Dynamic tension

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Dynamic tension is the system of exercises popularized by Charles Atlas.

1 History and Description
2 Criticism
3 Users
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] History and Description

Dynamic tension is a self resistance exercise method of pitting muscle against muscle. The practitioner tenses the muscles of given body part and then moves the body part against the tension as if a heavy weight was being lifted. Dynamic tension exercises date back to a 6th century A.D. Shaolin monastery where the Indian monk Bodhidharma, also called Da mo, developed what were at that time called the Yi Jin Jing exercises.

The term “Dynamic Tension” was popularized by Charles Alas who registered the term as a trademark. Atlas learned dynamic tension exercises from Alois Swoboda and then helped make this system of exercise popular through the mail order marketing of his exercise course which he named Dynamic Tension. Several other physical culturists of Atlas' generation also utilized and promoted this type of exercise. The exercises continue to be popular today among martial artists (see for example, Dynamic Strength by Harry Wong) and a small but growing number of "old school" physical culturists¹.

A common misconception is that Dynamic Tension exercises are isometric exercises. Since they call for movement they cannot be considered isometrics. Harry Wong has referred to Dynamic Tension exercises as “flowing isometrics”.

These exercises not only build strength, size, definition and endurance, but also make it nearly impossible for one to be injured as one's muscles provide the force, and as they tire, so does the force used decrease. It does not stop there however, because as a person grows stronger, the exercise becomes more intense. It is an extremely safe and productive form of exercise.

Some professional bodybuilders consider dynamic tension an excellent system for introducing starters to bodybuilding, but believe results tend to level off at which point one should move on to a more advanced course^{[citation needed]}. These results they refer to are only aesthetic, however; in common perception, practioners of this system have a more "natural" build to them than a bodybuilder with a Mr. Olympia-type physique.

[edit] Criticism

This system generally leads to rapid expansion of muscle, but critics have argued that it is not as good as an apparatus system^{[citation needed]}. (It should be noted, however, that these critics are people who are trying to sell their apparatus systems, or are otherwise involved or have never done the course for more than a week or month.^{[citation needed]})

Charles Atlas won a court case, in which a competitor, Bob Hoffman of York Barbell Company, claimed it was impossible to build muscle without an apparatus. However Atlas did lose a court case for false advertising as he implied that his course could give others his physique in only 10 days.^{[citation needed]} That particular court case is arguable as Charles Atlas stated that he would prove to the individual in 7 days that physical improvement through his methods are possible, not that they would get his physique in that short span of time).

[edit] Users

Famous people who have used the system are Joe Dimaggio, Joe Louis and Tony Sansone.

There is a misconception that Charles Atlas used weights to gain his strength. While he tried "all forms" of exercise, he stated that weights did not give him the results he wanted, so he continued trying different exercises and concluded which ones worked better for him and gave him better health and strength. In the end he put all the exercises that helped him to become "The World's Most Perfectly Developed Man" into his Dynamic Tension course.