Rhythmic Exercises (1950)

[Music] here's a demonstration of a warm-up drill that everyone will enjoy these fellas are doing their daily dozens and having fun doing them they're building the muscles of their bodies developing good habits of posture improving their coordination or body control rhythmic exercise calls for natural continuously flowing movements involving all the muscles of the body alternately relaxing and Contracting them rhythm is the foundation of all body movement and in rhythms the entire body participates as you can see these fellows are not professionals and they haven't had a lot of practice the exercises they're doing may look complicated but they're really quite simple we're going to see what they are and how the boys learn to do them but first let's watch for a moment [Music] the boys start by taking a side stride position as the instructor counts arms fall in a natural swing like this 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 here's the same exercise in slow motion on the count of one the arms swing down and then up to cross in front of the chest on two they are swung out to the side one two 3 4 1 2 3 4 the starting position for the next exercise is the same as for the first one as the boys swing their arms they Bend and straighten their knees notice that they don't lock their knees on the upward movement 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 watch one boy do it alone one two three 4 on the one count knees are bent and arms are crossed on two knees straighten and arms are horizontal one two 3 4 1 1 2 3 4 next the boys add a full arm Circle starting as they did before they repeat the first exercise to a four count then with A continuous movement they add full arm circles like this 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 here's our solo performer one 2 3 4 5 6 7 eight 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 eight our next exercise starts as always from our original position we're going to do the trunk bending and bobbing now as the body bends to one side the hand on that side is placed on the hip while the opposite arm half encircles the head first it's one side then the other watch the exercise in slow motion notice that he bends to his left left for four counts bending and returning partway between counts then he bends to the right and repeats the procedure the trunk is relaxed and the hips shift with each Bob now let's see what we've learned so far each exercise starts with a half arm Circle swing to that we add the knee dip the full arm Circle the trunk Bend to the left and the trunk Bend to the right watch it again 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 the next exercise is a forward bend with trunk bobbing as they Bob they touch the left toe floor right toe and return arms and trunk are relaxed 1 2 3 4 toe floor toe return 1 2 3 4 toe floor toe return 1 2 3 4 toe floor toe return after the four half arm circles the head is thrown back and the arms are thrown out and up on the count of one on two the trunk Bobs down on the forward band the knees are kept straight 1 2 3 four toe floor toe return half arm circles and knee dip again watch it now arms are bent at shoulder level fists are cleansed and the trunk is Twisted right return left return with arms out on the last count arms go out and trunk return simultaneously 1 2 3 four twist return twist return 1 2 3 4 twist return twist returns one two three four twist return twist return one two two three four twist return twist return the next to last exercise is a jumping jack movement it goes like this on each count the arms swing full circle they are crossed overhead as the feet are off the ground one 2 3 4 jump jump jump jump one 2 3 4 jump jump jump jump here it is in slow motion one 2 three four jum jum gum gum one two three 4um gum gum gum and here's the final exercise in the series starting from their original positions the boys do the arm swing and knee dip to a four count then on one they let their arms come full circles and when their arms are over their heads they make a quarter turn to the right another on two another on three and four brings them back to their original position jump jump jump jump one two three four jump jump jump jump now for the last time 1 2 3 G four gum gum gum gum 1 2 three 4 gum gum gum gum and the series is complete [Music] in rhythmic exercise Unity or totality of movement is the goal it's exercise with continuity and sequence demanding the participation of the entire body acting in a coordinated way here is rhythm Grace balance Precision excellent training for the development of teamwork better posture and improved body tone rhythmic exercise is good for you it's it's interesting it's easy to do and it's fun try it you'll like it [Music]