Franklin Delano Roosevelt essays

Franklin Delano Roosevelt essays Throughout history, many men and women have been recognized for going above and beyond the call of duty to serve their country, whether civilian or military. For some that is not enough. It is these people that are remembered for generations by their extraordinary actions. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the most important figure in American history because he guided America through its darkest moments. During the extent of his Presidential career, FDR wittily captured the hearts of the American people and used his power to lead the United States out of the Great Depression, guided the United States and Allies to victory in WWII and he established the United Nations. What makes his accomplishments all the more remarkable is that he did it all while fighting polio. In 1929 the stock market crashed, resulting in the Great Depression, AmericaÕs worst economic catastrophe. ÒBy 1932, national income had plunged by more than half, and unemployment had soared to include one-quarter of the entire work forceÓ (1,25). It was estimated that 27.5 million Americans had no regular income, and more than 1 million roamed the country as hoboes due to unemployment (1,25). At the time, Roosevelt was chief executive of New York and he watched as Hoover did nothing to rescue the United States out of depression (1,25). But he was not to sit idly. FDR chose to follow in the footsteps of his uncle, President Theodore Roosevelt, and ran on the democratic ballot for the presidency. In 1933, he overthrew the incumbent, Hoover, and was elected President . Unlike Hoover, FDR was a servant of the people. People of the time only saw,Ó the radiant smile, the eyes flashing with good humor, the cigarette holder held at a jaunty angle, the good nature d toss of the head, the buoyant optimism, [and] the serene confidence with which he met economic catastrophe and international crisisÓ (7, 98). By the time Roosevelt entered office, America was ...

Origins of the Kettlebell. Strength and Cardio Training

Origins of the Kettlebell. Strength and Cardio Training The kettlebell is a peculiar piece of gym equipment. While it looks like a cannonball with a looping handle protruding at the top, it can  easily be mistaken for an ironcast tea kettle on steroids. It also happens to be growing in popularity, allowing athletes and those just trying to stay in shape to perform a wide range of specialized strength-building exercises with kettlebells. Born in Russia It’s hard to say who invented the kettlebell, though variations of the concept go as far back as Ancient Greece. Theres even a 315-pound kettlebell with the inscription  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Bibon heaved up me above a head by one head on display at the Archaeological Museum of Olympia in Athens. The first mention of the term, however, shows up in a Russian dictionary published in 1704 as Girya, which translates to kettlebell in English. Kettlebell exercises were later popularized in the late 1800s by a Russian physician named Vladislav Kraevsky, considered by many to be the countrys founding father of Olympic weight training. After spending roughly a decade traveling around the world researching exercise techniques, he opened one of Russias first weight training facilities where kettlebells and barbells were introduced as a core part of a comprehensive fitness routine. By the early 1900s, Olympic weightlifters in Russia were using kettlebells to shore up weaker areas, while soldiers used them to improve their conditioning in preparation in combat. But it wasnt until 1981 that the government finally threw its weight behind the trend and mandated kettlebell training for all citizens as a way to boost overall health and productivity.  In 1985, the Soviet Unions first national championship kettlebell games were held in Lipetsk, Russia. In the United States, it’s only as recent as the beginning of the century that kettlebell has caught on, particularly in the last few years. A-list celebrities such as Matthew McConaughey, Jessica Biel, Sylvester Stallone, and Vanessa Hudgens have been known to utilize kettlebell workouts to strengthen and tone. There’s even an all-kettlebell gym located in Ontario, Canada, called the IronCore Kettlebell club. Kettlebells vs. Barbells What distinguishes a kettlebell workout from training with barbells is an emphasis on a wider range of movement that involves several muscle groups. Whereas barbells are generally used to directly target isolated muscle groups, such as the biceps, the kettlebell’s weight is away from the hand, allowing for swinging moves and other full body exercises. Case in point, here’s a few kettlebell exercises aimed at cardiovascular and strength improvement: High Pull: Similar to a squat, the kettlebell is lifted from the floor and brought up toward the shoulder level with one hand while straightening out to a standing position and returning back to the floor. Alternating between both arms, this move hits the shoulders, arms, buttocks, and hamstrings.Lunge Press: Holding the kettlebell in front of the chest with both hands, lunge forward and lift the weight over your head. Alternating each leg, this allows you to target the shoulders, back, arms, abs, buttocks, and legs.  Russian Swing: Standing with knees slightly bent and feet apart, hold the kettlebell just below the groin with both hands and with both arms straight. Lowering and driving the hips back, thrust the hips forward and swing the weight forward up to shoulder level before letting the weight swing back down to the original position. This move targets the shoulders, back, hips, glutes, and legs.  Ã‚   Additionally, kettlebell exercises burn more calories than conventional weightlifting exercises, up 20 calories a minute, according to a study by the American Council on Exercise (ACE). This is roughly the same amount of burn youd get from a rigorous cardio workout. Despite the benefits, the one drawback is that only select gyms carry them. So where can you go to find kettlebell equipment outside of obvious places like the IronCore gym? Fortunately, an increasing number of boutique gyms have them, along with kettlebell classes. Also, since theyre compact, portable and with many shops selling them for prices comparable to the cost of barbells, it might be worth it to just buy a set. Source Beltz, Nick M.S. ACE Sponsored Research Study: Kettlebells Kick Butt. Dustin Erbes, M.S., John P. Porcari, et al., American Council on Exercise, April 2013.