Physical Culture generally refers to the exercise and health movements that originated in the late 19th Century in response to the "diseases of affluence" that the middle classes were succumbing to.
There were several systems of physical culture that used different means to reach the same end. The goal was a healthy body, but the tools used ranged from heavy gymnastics (parallel bars, pommel horses, etc), combat sports (such as fencing and wrestling) and - perhaps most famously - weight training - as advocated by the first bodybuilder: Eugen Sandow It is this aspect of Physical Culture that we will be most concerned with: the creation of a healthy, strong and aesthetic body.
Fast forward to the current day and athletic performance has surpassed the wildest dreams of the original physical culturists. The muscular development of Eugen Sandow, considered beyond exceptional in his time, are these days far-surpassed by many men in any gym you care to go into. So, if the physical development and performances of Sandow et al are more common-place now, surely this is a good thing and the gospel has been spread? Right?... Well, not really, no.
Something (everything) has been lost along the way. Previously unthinkable physical development has been achieved. The price? Health and aesthetics.
It's generally suggested that the Golden Era of Physical Culture was from around the late 1800's (Sandow) to about the early/mid 1960's (when anabolics started to permeate bodybuilding and strength competition) - and for the purposes of this blog, we'll go with that. Steroids, so legend has it, were created in the 30's under the direction of that scally-wag, Hitler. The truth is probably a lot more boring, but the fact remains it was around this time that the earliest steroids/synthetic testosterone were developed.
However, decades passed before the athletic benefits were really identified. BUT when the penny dropped, it dropped BIG!
Using the last commercial gym I attended as a case in point (although almost any gym would be the same) - there are 19 year old lads openly discussing anabolic cycles, pro-hormones, "roid-rage" and laughing about the "roid-raging-horn" they've been getting. These guys do achieve remarkable things in a short amount of time. Their physiques are cumbersome, unattractive and have a strange (lack-of) quality about them - but dammit they are benching over double-bodyweight, rocking 19" guns and abs - albeit bloaty abs. Unfortunately, they are also sporting pimply backs and shriveled genitalia.
They then face the choice: quit and salvage their health at the expense of the vast majority of their size or cycle on and off indefinitely and get bigger. And bigger. And bigger. Etc. Unsurprisingly, a lot go down the latter route and end up even more bloated, even more unattractive and worst of all, decidedly unhealthy.
All Is Not Lost!!
There are a few - a precious few - trainees who, knowingly or not, are true to the creed of the original Physical Culturists. They do not train purely for size. Weight training is not their only activity. They do not employ performance enhancing drugs or endlessly gorge themselves on 400g+ of protein per day and allow themselves to get fat while they 'bulk'. They train for health, vitality and aesthetics.
They may primarily lift weights, but they also play sports; run; walk and eat a diet that, while altered to suit their current goal, is fundamentally healthy. They are not immune to congenital defects or disease, but they will fight these things far more successfully and the quality of their lives will be far greater.
They will likely not suffer the effects of depression. The discipline they have developed along with their bodies will benefit them in their professional lives. They will not dread going to the beach or having their photos taken and will be the person you want around when the proverbial hits the fan.
And it is the ranks of these precious few that modern Physical Culturists should aspire to join. Soon, I shall share with you how.
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