Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1913-03-17

Paper No. xNxTfI-By Prof r. s. Krantz
Asst. Phys. Inst. u. ;. y. Al
tCOnuEued3
The Swedish system The Swed-
ish system Of educational gymnastiC
is perhaps the gr satest system ever
evolved in any period. The -Swed.
ish systt m is one Of corrective and
preventative methods Medical gym
nastics form a part of this system
and il is here that il has gotten the
hold upon the world that il has. II
just as the other systems IS the erea-
tion Of demand, a natural growth
satisfying the needs of people who
are now living under different con
ditions and circumstances than were
the people of a century ago.
Ling, the founder or inventor #
the Swedish system, defined gymnas-
tics as "a system of exercises having
bodily perfection for thsir aim. 1t
is due to Ling that Swedish gymnas-
tics are what they are, simple OF
form and showing compactness and
balance of parts, finish and precision
of method. His natural impulses
aud the exigencies of his position as
an official teacher of teachers and
military cadets, combined in leading
Ling to adopt simple, direct an or
derly me asures. Herein lies another
big success feature of the Swedish
system. Precision and command give
discipline and attention, two neces-
sary requisites TO teaching gymnas-
tics.
Apparatus gymnastics, tho regu-
larly employed by the Swedes, are
given less prominence than is accord
ed them by any other race of physi-
cal educators. Great care and atten-
tion are given to physiological con-
siderations in the selection and ar
rangement of gymnastic movements;
therefore the Swedish system has
ignored the heavier exercises on ap-
paratus. For example. the Swedish
system discards exercises that tend
to construct the chest, those that re-
quire the breath to be held, and those
producing continued pressure on the
larger vascular or nerve trunks.
One of their most stringent rules is
that all movements should help aud
MT hinder full, free and regular
breathing. Swedish gymnastics sur
pass all other forms of pedagogical
gymnastics, in the care taken in CO.
ordinating the exercise belonging to
a single days order, not only with
regard to each other, but also with
regard to the days orders, which
have been practiced, and the days
order" that shall follow
BY means of the days order" or
table" and the principle of gym
nastic progression which they alone
have worked out ahd adopted, the
Swedes are enabled to order and
vary their school gymnastics, from
day to day, from month to month and
from year to year, in graded series.
By this means continuity is secured
in the instruction, and the pupils, of
whatever age or condition of health,
are advanced from simple, easy and
absolute safe exercises, to those that
are complicated, difficult or compar-
atively dangerous.
All exercises, whether by a full
class or by a squad, are executed at
the word of command continuous,
progressive and comprehensive gym
nastic training cannot be secured
by mere imitation of a leader, or
by executing memorized exercises
over and over again. Change and va
riety are necessary, and must be had.
The Swedish system unlike any other
form of physical training emphasizes
coordination, progression and har-
mony Of movement