The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-08-25
No. 1.-THE WEIGHTS.

The throwing of weights at ath-
letic events dates back to the days
of the ancients. What was once a
stone throwing contest is now the
shot put; the hammer throw was
once a contest with sings. The
discus event of modern days has
changed little from the classic
event of ancient Greece The form
of the discus itself has changed
slightly from time to time, but in
the main discus throwing is the
same as it was when the flower of
Grecian athletes competed in the
stadium at Athens.
Days were when weight throwing
was purely test of strength. The
most powerful men of those. days
were victors. This is partly true
today, but not wholly. 1t is safe to
say that few, If any, of those old
time athletes could hope to COM
pete successfully with the record
holders of today, many Of whom
would be their interiors If meas
ured in muscle, bone and tendon
alone. There is very sound rea-
son. The modern weight thrower
has learned that speed and form
are as necessary to his success as
strength. He has learned, too, that
to make the most of his strength
he must not only pay close atten-
ton to the development of speed
and form, but that he must be
conscientious in his efforts at this
development, in his training, his
exercise, his diet.
American championship events
in the weights include the shot put,
the hammer throw. the discus and
the Sc pound weight. AS | am talk
ing to beginners, | shall not men
ton the Sc pound weight event
further than to say that no begin
ner, and especially no beginner I'M
der 10 years of age, should attempt
this event. 1t is too great tax,
and until the young athletic has
learned perfectly just how much he
can ask of his muscles and tendons
he throws himself open to serious
injury by attempting to handle a
weight as heavy as So pounds.
Muscular Concentration.
If you would be successful
weight thrower, get those two
words into the front of your head
and keep them there during every
moment of training and practice.
OF the three events concerning
which l will attempt to throw out
few useful hints to beginners in
these articles, each demands diff
ferent type of concentration of the
muscles. The beginner should bend
himself to the task of mastering
thoroughly one type, before he pro-
ceeds to another.
The three types may be defined
generally, this way:
The shot put is terrific DRIVE.
The hammer throw is an equally
powerful PULL.
The discus throw is a strong,
sharp WHIP.
The development of perfect con-
centration means the development
of perfect form and with it should
go the development of speed across
the ring. Speed is tremendously
important element, that is TOO often
overlooked; finally,
Be patient. Be content to spend
weeks or months, if necessary, in
perfecting the two great essentials,
speed and concentration, before
trying for distance. When you are
sure you have mastered these, then
go in for distance, never allowing
yourself to depart to hairs
breadth from the form you have
developed.
Live sanely, eat what you want,
but not too much of it, avoid liquor,
coffee and tobacco, keep reason
able hours, train faithfully, don't be
in a rush and if you have the goods
in you, you'll deliver them.