Gymnastic Exercises
To develop in all of them power, vigor, and endurance, the groups of large muscles of the back, chest, abdomen, and legs are improved by setting-up exercises, dumb-bells, and wands, jumping, climbing, and lastly by apparatus work. This class of exercises is reserved until the muscles have been more or less controlled and respond to the will, for the execution depends not so much upon muscular effort as it does upon agility. It would never do to start in green men on the apparatus work, because there would soon result broken legs and arms. This work is hard enough for those lacking “muscle sense,” even after many months of preliminary exercises.
Included in the schedule for the first year’s work is instruction in the saber and the foils, but as the amount of time that can be devoted to these branches of instruction is limited, only the most elementary features of the arts can be taught. An opportunity, however, is afforded cadets to perfect themselves in the use of both the saber and the foil after regular hours. During the winter months, when the vigorous weather requires a suspension of outdoor drilling, the fencing master gives individual lessons to those who desire to take them. The volunteers are formed into a squad known as the Fencing Squad, from which are organized, for each weapon, class teams. The interests at West Point are so many and varied that it is impossible for each cadet to be an accomplished fencer, boxer, wrestler, gymnast, or swimmer, but each one is given instruction in the fundamentals. The cadets usually select the art that appeals to them most and perfect themselves along the chosen line. The saber is popular, and many cadets acquire great dexterity in its manipulation. It is distinctly a soldierly exercise, so that it exercises a fascination for the men, especially for those who intend to choose the cavalry.
Instruction in the use of the foils is given to the entire class assembled by sections, and consists of preliminary instruction in the single rank without weapon, in the single rank with foils, and in the double rank with foils. As with the saber, the men whose sport by predilection is fencing with foils take individual lessons from the fencing master every afternoon from November until March. The interest in fencing at one time was exceedingly great, and the sport was regarded as one of the major activities of cadet life. This interest was due to the participation of cadet teams in the Intercollegiate Fencing Meet, but five years ago the Academy authorities prohibited cadet teams from attending these competitions. This action killed the interest in fencing for several years, but at present the former popularity of this excellent sport is returning, and a visitor may now see the thirteen double mats, accommodating fifty-two men, constantly filled.
When President Roosevelt, in 1905, ordered that all cadets should attend gymnasium daily, assistants were detailed to assist the officer in charge of physical training. For the fencing, the Academy secured the services of a maître d’armes under whose careful and scientific training, the fencing teams of the Academy continued their brilliant achievements begun in 1902. Beginning with that year until 1910, West Point sent to the annual intercollegiate championship meets, teams that contested with Harvard, Yale, Cornell, Pennsylvania, Columbia, and the Navy. Out of the nine meets, West Point won six, and obtained second place in the other three, yielding their supremacy to their great rivals, the Navy. This remarkable record was accomplished by the untiring efforts of the team and of their much-liked instructor, M. Vauthier, whose skill excited their admiration and inspired in them a splendid spirit of emulation.
More attention is now paid to the bayonet fencing due to the extended use of that weapon in the present European War, but as with the other arts, the limited time permits the teaching of only the fundamentals. The cadet learns enough in each branch to build upon afterwards and make himself a competent instructor.
Not less popular than the fencing are the boxing and wrestling exercises. The first year men are assembled in classes and given instruction in boxing in the guard, footwork, parries, simple direct leads and counters. Similarly in wrestling, the simple holds, resultant falls, and the breaks for the simple holds are all taught.
It is not, however, to the regular class work that one must go to judge of the grip that these manly sports have upon the cadets. In the afternoon, after recitations, embryo Jeffries and Fitzsimmonses gather in the boxing room to receive the holy instruction from the master, Mr. Jenkins, or “Tom,” as he is affectionately called among themselves. There he teaches the aspirant pugilist how to land a blow and how to avoid one, and occasionally to make the lesson more realistic he treats his young charge to the experience of receiving one. Some experiences in a man’s life grow dim, but never this one.
When the preliminary bouts are being fought, large numbers flock to the boxing room to cheer for the weaker fellow even though he be of another class than one’s own. Boxing develops fine qualities among the men. It teaches them to give and take, to receive punishment without flinching, and to respect the skill of a good opponent. Besides it gives a man confidence in his powers, making him think quickly and move quickly, all excellent qualities for an officer of the army.
Boxing, however, shares the popular appeal with wrestling. This manly sport that we have inherited from our ancestors of the stone age fascinates men chiefly by virtue of its brute strength and to a lesser degree by its skill. It is a game for men of all sizes, provided they possess the necessary qualities of courage and strength.