Walker's manly exercises: Containing rowing, sailing, riding, driving, racing, hunting, shooting, and other manly sportsWalker, Donald
Science
Walker's manly exercises: Containing rowing, sailing, riding, driving, racing, hunting, shooting, and other manly sports
Walker, Donald
Athletics; Sports
The head should be upright, easy, and capable of free motion, right,
left, up, or down, without affecting the body. The body must be kept
erect and square to the front, having the breast projected, and
the stomach retracted, though not so as to injure either freedom
of respiration or ease of attitude. The shoulders should be kept
moderately and equally back and low; and the arms should hang
unconstrainedly by the sides. The balance on the limbs must be perfect.
The knees straight, and the toes turned out as described, the weight
of the body should be thrown forward, as this facilitates progression.
The military position in walking does not essentially differ from this,
except in points that exclusively regard the soldier; as that the head
be kept well up, and straight to the front, and the eyes not turned
to the right or left; the arms and hands kept perfectly steady by the
sides, and on no account suffered to move or vibrate: care, however,
being taken that the hand does not cling to the thigh, or partake in
the least degree of the movement of the limb.
THE BALANCE STEP.
The object of this is to teach the free movement of the limbs,
preserving at the same time perfect squareness of the shoulders, with
the utmost steadiness of body; and no labour is spared to attain
this first and most essential object, which forms, indeed, the very
foundation of good walking. The instructor must be careful that a habit
be not contracted of drooping or throwing back a shoulder at these
motions, which are intended practically to show the true principles of
walking, and that steadiness of body is compatible with perfect freedom
in the limbs.
1.--WITHOUT GAINING GROUND.
To insure precision, the military words of command are prefixed.
Caution--Balance step without gaining ground, commencing with the left
foot. The left foot is brought gently forward with the toe at the
proper angle to the left, the foot about three inches from the ground,
the left heel in line with the toe of the right foot.
Rear--When steady, the left foot is brought gently back (without a
jerk), the left knee a little bent, the left toe brought close to the
right heel. The left foot in this position will not be so flat as to
the front, as the toe will be a little depressed.
Front--When steady, the word Front will be given as above, and repeated
to the Rear three or four times.
Halt--To prevent fatigue, the word Halt will be given, when the left
foot, either advanced, or to the rear, will be brought to the right.
The instructor will afterwards cause the balance to be made on the left
foot, advancing and retiring the right in the same manner.
2.--GAINING GROUND BY THE WORD “FORWARD.”
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