come a long way to become an essential part of not only elite athletes' lives, but also that of the common man. In Peter G. Mewett's article, "From Horses to Humans: Species Crossovers in the Origin of Modern Sports Training", he examines the history of sport and its crossover from horse training, and the influence of humours on developing training techniques. Mewett begins his article by identifying the birth of sport. He traces modern sport to, "the prizefighters competing at Figg's Amphitheatre" (Mewett) beginning his theory that sport leading to sport training has stemmed from pugilism. He argues that these types of sport lead to the association of expertise in a sport with national character. Through boxing and pedestrianism, it was discovered that a trained participant could easily defeat an untrained one.

Through this discovery of the need for training comes the distinction of its two-part outcome, technique and "wind" (or fitness). The remainder of the article focuses on the "wind" outcome, but it is argued that technique is essential none-the-less. Mewett argues that the origin of modern sport training was not simply a product of its time. Rather it was a result of previously practiced training procedures used for animals such as horses. He strengthens his argument of animal-human crossover in the originating of modern training techniques by discounting other common theories. The main argument he refutes is that the origin of training comes from the ancient Greek athletes.

He has three reasons for refuting this theory. The first is because no evidence can be found of training for any reason other then military. In the second, he eludes to certain biases that may be found as a result of the few restricted texts in which there are references to Greek athletes. These texts were written by high-class writers who greatly valued the civilizations of the ancient Greeks and Romans. The third reason was that the trainers of these athletes were typically former participants who were of a p lebian origin (often meaning they were illiterate).

Another common argument Mewett eludes to is the tie between training and the military, but he quickly discounts this theory as well. He credits any success of any given soldier to the fact that they were probably fit before entering the military, due to lifestyle. The example given is that of Captain Barclay. His physical capabilities were a result of his way of previous farm life, not acquired through the military. He states another key point relating to the originating of sport training.

The moving away from causation theories that were derived from religion, and rather, using the "application of rational explanations to provide reasoned interpretations of nature" (Mewett). Finally before strengthening his argument for animal-to-human crossover, he discusses the role gambling played on developing modern sport training. Mewett argues that as was true with horses and horse racing, wealthier citizens who were wagering would concern themselves with the well-being and training of the animal to improve their odds. This began to hold true with human sport as well.

As wagering on human sport began to increase, so did the concern with training the athletes. Mewett finally begins to strengthen his argument for animal-to-human crossover in the originating of modern sport training. He begins by explaining the history of horse racing which leads him to explain how the "organizing of humours" (Mewett) shaped the training of horses and how that in turn was used in theory for humans. For humans and horses alike, humoral theory is "centered on removing the impediments to its body functioning at its natural best" (Mewett). The body is comprised of four humours; earth, wind, fire, and water.

Each of these corresponds to a characteristic of: melancholy, choler, phlegm, or blood. The basic premise of humoral theory is that through exercise, diet, or if needed medication, a physician is able to deal with any humoral imbalances. In conjunction with dealing with humoral imbalances it was found that in horses a common method of training was the use of heat. By making a horse sweat, it "removed 'the superfluid ities of flesh and fat which gives a person wind and strength' " (Mewett). Mewett finally addresses the question of why there was a cross-over of training techniques from horses to humans, and why there weren't techniques especially made for humans. He answers this first by bringing up the point that training already was in use, secondly that the same physiological models were used for different species, and finally that human competitors were common people, meaning they were most likely unable to make new techniques for humans (especially when there were techniques for other species readily available).

Mewett argues that it is necessary to consider gambling as a crucial factor in the emergence of modern sport training. He states that, "gambling catapulted human sports competitors into training programs once these social conditions were in place". (Mewett) Gambling has been a major factor in horse training since it began. Gambling was the main reason why horses began to participate in racing for sport. As for humans, gambling was not a common aspect of the purpose of physical training. Humans established physical training for the means of entertainment in the sporting world and for personal prestige.

Since gambling for horses and the outcomes of their matches is still a major part of the gambling world today and since there was no official gambling regime that existed for humans in relation to physical fitness, Mewett falsifies his argument by stating that gambling instigated human sport competitors into training programs. Athletes take risks in entering the world of sport, by understanding that success is not always possible, but unlike horses, humans did not have others gambling on their outcomes as an athlete from the start of competition, instead they would just be observed of their development and outcome of the competition. The world of gambling suggests that many average people can benefit from the success of the specie, where as with humans, it is merely entertainment and very few benefit from the over all success of an athlete after competition. The training of humans was an influential component of modern times. The realization that human bodies could be improved and strengthened by means of training was thought to be somewhat dependent on God's will and that human control could not exist over the natural world and its expectations. Human training has come a long way over time and has become a basic part of life in the most recent century, with the realization that we in fact do control the accomplishments of our bodies.

Today's society houses beliefs that proper exercise and diet pertain to those not just involved in athletic competition but also to retain a healthy lifestyle for any human being. It is important to realize the origin of physical training in order to improve the present state in which it is in, as to achieve the greatest possible physical outcome arrived at through such training. The training of horses in the past and the species crossover of such training declares that improvement among all species is of great interest and should therefore be further researched in order to increase the training potential of humans and further more, improve human control. The realization that humans do embody control over ones self was derived from many factors not just horse training, but with regards to the Olympics of the Greek and roman times. Presently, the study of sport training and how to use it proficiently in order to achieve successfully in the sporting world can help us understand the human body and its limited capabilities and how to remove certain limitations enabling us to improve our standard of physical health which is a basic instinct to humans living in a society where constant improvement is a necessity.

This is why in fact this reading is most crucial to our studying the foundations of human movement, its history, its development, and more importantly where it is headed.