Copyright (c) 2010 Bryan Carlton

I am a movie addict, specifically action movies. I like watching the hero escape from all kinds of trouble with ease. Just like James Bond does in all of the 007 movies.

Whether it is fighting the bad guys in hand-to-hand combat or scaling walls, it is always fun to watch and see how they will escape. Although it is set-up for the movie, with stunt doubles, safety gear, and trained professionals who have trained hard for most of their lives.

Even though a majority of us would never encounter any of the crazy stunts portrayed in action movies, there is always the possibility that we may find ourselves in an emergency that would require you to run or swim fast and far enough to find safety. We may have to swim against a rip currant, run from danger on the streets of our city or maybe even in the woods. You may never know when you need that extra little oomph.

An interesting article was emailed to me a few days ago titled: "Can You Save Your Own Life?"

In it, it quotes Earle E. Liederman, (a fitness pioneer and well-known vaudeville strongman) whose philosophy was that a man should be able to swim far enough, fun fast and long enough to save their life in case of an emergency and necessity. On a personal note, look back a few hundred years when the man tilled their own crop, harvested it, hunted and did everything else to survive.

Much of Liedermans' life-saving method evolved around the development of "strength-endurance" with bodyweight calisthenics. Let's face it, big gigantic muscles may impress some people, but there is nothing more impressive than having a fully functional strength-endurance to do things with ease including saving your own life or someone else's.

So How Fit Do We Have To Be?

So what were Liederman's requirements for being able to save yourself in an emergency situation? As quoted from the article:
- Swim at least half a mile or more
- Be able to sprint at stop speed for at least two hundred yards or more
- Have the ability to jump over obstacles higher than your waist
- Be in condition to pull your body upward by the strength of your arms, until your chin touches your hands, at least 15 to 20 times
- Be able to dip between parallel bars or between two chairs at least 25 times or more

I think having the strength and stamina to accomplish the things on the list above is a sign that you are in pretty good shape. Can you think of anything that you might want to add to the list?