Quality of Champions A common quality of champions in all sports is that grace of movement which gives the spectator the impression that the athlete is not forcing himself and that the event is easy. The skilled pole-vaulter easily clears 12 foot heights while the unskilled seems to strain every muscle in order to clear the bar at 10 feet. The skilled runner glides rapidly over the track with easy ground-covering strides and with no perceptible up and down movements of the head and trunk. The skillful striking movements of the medalist golfer, the champion tennis player and the big league baseball batter do not reveal the power exerted by the muscles of the wrist, arm and shoulder as the impact is made with the ball. The movement is so direct and unstrained that the blow appears to be light but the ball seems to be given wings. Trained runners differ from untrained runners in that the thigh is brought forward with greater speed and the stride is shout 7 to 8 inches longer. Greater leg speed in trained runners is attained through improved coordination of antagonistic and synergic muscles and more intense muscular contractions. Longer stride is achieved through reduced resistance of antagonistic muscles, a reduction in the muscular adjustments required to resist the tendency of the femurs to move in a rotatory motion about the hip joint during the fore and aft movements of the legs, and a reduction in the side to side movement of the hips as a result of the lessening of the lateral oscillation of the trunk. The movements of skilled workmen in industry arc often as graceful as those of the athlete. The easy, graceful movements of the woodcutter conceal the force applied to the axe. An error common to the beginner in attempting most physical activities is that of using strength as a substitute for skill. He attempts to employ every muscle in the movement, including the muscles antagonistic to the movement. He even calls for muscles to push, forgetting that muscles only pull. He actually ties himself up with his own muscles until he learns that the movement is more skillful when fewer muscle groups are involved.		Home Components of Physical Fitness Clinical Examination Differences Between Fit and Unfit Men Physiological Elements of Fitness The Step Test The Effects of Training on the Physiological Systems Work Output Physical Condition of Muscle Application of Muscular Force Maintaining Optimum Strength Tests of Muscular Strength Strength and appearance Strength as a measure of physical fitness Strength as affected by organic problems Strength as prophylaxis Role of inactivity in production of disease Lack of Sociability in Work Lactic Acid System Muscular Form Capillary Growth Heart Size Heart Rate Training produces physicochemical changes Muscular Strength Nervous Stimulation and Muscular Strength Quality of Champions Factors Which Limit Skill Kinesthesis Balance Reaction Time Muscular Tension Visual Aim Skill Center in the Brain Endurance for Exhaustive and Moderate Work Distribution of Energy