His goal was to aid soldiers in recovering from their wounds and to regain use of injured limbs.

Melissa Friesenborg Photography by Kim Hennes.

He believed, and has proven over the course of time, that the body and mind are connected. He showed how a mind that is focused on precision, and using precise movements, can affect the body, and strengthen the entire system.

His main section, he called ‘the powerhouse’, is what we now call the ‘Core section’. This area consists of the abdomen, buttocks, back and hips. From the strength in this area, he foresaw, how it is the focus of the body, and strength radiates outward from there.

His insistence on focus and concentration was such that he established certain breathing procedures, as well as the control on each muscle as an exercise is being performed. He thought, and we have seen it in research, that the body responds better when well oxygenated, and so the ‘breath work’ became a primary part of his regimen.

Besides the breathing, his other main focus, for the mind was an acronym CCCP. These stand for Control, Concentration, Centering and Precision. All these aspects are products of the mind’s will, and the mind’s ability to control, or regulate, bodily functions, like the muscles. To perform these exercises, the mind must control every aspect and be very precise in the movements. As they are performed, the body comes into alignment with the mind, and starts a new pattern which is beneficial to all in the long run.

Repetition of these exercises develops muscular strength and endurance.