Ibn Sina (Avicenna) was a muslim philosopher circa 1000 ad who wrote on health, natural philosophy, mathematics and the nature of the soul. His works were translated into Greek and other western languages and were heavily utilized in the west. His Canon of Health was used in medieval universities in Europe all through the middle ages at the time when western martial arts were being developed.
I love this stuff. Around 1000 A.D. a muslim philosopher was extolling the virtues of exercise in a way that makes sense today. I imagine medieval knights making use of this information and the influence of such early philosophers spreading into mainstream European thought.
On the Benefits of Exercise (Wikipediea):
"Once the purpose of medicine has been set forth, then from pages 377–455, Ibn Sina divides the way of achieving health [in this way]: ‘Since the regimen of maintaining health consists essentially in the regulation of:
(1) exercise
(2) food and
(3) sleep,
we may begin our discourse with the subject of exercise’.(Avicenna 1999, p. 377)
Exercise itself is divided into three main parts:
The Massage (which is equivalent to massaging your muscles before you start to exercise);
The Exercise itself; and lastly
The Cold Bath.
Giving one of the greatest benefits of the regimen of exercise, and then explaining the extremely important and necessary need for physical exercise; Ibn Sina states: "Once we direct the attention towards regulating exercise as to amount and time, we shall find there is no need for such medicines as are ordinarily required for remedying diseases dependent on [abnormal] matters, or diseases of temperament consequent upon such. This is true provided the rest of the regimen is appropriate and proper."(Avicenna 1999, p. 377)
The value of exercise includes the following ( from Avicenna 1999, p. 379):
“(1) it hardens the organs and renders them fit for their functions
(2) it results in a better absorption of food, aids assimilation, and, by increasing the innate heat, improves nutrition
(3) it clears the pores of the skin
(4) it removes effete substances through the lungs
(5) it strengthens the physique. Vigorous exercise invigorates the muscular and nervous system.”
Regarding the exercises:
"The exercises themselves are divided into 'strenuous, mild, vigorous and brisk”.
On pages 379–381; Ibn Sina states the types of exercises under each type:
"Strenuous exercises include: wrestling contests, boxing, quick marching, running, jumping over an object higher than one foot, throwing the javelin, fencing, horsemanship, swimming. Mild exercises include: fishing, sailing, being carried on camels, swinging to and fro.
Vigorous exercises include: those performed by soldiers in camp, in military sports; field running, long jumping, high jumping, polo, stone throwing, lifting heavy stones or weights, various forms of wrestling.
Brisk exercises include: involves interchanging places with a partner as swiftly as possible, each jumping to and fro, either in time [to music] or irregularly."(Avicenna 1999, pp. 379–81)
There are certain important things to note once you start exercising, one is the amount, the other consistency; Ibn Sina states about the amount:
"(1) the colour - as long as the skin goes on becoming florid, the exercise may be continued. After it ceases to do so, the exercise must be discontinued."(Avicenna 1999, p. 384)
On being consistent with exercise Ibn Sina states (on the importance of having a regimen):
"At the conclusion of the first day's exercise, you will know the degree of exercise allowable and when you know the amount of nourishment the person can bear, do not make any change in either on the second day. Arrange that the measure of aliment, and the amount of exercise shall not exceed that limit ascertained on the first day."(Avicenna 1999, p. 385)
On the side note those who think themselves to be elderly, and thus think of shunning exercise, Ibn Sina wrote a complete chapter titled "Concerning the Elderly" in the Qanun, and states the same regimen for them, as he does for others. He states on page 433:
"For if, towards the end of life, the body is still equable, it will be right to allow 'attempered' exercises. If one part of the body should not be in a first-rate condition, then that part should not be exercised until the others have been exercised. ... On the other hand, if the ailment were in the feet, then the exercise should employ the upper limbs: for instance, rowing, throwing weights, lifting weights."(Avicenna 1999, p. 433)”
all from Wikipedia and quoting this text:
Avicenna (1999). The Canon of Medicine (al-Qānūn fī'l-ṭibb), vol. 1. Laleh Bakhtiar (ed.), Oskar Cameron Gruner (trans.), Mazhar H. Shah (trans.). Great Books of the Islamic World. ISBN 978-1-871031-67-6.
