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Macfadden's Magazine ''Physical Culture'', whose first issue appeared in March 1899 , became the foundation of Macfadden's publishing empire.

The Early History of Physical Culture in the United States

According to historian Harvey Green, the obsession with “physical culture” in the United States came about due to America’s very public response to immigration and labor unrest in the late 19th century. For example, with the rise in labor disputes in the 1870s, the country turned towards training young men for the National Guard, and in response to the “inferior races” penetrating the country, many young men and women found it appropriate to improve their physicality, in order to combat the new “competition”. Even those in academia, like Irving Fisher of Yale University, feared that Americans would “quietly lie down and let some other race run over us.” Out of this fear stemmed many fitness programs and activities for young boys and girls, establishing the roots of an America obsessed with its “physical culture.”

In Australia , Hans Bjelke-Petersen founded the Bjelke-Petersen School of Physical Culture in Hobart in 1892. As of 2005, there are 180 clubs throughout Australia. This version of physical culture is generally performed by girls and women and is a combination of Gymnastics , Ballet , and Aerobics . 2005 also saw the re-introduction of physical culture to boys ages 5-9 years.

Physical culture in 2006 has expanded into South Australia and Western Australia and is experiencing significant growth in Victoria .

Both a team and individual sport ''physie'' provides young women with:
  • good posture

  • fitness

  • strength

  • flexibility

  • balance

  • co-ordination

  • self-discipline

  • confidence


In 2005 BJP physical culture introduced a Boy's Fitness Program for boys aged 5-12.


EXTERNAL LINKS

http://www.wzphysicalculture.com.au/
http://www.physicalculture.com.au/