Keeping Fit: A Handbook for Physical Conditioning and Better Health

by Fred Neff, James E. Reid

Discusses proper nutrition and provides exercise programs for both beginners and those more physically fit.

56 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[Sandra James · Rating 5 out of 5]

My friend found a well worn and what looks to be an often used copy of Keeping Fit: A Handbook for Physical Conditioning and Better Health by Fred Neff. When I first viewed his copy of the Fitness Handbook it was obviously often referred to because of the folded over pages and written notes on its pages. The former owner had apparently liked certain exercises included in the book and made notes of his use and progress on exercises included in the book. This is that kind of book. It is not just a read and forget kind of book it is something that you can refer back to over and over again. Some of the exercises in the book were very well known to me but there were others that were new to me. I have always liked movement and exercise. When I was first starting grade school my mother enrolled me in a dance class that I really enjoyed. A little later I started a tumbling class that was fun. As a teenage I continued to participate in dance and cheerleading. Practicing tumbling was one of the things I best liked to do. After high school I got involved in Taekwondo which was a worthwhile experience. When I moved to a different city I began to study Japanese karate with a terrific group of people some of which I still consider friends more than forty years later. Although I do not still practice karate there is a daily physical routine that I try to follow which includes my favorite exercises. I also whenever there is time include tennis or golf in it. I liked reading my friends Keeping Fit Handbook so much I bought a copy of my own at a used bookstore and have included several exercises from it in my routine. One sidelight to the book is that I did many years ago see the author of the book to use the old expression doing his thing. I was impressed to say the least. My friends called my attention to a man who was warming up by doing kip-ups, back flips and cartwheels. He then did other things as well which included walking on his hands. As I recall he ended up by doing pleasantly memorable handsprings. His execution of all of these movements was superlative. Subsequently I watched him in karate free-fighting and was impressed by his circular movement and use of very sophisticated kicks such as the spin back hook kick and jumping back hook kick. His timing, grace and level of conditioning was outstanding. In reading his Keeping Fit Handbook I couldn't help but think that the exercises he included in it may have been chosen by him because they were used by him in his own conditioning program. This is not known by me but what is for sure is that the Handbook gives helpful hints on keeping fit and plenty of exercises to choose from for use in keeping fit. A person does not have to be able to be a great tumbler or be able to execute highly sophisticated acrobatic type of kicks to be in shape. Following a program of exercise as set out in this handbook should provide a good basis to achieve fitness. For that reason I give this book a strong recommendation.

[Peter Carson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Staying in shape is a life time goal so the Keeping Fit book is something that we all can benefit from reading and using. I like this small and concise book that is jam backed with excellent insight and exercises. The physical training is easy to do and structured into two groups one that covers a beginning program of exercise and the other advanced program of exercise. I bought this book along with a batch of other books by the same author Fred Neff at the same time. My interest in the batch of books was initially because it included books on what I thought were Karate themes. The Keeping fit book was not read by me until after reading several of the other martial arts oriented books first. In the process of reading one of these earlier martial arts books I realized that I had seen the author many years before at a function. As was the case in those days many of the participants warmed up first with distinctive exercises before getting out to do any actual fighting against an opponent. The warm-ups my friends and I used were rather mundane, but I did see over the years many others do some far more intricate approaches to conditioning.

While what sticks out most in my mind about seeing the author in person was his beautifully executed acrobatic kicks, I do also remember seeing him do some exercises while warming up. Those exercises went far beyond what I was capable of ever doing including cartwheels, a type of back flip, kip-up and walking on his hands. I do not know that these were martial arts oriented exercises but what I do know is that they took a great deal of strength and coordination. In order to reach this high degree of physical dexterity the author must have done a great deal of physical conditioning which probably included the exercises included in his book on Keeping Fit. After reading the book I embarked on doing the beginning exercises and have found that they really make me feel good. They are not hard to do. Recently I have started to include exercises from the Advanced Program of Exercise as well. This is a really useful book that can benefit everyone. While I do not know the availability of this book, it is worth hunting down a copy because it really is worthwhile and has earned my highest ranking.

[Jim Johns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fred Neff is one of the better authors on martial arts and physical conditioning. I have become increasing impressed by not only the breadth of his knowledge but ability to make even complex physical movements and thoughts easy to understand. His book on Keeping Fit has all the right ingredients to build physical fitness if followed. I learned a lot from this book on building strength, flexibility and overall fitness in the whole human body. This book puts an emphasis on developing life long positive habits that will promote overall health.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book for keeping fit. The illustrations clearly show how a particular exercise is to be performed.