1899 German Iron Wand Fitness Routine, "The Finest Ever Put Together" - Getting Back in Shape E20

Join us as we explore the iron wand (or staff) exercises of 19th century Germany and German America. This video was made as part of the ongoing "Getting Back in Shape with 19th Century Historical Exercises" series, all of which can be viewed here:
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SPECIAL DISCLAIMER:
The motions and the positions done with the legs in this particular video require specific technique and joint alignment to prevent injury. The scope of this video does not include actual instruction in these techniques and the many nuances that they contain, which would take a much longer and more detailed video. So, I do not recommend that anyone attempt to copy or replicate these exercises on their own by simply watching the video. We will be putting more information up on our Patreon which pertain to the specifics of performing the techniques safely and correctly:
/ physicalculturehistorians
FULL DISLAIMER:
This series is for historical interest only. It is not intended to be instructional, and is not a replacement for a qualified instructor or therapist who can guide, observe and correct you in person. The original historical directions for these exercises, which are not fully quoted and explored in the video, are very precise-the positioning, alignment of the joints, feet, hands, etc.. And if you get that wrong, it’s definitely possible to injure yourself.
This video is an EXPERIMENT, and many of these historical methods are as of yet untested in modern times. I don’t even know if I’m going to recommend them myself after practicing them for weeks or months. It is possible they could lead to injury.
I have and will be using the actual antique apparatus intended for these methods. I can tell you that if you swap out the five pound steel wand (crafted to historical specs) that you see me use in these videos with heavy modern mass-produced apparatus, such as modern mace, gada, or heavier metal bars, it is definitely possible (if not probable) to injure yourself. And it is possible to injure yourself even if using the correct apparatus, used incorrectly or without extreme presence of mind.
For all of these reasons I caution you not to try to follow along and do these exercises at home, but to perform such exercises only under the supervision of a qualified and experienced instructor or master. For the benefit of viewers, I will be linking to such instructors and masters in some of these videos, if they exist.

[@PhysicalCultureHistorians]

Want to help support this channel? Visit our Patreon for added benefits: www.patreon.com/Physicalculturehistorians Check out my books on Amazon: www.amazon.com/Ben-Miller/e/B0722KCH5Y Click the "subscribe" button above. Thanks!

[@sillig1763]

Came for the club swinging. Stayed for the fitness education. Really enjoyed this video. Never seen anything like it.

[@PhysicalCultureHistorians]

Thanks for the kind words, and for sticking around! More to come soon! 🙏

[@sillig1763]

@@PhysicalCultureHistorians Superimposing the historical photos on the video as they appear was really effective. Brought them to life again in a very compelling manner. Made a lot more sense than isolated in print. Keep up the good work!

[@PhysicalCultureHistorians]

@@sillig1763 thank you kindly--will do!

[@jio-lito]

These classes should be brought back. If Zumba and trampoline classes are still around, this should definitely be available at gyms.

[@PhysicalCultureHistorians]

I’m available for hire to both teach and consult. :)

[@dafrog491]

He fights like a Gentleman!

[@mnnic4292]

You are an artist. Thank you.

[@PhysicalCultureHistorians]

Wow, thank you!🙏 Appreciate the kind words!

[@fredazcarate4818]

Indeed Sir I thoroughly enjoyed your video lecture, and presentation on the German Wand and its exercise techniques. I have to incorporate them along with my Swedish Gymnastics routine. May I add that my grandfather would be greatly impressed. And my mother, who is close ninety years of age, would have broad smile. Once again thank you Sir for your diligent efforts in the preservation of exercise culture.

[@erto8229]

Thank you for preserving this wonderful part of our history! 🏆🙏🏻

[@PhysicalCultureHistorians]

Thanks so much for the kind words… I endeavor to do so!

[@danedralin8064]

Glad you found some new content to post. Love the channel

[@PhysicalCultureHistorians]

Glad you enjoy it! Thanks, and more to come!

[@MagnaLyceum]

Great video!

[@PhysicalCultureHistorians]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you!

[@OliverJanseps]

You could have gave a hint to my channel for more iron wand 😉 Now I do this myself 😅 But anyway; good video as usual 👏 thanks for the research 👍

[@stefanschleps8758]

We come for a visit, we stayed for the wand!

[@PhysicalCultureHistorians]

Ha, sorry Oliver, didn’t mean to forget about you… I was very immersed in Pertuch for this one! As always, please feel free to post any links you want here! Thanks for the kind words! 🙏

[@davidmastro5406]

Great work as usual, Ben.

[@PhysicalCultureHistorians]

Thanks Dave!

[@TheLeanBerets]

Excellent research and sharing again Ben!

[@PhysicalCultureHistorians]

Thanks so much Ron! 🙏

[@stefanschleps8758]

So, this is how the Pyramids were built! 🤔

[@PhysicalCultureHistorians]

Exactly! 😀

[@jcalz216]

Lovely content as always, Ben. And if I might make a suggestion for a future video, look into Indian wrestlers, or Pehlwani, specifically the well-known Ghulam “the Great Gama” Mohammed and his influence on Bruce Lee half a century later. It would, I think, go well alongside your forthcoming videos on the ancient Greeks’ Medicalized School of Gymnastics, especially since Pehr Henrik Ling was similarly reconstructing methods learned of only second- and oftentimes third-hand.

[@25inspector]

As a person who has exercised, played sports and done martial arts for most of my life I really am enjoying your channel, exploring the history of physical culture. I especially like the way you sometimes are dressed in period clothing. Where did you find such clothing? Did you have it made for you? Keep up the wonderful work of helping us learn of the history of physical culture. Thank you.

[@michielblok9224]

Awsom

[@rodrigue.v-o]

Thank you Sir ! 🙂

[@PhysicalCultureHistorians]

You’re most welcome, thanks for watching!

[@igorshak5736]

Well done

[@PhysicalCultureHistorians]

Thank you most kindly! 🙏

[@terencefree]

Wonderful, Bravo👏👏

[@PhysicalCultureHistorians]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@fechtbodenzimmermann3418]

Great video as always, Ben! Hadn´t heard about Pertuch before, Jäger is normally the first name that comes to mind regarding the iron wand. Very nice sequence, I can see why it received so much praise.

[@PhysicalCultureHistorians]

Thanks very much Tobias! I’ve tried to dig up all I can on Pertuch. Most of his career as a Turner seems to be in the USA, particularly Cincinnati and Philadelphia, where all his material was published as well. I’m not sure he was even known in Germany, despite the fact that (I believe) his training was there. Curiously enough, this exercise was published as a booklet in the German language, and there seems to be only one copy of it in existence, at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana.

[@leestevenson1236]

Bravo 👏 👏 👏

[@PhysicalCultureHistorians]

Thanks! 🙏

[@Davlavi]

Interesting.

[@grenade8572]

It would be fun to try some choregraphies. I'm really curious to know the difficulty of this, compared to the modern aerobic. I would like too to try this with modern sport clothes, that are strechy and therefore allows bigger range of motion. Where can we find the choregraphys' books? Or, at least, can you give some authors' names?

[@PhysicalCultureHistorians]

The author of the routines in this video is Richard Pertuch. FYI, we make lots of high resolution scans and PDFs with the original routines available on our Patreon! www.patreon.com/Physicalculturehistorians

[@LackofEthics]

Will you make a video like this for clubs?

[@PhysicalCultureHistorians]

Sure!

[@normanquednau]

Wow😊thats interesting! I will try them out with a iron wand. You can increase the difficulty with thicker material. There is a whole new category of exercises; you can play with creativity. How would do this look like if you do the movements in a flowing manner? I tried some of these movements with my steel mace. Thats hard

[@PhysicalCultureHistorians]

Thanks so much for the kind words! These exercises are designed for a 5 pound wand, but I have heard of wands in the four to seven pound range, and have in one place seen reference to a nine pound wand. These exercises were not intended for a mace, so I’m not sure how that would go. I would be concerned about joint damage in the long term. You would definitely have to modify them, but I’m not sure how as I don’t own a mace and have experimented with that.

[@thecuriousquest]

Do you know of an appropriate method of sizing a wand to its user? Thanks for the video!

[@PhysicalCultureHistorians]

It depends on the particular historical wand method. For this one (Pertuch’s), he just has everyone use a 5 lb, 42 inch wand.

[@thecuriousquest]

@@PhysicalCultureHistorians thanks for the zippy reply! Amazing history! Thanks for doing the research! 💪

[@williamcryts5337]

Is there a brand of iron wand being sold?

[@MrSphinchee]

I'm wondering if the movements should be more forceful and less fluid

[@PhysicalCultureHistorians]

I tried it like that and many different ways before settling on this method of execution. The method of execution in the video is according to the historical directions and also mirroring the firsthand accounts of this exercise. The problem with doing it more forcefully, and less fluidly, is that given the weight of the iron wand, the “snappiness” of the motion will put unpleasant wear and tear on your joints which will lead to long term injury. I actually tried it this way for a few weeks as an experiment, and was like, “yeah, no.” :)

[@PhysicalCultureHistorians]

More forceful movements, however, can be and were done with the light wooden wand. You can view our other previous videos on that.

[@mekugi]

What in the hell? Learn to box.

[@PhysicalCultureHistorians]

I actually learned to box about 20 years ago at the Police Athletic League in Harlem, NYC. Why do you say that?