Indian clubs, and how to use them : a new and complete method for learning to wield light and heavy clubs graduated from the simplest to the most complicated exercises followed by an appendix on strength and strong men

Front matter

E. FERDINAND LEMAIRE

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Preface

1 DEDICATE this book to the many friends to whom I may have had, at different times, the pleasure of giving hints or more extended instruction on the use of Indian Clubs.

Having often been asked if I knew of a good book on Indian Clubs, and believing that all those treating of the subject fall far short of the ordinary requirements of anyone wishing to become proficient in that branch of athletics, I have determined to write this book, introducing in it all that my long experience has taught me. Here I may say that I have not been guided by any other book, or any other person’s ideas or principles. The whole of this work is entirely original, the system I have made use of is my own invention, and the whole of the illustrations are from my own designs.

The method I have employed is based on five simple circles, which, by being gradually added and combined together, carry the learner progressively from the most simple to the most difficult exercises. I demonstrated it in public at a gymnastic display given in the Albert Hall, in connection with the Health Exhibition, by making a squad of fifty men go through over a hundred different evolutions, starting with the most simple and gradually increasing to the most intricate, and my system made a great impression on the spectators, among whom were many competent judges. The five circles I have mentioned, and which are designated by distinctive names, are in themselves extremely simple, but, although the diagrams representing them would suffice for any one to understand how to do them, I have devoted upwards of 50 pages and illustrations to their explanation, so that the student may be thoroughly familiar with them before any exercises are attempted. This method not only enables any one unacquainted with Indian Clubs to become

INDIAN CLUBS.

thoroughly proficient, but it is also of the greatest value to advanced performers and teachers, as it shows them how to form exercises and combine them together. In all the illustrations the circular course of the right club is clearly distinguished from that of the left, the former being traced by dots, the latter by dashes or strokes.

The book is full of valuable hints and explanations, and comprises exercises not only for the most advanced gymnasts, but also for ladies, children, and schools; it has also a special chapter on heavy clubs. The work finishes with an appendix on Strength and Strong Men, giving a record of some wonderful feats performed by athletes and historical personages from the earliest ages to the present time.

I may as well mention that this book is not intended as a literary or artistic work, but simply as a practical handbook.

My name must be familiar to any one who may have taken an interest in athletics during the last 14 years, as for that time I have wielded the clubs at nearly 200 assaults-of-arms and gymnastic displays. As regards those who do not happen to know me, I hope the)'- will soon be convinced that I possess the necessary qualifications for the task I have undertaken. I have practised gymnastics in general for about 25 years, and have taught Indian Clubs at the German Gymnasium and elsewhere for upwards of 12 years. I have also been the Honorary Director of Exercises of the Amateur Gymnastic Club, for two years, until its dissolution. I may say that I have shown how to use the clubs to thousands of persons, including some of the best professional teachers of the day.

Now, I think the reader will be convinced that I must know something about what I have compiled in this volume, and I trust that he will have that confidence in me which I think it is necessary the pupil should have in his teacher.

E. FERDINAND LEMAIEE

London, October, 1889.

Introduction

INDIAN Clubs are perhaps the most ancient of the gymnastic implements used at the present time. Their use can be traced to the most remote antiquity. Persian Clubs would be a far more correct name for them, as in their present shape they were much more used by Persians than Indians. In the Tower of London can be seen a pair of clubs from India. They are made of very heavy wood, and are somewhat in the shape that I recommend further on for heavy clubs.

The Persians and Indians use their clubs principally by holding them in the reverse way from what we do in this country ; that is, the club hanging below the little finger, instead of being above the thumb and first finger. Their favourite exercise consists of doing small circles above the head.

The Greeks and the Romans made great use of them, and gave them a prominent place among their various gymnastic exercises. At the present time clubs are much more used in England and America than in any other part of the world. On the Continent their use is very limited, and they are practised with more after the fashion of dumb-bells.

That the club is the most ancient weapon nobody can deny ; it is also the most natural and handy that could be found, and consequently the first used by man, for we find that Cain slew Abel with a club. The ordinary weapon of the athletic god Hercules was a club ; and though he also used the bow and arrow, he is always represented with his club. In ancient times, both in Greece and Rome, the strongest athletes, on public occasions, were fond of brandishing clubs, believing themselves to be representatives of Iiercules. We hear of Milo of Crotona leading his compatriots to war armed with a club. A Roman emperor, Commodus, proud of his immense strength, paraded the streets with a club as Hercules.

INDIAN CLUBS.

Bacchus is said to have conquered India with an army of satyrs and bacchantes armed with clubs. Samson would have been very gooi with clubs when w^e consider what he did with a jawbone, which was simply for him a kind of club. Some theologists believe that the Samson of the Jews is the same person as the Hercules of mythology. Clubs were favourite weapons with the fighting bishops and other prelates of the early and middle ages. They thought that if they were not allowed to kill people in the ordinary way, with swords, spears, or arrows, nothing could forbid their knocking them down. We find that at all times the principal weapon of uncivilised races were and are clubs, and going still a little lower we also find that the higher races of monkeys, such as the ourangoutang, fight with branches, which they use as clubs, and travellers tell us that thus armed they are most formidable antagonists to encounter.

Thus, clubs, in one form or another, have had a conspicuous place in nature, mythology, and history. But what interests us more here is the adaptation of clubs to the development of health and strength. To those who, for certain reasons, do not care or find it impossible to go in for the head-over-heel style of gymnastics, Indian clubs are most invaluable. I shall even go further and sa)*- that, to runners, walkers, boxers, rowers, and swimmers — in fact, to anyone practising any special branch of athletics, they are also of the greatest use, as they open the chest, strengthen the back, the arms, and nearly all the muscles of the body. By the judicious use of them, a weak and sickly person can become strong and healthy. Their great advantage over dumb-bells and other implements used in calisthenics is their endless variety of exercises. They afford more scope for invention than any other kind of athletics, hence their great attraction to those who use them. There are hundreds of ways of wielding them, and every new exercise is the means of finding another.

The clubs can be used as well by children, either boys or girls, as by men and women. Clubs are particularly advantageous to ladies, who are generally prevented from doing as great an amount of exercise as men. Gymnastics proper they do not do ; their calisthenics I will not mention. To them, therefore, the clubs ought to be a great boon. It is a ver)? graceful and healthy exercise, and with all the details they will find in this book they ought to be able to become very proficient with them deriving at the same time great benefit. Of all the exercises I have

INTRODUCTION.

given there is not one that will injure them — that is, if they practice with a club of a proper weight. This is the most important thing of all. People will use clubs too heavy for them, and thus injure themselves ; it is not the exercise that hurts them, it is the weight of the club. For children from io to 12 years old I should advise clubs of 1 lb. each, or even less should they be weak ; from 12 to 15, i|lbs., if -weak only ilb. ; for boys from 15 to 17, 2lbs. ; from 17 upwards, up to .plbs., according to strength. For girls from 15 to 18, iflbs. ; from 18 upwards, up to 2-|lbs., according to strength.

The shape of the clubs is also most important. It is very difficult to find a proper shaped club ready made ; they are often turned by people who have not the slightest notion of what is done with them, and accordingly make only a clumsy round piece of wood with a handle to it, and call it a club. A club should be turned quite plain, without any ornamentation about it in the way of turning. The shape should be as shown in the following illustrations: — cr-

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32.. mokes

The length of a ilb. club ought to be about 20 inches; of a 2lbs. 24 inches ; and of a 4lbs., 28 inches. A heavy club should be about 32 inches long. The price of clubs is from 6d. to gd. per lb.

INDIAN CLUBS.

In the chapter on heavy clubs will be found the necessary instructions and advice respecting the weights and use of heavy clubs. Ladies should, not use heavy clubs.

Another great advantage connected with clubs is that they can be used in any room where there is a clear space of two yards by four yards, and where, of course, the ceiling is sufficiently high to allow of the clubs clearing it without touching. Those living in the suburbs, and having a little open space at the back of their house, can derive great enjoyment and benefit out of half-an-hour’s quiet practice with the clubs. There is no trouble in bringing or taking them away, and they are easily put aside in a corner or out of sight.

Thus it can easily be seen that Indian Club practice affords, more than any other exercise, facilities for healthy recreation to those who from occupation or other causes are prevented from joining a gymnasium, or leading an active athletic life. To them, if they act according to all my directions, I hope the following chapters will be of great help, as such is my intention in writing this book.

I shall not give, as appears customary in books on athletics, any special notion as regards what one ought or ought not to do to preserve his or her health, how to train, when to get up, or go to bed. My object is to teach Indian Clubs to the best of my ability. I shall only say this. Above all things remember not to begin by doing much at first ; five to ten minutes gentle exercise is sufficient to begin with ; in fact, leave off immediately on feeling tired, and do not begin with any weight heavier than those I recommend.

INDIAN CLUI3S.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF KEY EXERCISES.

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Respective Position of the Circles of the First Series.

INDIAN CLUBS.

Fig. 6. Front Circle Reversed,

Fig. S. Side Wrist Circle Reversed

Back Circle Reversed,

ILLUSTRATIONS OF KEY EXERCISES.

Fig. io. Lower Back Circle Reversed.

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Respective Position of the Circles of the Second Series.

CHAPTER I. Preliminary Remarks and Key Exercises

INDIAN Club exercises are perhaps the most difficult to explain clearly and comprehensibly in a book. I have endeavoured to bring the whole to its simplest form, and for that purpose I have made a key, which will be found immediately preceding this chapter. A reference to that key will show that I have divided the exercises into three series. The whole art of the Indian Clubs is comprised in the ten figures there represented. The most intricate exercises are only a combination of those ten figures. The second series is merely the first series done backwards, and the third series is a combination of the first and the second ; for this reason there are no figures in the key representing the third series. The exercises comprised in this series will be found in their proper places in the book.

It will be noticed that I have given a name to all the various circles represented in the key. It will also be seen that in the second series I have added the word “reversed” ; it is to facilitate the understanding as to how the exercise should be done ; for, having mastered an exercise of the first series, going from right to left, the corresponding exercise in the second series is the club travelling back in the opposite direction, or “ reverse ” way, from left to right. Now I want special attention to be paid to the direction ot the arrows in the dotted circles which represent, in the figures, the direction the clubs are to go. The direction

of the right club is marked by dotted lines thus

the direction of the left by a line of small strokes thus

In the key all the exercises are represented as done with the right arm ; and it will be seen that the exercises of the first series, when

B

INDIAN CLUBS.

1 8 done with the right arm, all go from the right to the left, passing downwards ; and the exercises of the second series, done with the right arm, all go from left to right, passing downwards. But if the left arm is used instead of the right, then the exercises of the first series go from left to right, and those of the second from right to left. All this is very important to beginners, as it must greatly facilitate quick learning if thoroughly understood. It may seem very intricate in print, but if, whilst this is read, a club is held to demonstrate what I say, and is made to follow my directions, then all this will at once be understood and perhaps remembered.

I am particularly anxious to afford all the practical information that I think necessary at the beginning, as there is nothing like a good start.

Beginners should never try the more complicated exercises until they have thoroughly mastered the more simple ones. They will then be accustomed to the handling of the clubs, and be better prepared for the more difficult combinations. Do not hurry through the exercises, so as to have time to use the brain, which in the Indian Club exercises is much required, especially when both clubs are used at the same time.

I shall now explain the key, which must be first learnt, with the exception of the fifth circle of each series. These ought not to be attempted until sufficiently proficient ; I shall introduce them where I think best. The various circles should be known by the names I have given them, as they will greatly help when we go further, and will save a great amount of unnecessary repetition, enabling me to refer to them simply by their names, and thus the learner will at once understand what is meant when he finds those names used in the description of the various combinations explained further in the book. I shall also adopt the same system with regard to figures. I shall first explain the figure thoroughly if need be, and afterwards the mere mention of the figure v/ill mean that the clubs are to be used or held as represented in the said figure. I must particularly request great attention to be paid to the position of the clubs, arms and hands, as represented in the figures.

The starting position of all exercises with the Indian Clubs is shown

PRELIMINARY REMARKS & KEY EXERCISES.

for one arm in fig. 12, for both arms in fig. 13. Previous to getting ready for any exercise, and after doing it, the clubs can either be put down or held as in fig. n.

INDIAN CLUBS.

The feet should be about 18 inches apart, so as to give steadiness to the body, which ought to be erect and yet not stiff. The proper position of the feet is observed in the illustrations. Great attention must be paid to neatness and to a good position of the body, as besides giving a graceful appearance it will allow a more even play for the various muscles at work. The arms should move freely ; no ugly jerks, which are apt to

PRELIMINARY REMARKS & KEY EXERCISES.

injure the elbow joint sometimes severely. In a word, the clubs ought always to be swung with grace and ease, and with a regular motion.

Do not follow the club as if attracted by its weight, as shown in figs. 14 and 15.

INDIAN CLUBS.

1 his bad habit, by shortening the distance from the shoulder to the feet, often causes the club to strike the toes. Lean slightly in the opposite direction to that in which the club is going (figs. 16 and 17).

Fig. i 7.

This advice will be found most useful when using rather heavy clubs, and the better it is attended to, the heavier the clubs can be.

Working before a looking-glass is of great assistance, as it helps to obtain accuracy and a good position, besides reflecting any faults that may occur.

Of course the pupil is supposed to know thoroughly one exercise before he attempts another. If that rule is followed it will be seen how easy everything will come later on, as I have so divided the exercises and series that one works into the other. As regards the series, I shall keep the same progression of exercises for all, so that if the order of the first series is well known, that of the second will be already known before even having begun to learn them. However, at the end of the book will be found a table giving directions as to the order the exercises of each series should be learnt. My reason for doing this is that thus the three series will be gradually learnt at the same time, and also it will give time to the pupil to become proficient with some of the more simple exercises of the three series before he comes to the more difficult ones.

PRELIMINARY REMARKS & KEY EXERCISES.

Now to proceed with the exercises forming the key. All the exercises may be done about twelve to fifteen times in succession.

Front Circle. — Figs. 1 and 18. Take hold of the clubs asm fig. 11 ;

then put right arm up in the starting position as in fig. 12 ; this starting position is also shown in fig. 18. From there thrust the club to the right, with straight arm, as shown by the dotted arm and club in fig. 18 ; describe a perfect circle with straight arm, passing the club in front of the body in the direction of the arrows in the dotted circles of figs. 1 and 18. Do about fifteen circles in succession, then stop by returning to the starting position of fig. 12, and from there down as in fig. n.

INDIAN CLUBS.

Fiont Circle witli tlie Left Arm. — Fig. 19. The same

Fig. 19

exercise as the preceding, with the left arm starting of course to the left instead of the right.

Front Circle Reversed. — Figs. 6 and 20. Hold the clubs fig. n, right arm up, fig. 12 ; from there thrust the club to the left, arm straight, as in dotted arm and club, fig. 20 ; describe a perfect circle with straight arm, passing the club in front of the body in the direction of the arrows in the dotted circles, figs. 6 and 20. Do about fifteen circles in succession, then stop by returning to the starting position, fig. 12, then down, fig. ir.

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INDIAN CLUBS .

Front Circle Reversed with the Left Arm.— Same exercise as preceding with the left arm, starting the club towards the right, fig. 21.

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Back Circle. — Figs. 2 and 23. — Hold the club fig. 11. Up fig. 12. From there raise the club as in fig. 22 ; then turn it to the right as in fig. 23, holding the hand close to the right ear ; the elbow is well in front, almost level with the chin, fig. 23. Pay great attention to this position of the elbow, as it helps much in getting this circle perfect.

From the position, fig. 23, let the club swing round behind the head in the direction of the dotted lines, figs. 2 and 23 ; but observe that when the club gets behind the head, as in fig. 24, the elbow changes its position and gets quite at the side, see fig. 24 ; the club then finishes its journey until it is again in position, fig. 22, with the elbow in front and ready to begin another circle.

INDIAN CLUBS.

There should be no stop in this exercise, as indeed in any of the exercises with the clubs, but it is better to do this one two or three times slowly, following carefully the figures as indicated. Do the circle about fifteen times without stopping, then recover as usual, fig. 12 and fig. n. This mode of finishing all the exercises ought now to be so well understood that I shall not refer to it any more. It must be made use of whenever either starting or finishing. Of course, when using both clubs at the same time, the starting and finishing is done with both clubs as shown in fig. 13. (See page 38 for remarks as to position.)

Back Circle with, the Left Arm. — Same exercise as the preceding, but with the left arm instead of the right, starting to the left with the end of the club well to the left. Fig. 25.

In the back circle it will be seen, by looking at the figures, that at the beginning of the circle the knuckles are facing forwards, and at the end they are facing backwards ; in fact, they follow the motion of the elbow. This action of the hand is most important.

Back Circle Reversed.. — Fig. 7 and fig. 27. From the starting position raise the club as in fig. 26. Here, it must be observed, that the position of the elbow is reverse to that in the simple back circle. In the back circle reversed the elbow first gets well back, fig. 26 ; then the club

PRELIMINARY REMARKS & KEY EXERCISES.

INDIAN CLUBS.

f is pointed to the left and dropped behind the head in the direction of the arrows in the dotted circles of fig. 7 and fig. 27 ; but when the club arrives behind the back in the position of fig. 28, the elbow comes forward as in fig. 29, and remains so until fig. 30.

To begin another circle, resume position fig. 26, with the elbow well back.

Do this exercise at first slowly, following the figures, and when the exercise is well understood, do about fifteen circles in succession without stopping. The position of the knuckles must again be observed ; at the beginning of the circle they face backwards, at the end they are forwards.

Back Circle Reversed with the Left Arm. Same exercise as the preceding, but with the left arm instead of the right starting the club to the right, with the club pointed to the right. Fig. 31.

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Side Wrist Circle. — Fig. 3 and fig. 32. Hold the club up with the right arm, as shown in fig. 33.

The arm is straight. Swing the club, by dropping it away from the bod}', in the direction of the arrows in the dotted lines, describing a circle, the

INDIAN CLUBS.

club passing behind the arm, as in figure 34. When the club starts, the nails of the fingers are upwards, as shown in fig. 35 ; and when it has almost completed the circle, the nails are downwards, as in fig. 36. To

Fig. 35

begin another circle, sharply turn the wrist, so that the nails again face upwards, Fig. 35.

The whole science of the wrist circle is contained in that tinning of the wrist.

Side Wrist Circle with the Left Arm. — Proceed with the left arm in the same manner as explained in the preceding exercise. Fig- 37-

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INDIAN CLUBS.

Side Wrist Circle Reversed.— Figs. 8 and 38. Hold the club up with the right arm, as in fig. 33. Swing the club by dropping it towards the body, the club passing behind the arm — fig. 39 — and in the direction of the arrows in the dotted circles, figs. 38 and 39, describing a circle.

Fig. 40 shows the position of the hand at starting, and fig. 41 the position at the finish of the circle.

Side Wrist Circle Reversed with the Left Arm— The same as the preceding, but with the left arm instead of the right. Fig. 42.

Front Wrist Circle. — Figs. 4 and 43. Hold the club up with the right arm as shown in fig. 44 ; the arm is straight. Swing the club by dropping it towards the right shoulder in the direction of the arrows in the dotted circle of fig. 43, and passing the club behind the arm as shown in fig. 45. The position of the hands in this exercise is exactly the same as in the side wrist circle reversed, figs. 40 and 41.

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INDIAN CLUBS.

PRELIMINARY REMARKS & KEY EXERCISES.

Front Wrist Circle with the Left Aim,- The same as the preceding, but with the left arm instead of the right. Fig. 46.

Front Wrist Circle Reversed.— Figs. 9 and 47. Hold the club up with the right arm as shown in fig. 44 Swing the club by dropping it outwards, away from the body, in the direction of the arrows in the dotted circle of fig. 47, and passing the club behind the arm as shown in fig. 48. The position of the hands in this exercise is exactly the same as in the side wrist circle, figs 35 and 36.

Front Wrist Circle Reversed with the Left Arm.— Same as the preceding, but with the left arm instead of the right. Fig. 49.

INDIAN CLUBS.

3lS

Important.— In all the wrist circles the arm does not move from its position ; the wrist alone must be used.

The pupil has now gone through eight of the exercises, or circles denominated in the key, Nos. 5 and 10 having been purposely left out until the pupil is sufficiently advanced for them to be of some use to him. These will be introduced in their proper place.

It is absolutely necessary that the first eight exercises above mentioned should be thoroughly learnt before anything further is attempted, for w'hen they are quite mastered the remainder will come with comparative ease, the whole of the exercises with the Indian Clubs being, as I have already stated, merely a combination of the circles appearing in the key.

At the beginning of this chapter I have pointed out the bad habit to avoid in doing the front circle. I shall now mention what is right and what is wrong in doing the back circle.

1st. — In all the back circles the right hand must remain near the right ear, and the left hand near the left ear, figs. 50 and 51. Not only is this the right position, but it will save many blows on the head, for if the hand is away from the ear, the result often is as shown in fig. 52, which cannot possibly happen if the hand is in its proper place.

PRELIMINARY REMARKS KEY EXERCISESr

INDIAN CLUBS.

2nd. In all back circles the elbow must be well up, as in figs. 50 and 51, and not as in figs. 53 and 54.

3rd. — Do not bend the knees or lean the head on one side when doing a back circle, as is shown in figs. 55 and 56. Many do it thinking they thus avoid a blow on the head, or help to jerk the club off. Keep perfectly erect, as in figs. 2 and 7.

PRELIMINARY REMARKS & KEY EXERCISES.

INDIAN CLUBS.

I think I have given in this chapter nearly all the practical information and hints which experience has taught me, and I hope they will be fully^- appreciated. I have no doubt that if well kept in mind they will prove of the greatest advantage to the beginner ; and for this reason I recommend him to read over this chapter occasionally, even when he is learning the most complicated exercises, as it will refresh his memory should he have forgotten any of my instructions.