PHYSICAL STRENGTH

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 16 June 1928, Page 13

PHYSICAL STRENGTH

NATURAL AND ACQUIRED.

SELF-TAUGHT WEIGHT LIFTERS,

(By “Physical Culturist.”;

Some men are born strong and some men become strong. Some there are who, endowed with strong constitution, do not .realise the blessing they have inherited and. sap their strength by careless living. 1 have kn.wn men naturally gifted with physical stregth who have by judicious training become famous the world over; others, who gave early promise of excelling have merely wasted their precious heritage and drifted into premature old age. Of the latter I could count by the dozen, but it would serve no good purpose, so 1, .will turn to the brighter side. I have known youths anything but robust who have by steady .application and rational living made themselves fit to pose as living statu.ory. I have known others, just ordinary youths, -with an average physique on leaving school, wlh> have had their .ambition fired by the feats of some athlete who has appeared to public view. Many have graduated from physical culture schools. Some have studied under one system ; some have studied and practised another, generally to the one end, better health and increased strength. Once in a while one will give closer study aud consistent practice, ever with the view to make the best, of nature’s gift until finally be surpasses his fellows. Staying at Hawera at present is Mr J. Davidson Baxter who, with his partner, Mr Cardston, is producing the forthcoming production of the Hawera Operatic Society. Mr Baxter’s association with physical culture should prove an inspiration to healthy minded youths just launching out on life's journey and aptly illustrates what one may do. bv steady application of Will power and rational exercise. Air Baxter who .is a native ot Scotland, arrived in Sunny Nelson when still .a school Doy, concluding his education at Nelson College, where he was always prominent in football. He started his career in the literary and printing world and migrating to Wellington, he came in contact with a man who afterwards became the champion lightweight lifter of Australasia, H. Sass. The bond of friendship between the two resulted m Air Baxter commencing training in athletics and sport of every description, taking training quite seriously. The two, young men made Petone their home to be adjacent to the beach, where training could be undertaken seriously and with a degree of privacy. Under the guidance of Air Sass, Air Baxter commenced to train in weight-lifting, commending ou the bar bell and with careful fytudy of breathing exercises his prowess was most marked. By diligent training his average weekly increase in lifting was 51b®. The remarkable feature of their training was that Air Sass’® only tutor were books on physical culture, comprising breathing exercises, muscle control and weightlifting. They studied and practised live as well as dead weight-lifting, becoming expert tumblers and hand balancers. One feat was the human bent press, in which Air Sass would, with one hand, press his partner from bis shoulder to arms length above the head. The difficulty of this feat will be recognised when it is considered the difference between the grip of a barbell shaft of liin diameter and the grip of the human body. Another difficult stunt was the hand to hand balance overhead at which these two friends were adepts. I have had the pleasure of viewing some photos of these stunts actually being performed. After about twelve month's training both men found they were in practice belating Australasian records. At this time and still sticking to an old love, Mr Baxter represented Wellington against Auckland at football. Boxing also claimed his attention. But after a- year or so at the noble art he retired from boxing for good. A feature of his training, which stands him well to-day, was his mastery of muscle control, which, with Ills careful attention to breathing exercises has iprincipally made him the fit' man lie is, not knowing a day',s illness. Still in his twenties and after rejecting offers to tour with Air Sass, Air Baxte. I joined forces ivith Air Cards ton, seven years ago, this successful partnership still existing. Th© following cutting from the Sydney “Referee,” speaks for itself o.f the success of his teacher and trainer, Air Siass: “The following records were established at- Fitzroy on Alay .‘ll and June 5. The most noteworthy event was the splendid lifting by H. Sass, a visitor from New Zealand. Like your fine lifter, Lyon®, Sass came specially to Alelhourne to attempt records under the supervision of the officials here. He is a. very clean lifter. His arm action particularly in the one hand swing, was very fine. This feat usually is -a very hard lift to judge correctly. Alany attempt® have been disallowed owing to the arm becoming bent d iring the elevation of the weight.” A NATURAL STRONG A!AN.

Some forty-five years ago Wanganui could boast of some powerful men. Not the weakest of these was Con. O'Leary. There were several O’Leary.s in the neighbourhood, some I. remember well were Con, Neddy, Jerry and Jack —each one was good for a Leave. Jerry for years was caretaker of the racecourse. We athletes all knew Jerry. In those days the usual tiling was to train cm the racecourse' and rub down under the trees. Some times we would get harassed from pillar to 'post, or more correctly from track to trees. Jerry used to. take great pains to get the course in good order for the races. At such times woo betide the peil who ran on tire course proper with spiked slices. Once iu a while .a ped would sneak in, remove the outriggers and run a trial half mile next the tails. Then the fat would he in the lire, lor the next runner who would make bis appearance. The instructions would be to take the middle truing track —rough as cobble stones

Ait all other times Jerry would lie in the host of humours. One ol tin- boys. Billy Arnett, was fancied by sonic ol bis pals as some wrestler. He bad thrown all the, peds who could be induced to wrestle with him. Someone readied up for Jerry to get into holts with Billy, well knowing what would happen. No one else knew the caretaker was near heavyweight, championship class at Cumberland. AYo all . gathered round expecting to sec our man as usual come off top dog. Jerry, however, proved a tough proposition, having all two stone the best, of the weights besides a better knowledge of the game. Several times Billy seemed to have his man all but down to the joy of his supporters, but as often would Jerry appear to recover safety, apparently by .superior strength until'finally O’Leary thinking the bout Iliad lasted long enough, changing his tactics of passive resistor, suddenly became aggressive. With a quick movement he cross buttocked Arnott arid laid him gently down. Billy, fond of a joke himself, took it lilec. a sport. Subsequently wo loarned a good deal about wrestling from good natured Jerry,

who was always willing to peel off his coat and 1 tryout an embryo wrestler. Clou. O’Leary was a well known contractor. lie Is reputed to have- made a wager that lie would carry eight hundredweight over a ehiajin. .1 did not actually witness this leaf, but 1 have every confidence ill my iniol mauts. His method was to stand erect and get an assistant to coil a length of cable round bis neck ami over bis shoulders allowing it to hang evenly down bade and front. Then maintaining bis upright position, istop over the measured distance. He won the wager and there were drinks all round.