{"id":2833,"date":"2017-06-03T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-06-03T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trifocusfitnessacademy.co.za\/history-personal-training\/"},"modified":"2024-05-20T09:53:00","modified_gmt":"2024-05-20T07:53:00","slug":"history-personal-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trifocusfitnessacademy.co.za\/personal-fitness-training-blog\/history-personal-training\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the History of Personal Training?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The history of personal training illustrates some fascinating themes. For example, one of these is the close relationship between personal training and soldiers getting themselves ready for\u00a0battles and war.\u00a0These threads\u00a0are still valid for us living in the 21st century. Take a look.<\/p>\n

The History of Personal Training<\/h2>\n

Fitness training – and not personal training –\u00a0dates back to the ancient Greeks. Says Michael Gautheier<\/a>:<\/p>\n

“Serious fitness training dates back to the ancient Greeks who trained and held athletic events such as the Olympic Games, which started in 776 B.C. Martial arts is also a form of training which dates back thousands of years. Personal training as a job did not come until much later …<\/p>\n

“Fitness and personal training made monumental advancements in the 1900s. Jack LaLanne, the Father of Modern Fitness motivated hundreds of thousands of Americans to get up and exercise. Through his television show as a fitness instructor and at his Bally gyms he inspired people to use exercise and lifestyle choices as preventative medicine.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Kettlebells and Personal Training<\/h2>\n

The oldest form of personal training can be found in the military as mentioned above. This is because soldiers need\u00a0to be fit and ready to go into battle at a moment’s notice. The value of the kettlebell has long been seen in military training. TSgt Philip Davis, RKC <\/a>attests to this:<\/p>\n

“No other single tool can provide the necessary training stimulus required for military personnel than the Russian kettlebell.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

There are many ways that you can use kettlebells to stay fit.\u00a0 The most well-known of these is the kettlebell one-arm swing. Here’s how to perform this exercise.<\/p>\n

How to set up the kettlebell one-arm swing<\/h3>\n
    \n
  • When you start this\u00a0exercise, make sure that your feet are placed in a way which allows you to generate the most power. (This is usually shoulder width or just outside shoulder width.)<\/li>\n
  • Ensure that the kettlebell is at a 45-degree angle.<\/li>\n
  • Grab the inside of the kettlebell with your left hand.<\/li>\n
  • Keep your head up. Fix\u00a0your eyes on the horizon.<\/li>\n
  • Make sure your back is always extended. Do this\u00a0by pulling in your core and retracting your shoulder blades.<\/li>\n
  • Push your hips back to get ready to swing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    How to perform the kettlebell one-arm swing<\/h3>\n
      \n
    • Drag the kettlebell back through your legs. Always bear in mind that it needs to be kept as close as possible to your groin. The kettlebell\u00a0should never be lower than your knees.<\/li>\n
    • As you pull the kettlebell back, turn your wrist so that your left thumb points behind you.<\/li>\n
    • When you cannot pull the kettlebell back any further, squeeze your glutes to generate enough power through your hips to swing the kettlebell.<\/li>\n
    • As you swing the kettlebell up, turn your wrist so that your thumb points up by the time the kettlebell is at your chest.\u00a0 Make sure you finish with your body in a straight line.<\/li>\n
    • Let the momentum bring the kettlebell back down between your legs. As\u00a0it comes down, turn your wrist so that your thumb points behind you.<\/li>\n
    • Repeat the swing. and alternate sides.
      \nSafety tips<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Four tips to remain safe during the kettlebell one-arm swing<\/h3>\n
        \n
      • Keep your shins almost vertical throughout the exercise. Ensure that your bum moves backwards and not downwards as it does in a squat.<\/li>\n
      • Keep your back straight but\u00a0not upright.<\/li>\n
      • Drive your feet into the ground.<\/li>\n
      • Ensure that the kettlebell does not dip lower than your knees.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Watch the video below for a demonstration of the kettlebell one-arm swing.<\/p>\n