History of Physical Fitness in Asian CultureBY ASHLEY KOEPPEN

History of Physical Fitness in all Cultures

Fitness has been around for centuries. Way back in time, people didn’t look at exercising to just work

out and get physically in shape and fit, but was also looked as a way of life.

Even though back then people didn’t have the appropriate machinery to workout in, the majority were still in better shape than our time today (artofmanliness.com).

For this presentation, I will show how Asian culture handled physical fitness and how that impacted on their culture and society.

Definition of Physical Fitness So what is physical

fitness exactly? According to healthy-

galaxy.com, physical fitness is defined as the state of general well being, physically sound and healthy, along with mental stability.

The History China and Physical Fitness In China (2500-250 B.C.), people urged others to

engage in developing structured routine of physical activity (healthpsycology.com).

Chinese people thought inactivity could lead to serious illnesses such as organ malfunctions, but it can be avoided with a little exercise.

The beliefs with the growth of Kung Fu gymnastics promoted a healthy body, along with sound and physical condition.

Kung Fu training programs involved movements and expressions of animal fighting behaviors.

Kung Fu also related to wrestling, badminton, archery, and dancing.

Current Physical Fitness in China

To promote physical fitness nationwide, the State Physical Culture Administration promotes more people will engage in fitness activities as a voluntary part of their daily routine under a Nationwide Physical Fitness Program established in 1995 that aims to improve the health and overall physical condition of the general population (china.org.cn).

At least one sport a da, which includes hiking, swimming, skiing and other winter sports, badminton, volleyball, gymnastics, Taijiquan (also known as shadow boxing) and other forms of martial arts, and table tennis.

Sources

https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=wHNYmEgl&id=8CD70A69B5CDB15D40D3E76897415834D120E5BD&q=kung+fu&simid=608041291727110643&selectedIndex=4&ajaxhist=0

https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=xH034Ly6&id=D9C5F283AEDB6ABAE365B33FDA7E80C46E333771&q=physical+fitness&simid=608031705358336981&selectedIndex=1&ajaxhist=0

https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=nQaam6ek&id=08DDB43114A7E55CDB12B66C1AAD9C55793B7328&q=quotes+about+exercising+in+china&simid=607990362003014289&selectedindex=187&mode=overlay&first=1&thid=OIP.M9d069a9ba7a47369267389ff1e2ee485o0

china.org.cn/english/features/china2004/107193.htm http://www.artofmanliness.com/2014/09/24/the-history-of-physic

al-fitness/ http://healthpsychology.org/fitness-a-historical-journey-in-time/