JOHN THORPE

How did I first get interested in Maxalding?

Well, when I was a kid at school, I was both very bad and very good at gymnastics. Let me explain ..... anything that involved ballistic movement (such as vaulting, tumbling, jumping, swinging etc.) I was absolutely hopeless at (as my body/eye co-ordination was very poor). But anything that involved slow controlled movements requiring strength, balance or flexibility I was very good at.

My sports teacher was the kind of man who believed that any ability should be encouraged, and although it was pointless entering me in regular gymnastic competitions (as I would always end up falling flat on my face as I hurtled over the vaulting horse or across the tumbling mat) he encouraged me to develop an exhibition routine that really showed off my abilities. I was able to bend myself around and balance on my hands in the most impossible contortions. This routine I used to perform as light relief in gymnastics competitions.

Then Tony Holland (the "Musical Muscle Man") appeared on "Opportunity Knocks" on TV. You cannot imagine the sensation he caused, and all the kids in school were talking about him the day after his first appearance. Because my scapulae were naturally very loose, I found that I could do his back poses quite easily, and I was soon being called the "Musical Muscle Boy". I read an article about Tony Holland and Maxalding and enrolled in the course. After a few months of practise I was able to emulate most of what he could do, and included it in my routine.

But that was about 36 years ago! At the age of 51 I still try to keep in good shape, and have retained much of my strength and flexibility. And there are plenty of other guys of my age out there doing the same. (Feb 2002)

Website & Contents Copyright © 2002 Roger Fillary & Gil Waldron
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