Alois P. Swoboda
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Alois P. Swoboda (1873-1938) was a pioneer of American Physical Culture at the turn of the century. His revolutionary course "Conscious Evolution" who supposedly inspired many of America's leaders during that period in government, business, entertainment, law, athletics and medicine.
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[edit] Arrival in America
Alois P. Swoboda immigrated to the U.S. in 1881 with his father, Adolf Swoboda. They settled in Omaha, Nebraska and worked in one of South Omaha's meat packing houses.
[edit] Early success
Alois had an uncle, Louis Swoboda, who was a medical doctor in Omaha. Alois learned a great deal about medicine and the human body from his uncle.
[edit] Training methods
He developed a mind/body training technique that used the mind to provide the resistance necessary to develop both physical strength and mental strength at the same time. No equipment or apparatus was used. The resistance was developed either by pitting one muscle against the other or by pushing or pulling against imagined resistance. Charles Atlas has been said to be a student of this method but there is no proof of said claim.
[edit] Famous students
Bob Hoffman, founder of the York Barbell Company and legendary US Olympic Weightlifting Coach, said his father had one of the best builds that he had ever seen and he got that way using the Swoboda Course. The exercises in the Swoboda Course were the first exercise practiced by Bob Hoffman.
It is claimed that Swoboda's students were some of the most influential and prominent people of his day: US Supreme Court Justice Charles Evans Hughes, Charles Atlas and Roycrofter Elbert Hubbard. No proof of this claim has yet come forth nor been substantiated. Thats not to say it doesn't exist but given the snake oil salesman types of ad copy during that era it is highly dubious.
Also from TIME Magazine, Swoboda was stopped from fleecing his students "Alois P. Swoboda, mass-advertising "culture rhythm" man, was enjoined in Brooklyn from selling oil stock to members of his cult by a letter describing one "Dahlgran," alleged oil well locater. Eighteen months ago, Dr. Swoboda took in $70,000 for the stock; no oil has yet appeared. Said the letter: "This man Dahlgran through his power is to serve Swoboda and Swobodians. Dahlgran has located for me what he considers a very extensive oil pool ... and is positive that the first well will be an enormous gusher. ... I personally do not care for wealth for my own sake, but merely to aid Swobodians.""
