Indian clubs
Encyclopedia
Indian clubs belong to a category of exercise (and juggling
) equipment that was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Europe, the British Commonwealth
and the United States
. They comprise bowling-pin shaped wooden "clubs" of varying sizes and weights, which are swung in certain patterns as part of an exercise program. They can range from a few pounds each, up to special clubs that can weigh as much as 50 pounds. They were used in carefully choreographed routines where the clubs were swung in unison by a group of exercisers, led by an instructor in the front, similar to modern aerobics
classes. The routines varied according to the group's ability and the weight of the clubs used.
Indian clubs derive their name from the much larger and heavier objects of similar shape traditionally used by martial artists and pehlwani
wrestlers in India
to train for strength. The practice of swinging such clubs to develop physical fitness was first recorded in ancient Egypt
and the Middle East
. It was introduced to England by British soldiers who were stationed in India during the 19th century.
They were exceptionally popular during the health craze of the late Victorian era
, used by military cadets and well-heeled ladies alike, and even appeared as a gymnastic event in the 1904
and 1932 Olympics
. Gymnasiums were built just to cater to club exercise groups. The popularity of the Indian Club waned in the 1920s and 1930s as organized sports became more popular. Regimented exercise routines, like those requiring Indian clubs, were relegated to professional athletes and the military, who had access to more effective and modern strength training
equipment.
While torches and other sticklike objects have been used in juggling
for centuries, the modern juggling club
was inspired by the Indian club, which was first repurposed for juggling by DeWitt Cook in the 1800s
.
There are current physical fitness enthusiasts who have revived the popularity of Indian clubs in the modern day, citing the aerobic exercise
and safety advantages over traditional free weight regimens. There are nostalgic replicas of the original clubs being manufactured, as well as modern engineering updates to the concept, such as the Clubbell.
Juggling
Juggling is a skill involving moving objects for entertainment or sport. The most recognizable form of juggling is toss juggling, in which the juggler throws objects up to catch and toss up again. This may be one object or many objects, at the same time with one or many hands. Jugglers often refer...
) equipment that was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Europe, the British Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. They comprise bowling-pin shaped wooden "clubs" of varying sizes and weights, which are swung in certain patterns as part of an exercise program. They can range from a few pounds each, up to special clubs that can weigh as much as 50 pounds. They were used in carefully choreographed routines where the clubs were swung in unison by a group of exercisers, led by an instructor in the front, similar to modern aerobics
Aerobics
Aerobics is a form of physical exercise that combines rhythmic aerobic exercise with stretching and strength training routines with the goal of improving all elements of fitness...
classes. The routines varied according to the group's ability and the weight of the clubs used.
Indian clubs derive their name from the much larger and heavier objects of similar shape traditionally used by martial artists and pehlwani
Pehlwani
Pehlwani or Pahlavani or Kushti is a Persian style of wrestling popular in Iran, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. It was developed in the Mughal era through a synthesis of Indian malla-yuddha and Persian Varzesh-e Bastani....
wrestlers in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
to train for strength. The practice of swinging such clubs to develop physical fitness was first recorded in ancient Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. It was introduced to England by British soldiers who were stationed in India during the 19th century.
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
, used by military cadets and well-heeled ladies alike, and even appeared as a gymnastic event in the 1904
Gymnastics at the 1904 Summer Olympics
At the 1904 Summer Olympics, eleven gymnastics events were contested, all for men only.The 1904 Games had a confusing program of events spread out over several months, and the gymnastics competition was no different...
and 1932 Olympics
Gymnastics at the 1932 Summer Olympics
At the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, eleven events in gymnastics were contested, all for men only. The competitions were held from Monday, August 8, 1932 to Friday, August 12, 1932.-Medal summary:-Participating nations:...
. Gymnasiums were built just to cater to club exercise groups. The popularity of the Indian Club waned in the 1920s and 1930s as organized sports became more popular. Regimented exercise routines, like those requiring Indian clubs, were relegated to professional athletes and the military, who had access to more effective and modern strength training
Strength training
Strength training is the use of resistance to muscular contraction to build the strength, anaerobic endurance, and size of skeletal muscles. There are many different methods of strength training, the most common being the use of gravity or elastic/hydraulic forces to oppose muscle contraction...
equipment.
While torches and other sticklike objects have been used in juggling
Juggling
Juggling is a skill involving moving objects for entertainment or sport. The most recognizable form of juggling is toss juggling, in which the juggler throws objects up to catch and toss up again. This may be one object or many objects, at the same time with one or many hands. Jugglers often refer...
for centuries, the modern juggling club
Juggling club
Juggling clubs, or simply clubs are a prop used by jugglers, as are other props such as balls or rings. A typical club is in the range of long, weighs between , is slim at the "handle" end, and has its center of balance nearer the wider "body" end...
was inspired by the Indian club, which was first repurposed for juggling by DeWitt Cook in the 1800s
History of juggling
This page lists many dates in which juggling has been recorded throughout history from 1994 BC to 1947 AD.thumbnail|250px|This [[Egypt]]ian wall painting This page lists many dates in which juggling has been recorded throughout history from 1994 BC to 1947 AD.thumbnail|250px|This [[Egypt]]ian wall...
.
There are current physical fitness enthusiasts who have revived the popularity of Indian clubs in the modern day, citing the aerobic exercise
Aerobic exercise
Aerobic exercise is physical exercise of relatively low intensity that depends primarily on the aerobic energy-generating process. Aerobic literally means "living in air", and refers to the use of oxygen to adequately meet energy demands during exercise via aerobic metabolism...
and safety advantages over traditional free weight regimens. There are nostalgic replicas of the original clubs being manufactured, as well as modern engineering updates to the concept, such as the Clubbell.
External links
- Modern Club Swinging and Pole Spinning: Free Downloadable Book
- Club Swinging Bibliography
- Indian Club Exercise, by Sim D. Kehoe, 1866
- Documentary video of Iranian Club Swinging
- Exercises with Clubs, by Dio Lewis, M.D., 1862
- Indian Club Exercises from Athletic Sports for Boys, by Dick and Fitzgerald, 1866
- Dick's Indian-Club Exercises, 1887
- Gymnastic Nomenclature for Apparatus and Indian Club Movements, 1949
- The Clubbell: The Indian Club Reappears, 2003
- Videos of large club swinging.