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John Peterson
01-15-2009, 04:39 PM
Hey Friends,

In an earlier post I had mentioned that although the exercises were 100% identical in the original Charles Atlas Course from 1922 to the subsequent Course that was renamed "Dynamic Tension" in late 1929, (absolute marketing genius in that name) there were a few editorial differences between the two courses, as well as the fact that the early course featured no photos (or drawings for that matter) as did the later version. A perfect example of the editorial difference is to be found in the final lesson, "EXERCISES FOR PERPETUAL DAILY PRACTICE".

This is word for word what the first paragraph states;

"To get the maximum benefits and most satisfactory results from this System some of the exercises should be carried out faithfully all through life. You have gotten into the habit of exercising regularly and by this time noticed its splendid value. But now for the REAL Health and Muscle Building work! No matter how many times you do these exercises there is absolutely no fear of straining yourself. I, myself, do each of these exercises 200 times every day-"

Once again, the exercises are identical to the later course that we all know and love. They include:
1) Atlas Push-Ups 2) Sit-Ups (chin touching knees) 3) Leg Raise (toes touch floor above head) 4) Squats
5) Side Bends (hands behind head) 6) Atlas Self Resistance Curls 7) Atlas Neck Sequence (forward/backward, side-to-side, complete circular movement) 8) Toe Raises for Calves

I highlighted the first paragraph because it is worded completely differently from the later course. And it also tells you the reps that Mr. Atlas himself stated that he practiced.

---John Peterson

ShrinkingGuy
01-15-2009, 04:55 PM
Thanks John.

I purchased his course out of the back of a magazine in ... I am guessing '79.
I always wondered about his reps.

That is great info. I am going to print that out and bind it to my copy of his course.

John Peterson
01-15-2009, 07:11 PM
Hey Shrinking Guy,

I'm glad you enjoyed it my friend. It does outline some worthy long term goals.

---John Peterson

chris64
01-15-2009, 07:27 PM
I hadnt realised the perpetual lesson was included from the very beginning of the courses existence. It will be interesting to see how the course progressed through the decades as Johns posts on this continue.

Andy62
01-15-2009, 07:53 PM
The course was revolutionary at the time,but I dare say it would not have had the impact on so many lives and on the physical culture industry that it has if it had remained in it's original form. Atlas remained open to new ideas concerning the course and new advertising and promotional ideas that kept the course in the forefront even as other courses sank into obscurity. Every new partner and every modification involved a certain degree of change and risk. Atlas had learned how to adapt too and embrace change based on the principles that he had learned from Alois P. Swoboda.

John Peterson
01-16-2009, 08:26 AM
Hey Friends,

I completely agree with what our friend Andy62, has stated. And one of the reasons that Mr. Atlas's exercises never changed during the entire time that The Atlas Dynamic Tension Course was so popular from 1922 to 1972(and in the years since then) was because Mr. Atlas got it right the first time.


---John Peterson

MikeNY
01-16-2009, 10:31 AM
hank you John the old course interests me, and I agree Atlas got it right the first time. It is fascinating that Swoboda and Mcfadden both were doing physcial therpy and must have been among the first in that field. DVR and DSR are brothers and follow the same logic.

gs300tx
01-16-2009, 12:31 PM
Whoa...200 dsr curls everyday?? I wonder with how much tension..

John Peterson
01-16-2009, 12:38 PM
Hey gs300tx,


I don't know the answer but I can imagine that since the triceps of the opposite arm pressing down supplied the resistance to the biceps pulling up, that his arms experienced one incredible 'pump' from performing 100 reps per arm. After all, how could you not.

---John Peterson

gs300tx
01-16-2009, 01:15 PM
I wonder if he divided them up into sets or just did 100 all at once. Either way I think that tension used could not have been that great other wise he would have had the risk of going to failure which I know is something that he never advocated.