By this is meant a series of combinations by two or more men exercising together. In these exercises a belt must always be put on for the first trial (or assistants stand on either side), however simple the exercises may appear, and must be kept on until the exercise is thoroughly mastered, which would mean that you have each other’s time and act in unison. Work with the same men all the time; beware of strangers, even if both of you understand the exercises. Do not be afraid to use caution and common sense. Only combinations that can be mastered by business men with limited time have been put in; the more dangerous ones, requiring much time, being intentionally omitted. In all of the following exercises No. 1 is the heaviest or “bottom” man; No. 2, “middle” man; and No. 3, “top” man (or lightest man).

ELEPHANT WALK.

1. Stand facing each other. No. 2 puts hands on No. 1’s shoulders, springs up and throws legs around No. 1’s waist, then leans backward and drops between No. 1’s legs, who then bends forward and places hands on floor keeping knees stiff; No. 2 places hands on No. 1’s heels and straightens arms; No. 1 then walks off (also with a small boy on top), or untwists legs and both do a roll over. Fig. 26.

2. No. 2 makes hand stand, feet well apart; No. 1 steps in, letting legs rest on hips, and grasps heels of No. 2, who straightens himself, arms folded; No. 1 then walks off with him. For first part of movement see Fig. 96.

HAND STAND ROLL.

3. No. 1 stands erect; No. 2 makes hand stand close to No. 1’s heels, his legs dropping over No. 1’s shoulders, who grasps No. 2’s ankles, bends forward, quickly pulling No. 2 over to a standing position; No. 1 now does a hand stand and is thrown over by No. 2. Repeat in quick succession. For first part of movement see Fig. 99.

DOUBLE ROLL.

4. No. 1 lies on back, legs raised to vertical, with knees slightly bent, and grasps No. 2’s ankles, who stands close to his head and also grasps No. 1’s ankles; No. 2 dives forward, held back slightly by No. 1 to break his fall; continue roll. Fig. 27.

5. Repeat No. 4 backward.

HANDS BETWEEN LEGS AND PULL OVER.

6. Facing same direction, No. 2 leans forward and places his arms between his own legs; his wrists are grasped by No. 1, who lifts (as No. 2 jumps) and throws him over to his feet. Figs. 28, 29.

BACK TO BACK AND OVER.

7. Stand back to back, arms extended vertically, grasp each other’s hands, heads turned to opposite sides; No. 2 springs and No. 1 pulls No. 2 over shoulders to feet. No. 2 must never relax muscles on this exercise. Figs. 30, 31.

8. Facing in same direction, No. 1 grasps No. 2 on either side of belt, and No. 2 grasps No. 1’s wrists and springs up, assisted by No. 1 lifting, and comes to balance position on No. 1’s head; No. 2 then throws his head back, pulls legs up and snaps over to feet, assisted by a slight push from No. 1. Figs. 32, 33.

THROW OVER HEAD.

9. Same as No. 8, only in quicker time. No. 2 does not touch head of No. 1, who holds his arms perfectly stiff, and throws No. 2 over his head in one movement. Fig. 34.

10. Leap-frog, roll over, and continue.

STRADDLE VAULT OVER.

11. No. 1 places one hand under No. 2’s crotch; No. 2 places both hands on No. 1’s head and vaults over. Figs. 35, 36.

STRADDLE OVER FROM FLOOR.

12a. No. 2 lies down and No. 1 places foot close up and between No. 2’s legs and grasps both hands of No. 2, who springs up and straddle vaults over, while No. 1 pulls, then pushes his hands to horizontal with quarter turn of body.

STRADDLE OVER AND HAND SPRING.

12b. Position and first part of movement same as No. 12a, only No. 1 grasps No. 2’s wrists; as No. 2 passes over No. 1’s head, he doubles up close and does a hand spring from No. 1’s hands.

LOW ARM HAND STAND.

13. No. 1 lies on back, feet apart; No. 2 steps in and, bending forward, they place hands on each other’s shoulders; No. 2 does hand stand, No. 1 holding him in position. Fig. 37.

14. Facing each other, hands on shoulders, No. 2 jumps up, crossing feet behind back of No. 1, who leans over and immediately comes to erect position; No. 2 pushing up into high arm stand. Figs. 38, 39, 40.

HIGH ARM HAND STAND.

15. Repeat No. 13. No. 2 is let down easily by No. 1, and rolls over, retaining hold on each other’s shoulders, to lying down position on backs; No. 1 does a quick back roll, and lands on feet between No. 2’s spread legs, and immediately pulls No. 2 (who assists by jumping) to high hand to shoulder stand in air. Fig. 40.

16. From position of Fig. 39, No. 1 throws No. 2 hand spring over head.

PULL UP FROM FLOOR.

17. Facing each other, and six feet apart, No. 2 dives halfway over, keeping palms of hands on mat by side of head, legs vertical; No. 1 grasps ankles and gives him a quick pull up and throw away; No. 2 assisting by pushing with his hands and head, and coming to standing position facing No. 1. Figs. 41, 42.

18. Same as No. 17, only both face same direction; No. 2 does forward roll; No. 1 pulls No. 2 to feet.

BACK FROM FOREARMS.

19. No. 1 stands body straight, feet spread, knees bent, and, interlacing fingers, holds forearms horizontal; No. 2 places hands on No. 1’s shoulders, jumps to forearms, and back somersaults off. Figs. 43, 44.

20. Facing same direction, one foot apart, No. 2 bends knee and places right or left ankle in No. 1’s hands; No. 2 jumps directly up (assisted by No. 1), cuts close, and does a high forward somersault, coming down straight. Figs. 45, 46.

MOUNT TO SHOULDERS.

21. No. 1 facing front, No. 2 to left of No. 1 and right face; No. 1 bends knees slightly, feet well apart, holds right hand over head, palm up, and grasps No. 2’s right hand, also No. 2’s left with his left hand; No. 2 places left foot on No. 1’s left thigh; as each pulls hard with right hand, No. 2 jumps and places his right foot on No. 1’s right shoulder and left on left shoulder, lets go of No. 1’s hands and stands erect, heels together on balls of feet, knees straight, and legs pressing hard on No. 1’s head. Figs. 47, 48.

MOUNT TO SHOULDER WITHOUT HANDS.

22. Position same as in No. 21, only No. 1 folds arms; and No. 2, taking a short run, mounts to shoulders without using hands.

LIFT TO SHOULDER.

23. Facing in same direction, No. 1 grasps No. 2’s hands and lifts to shoulders, No. 2 doubling up close in order to bring his feet to No. 1’s shoulders. For first part of movement see Fig. 57.

TO DISMOUNT.

24. No. 1 reaches up and grasps hands of No. 2, who jumps down between.

25. Both lean forward as far as possible; No. 2 jumps to feet, and both do a forward roll over.

26. Mount as in No. 23; as No. 2 jumps, No. 1 assists by lifting hard. Fig. 49.

FRONT FROM SHOULDERS.

27. Mount as in No. 23; as No. 2 jumps, No. 1 assists by lifting hard. Fig. 50.

CROTCH BACK.

28. Facing each other, No. 1 places hands under No. 2’s crotch, and lifts hard; No. 2 doing a regular back somersault. Figs. 51, 52.

CROTCH FRONT.

29. Facing in same direction. No. 1 grasps No. 2 by seat and lifts hard; No. 2 doing a regular front somersault. Fig. 53.

PULL TO SHOULDERS.

30. Facing each other, No. 2 leans forward, putting his hands between his own spread legs; No. 1 leans over and grasps No. 2’s wrists; a quick pull lands No. 2 on his shoulders straddle seat. He then places his hands under thighs of No. 2, who, in turn, does a back somersault off, assisted by a slight shove from No. 1. Fig. 54.

31. Same as No. 30, only No. 2 puts his feet on No. 1’s shoulders. Back or forward somersault off.

PULL TO SHOULDERS AND HAND SPRING OVER.

32. Position same as in Fig. 54. No. 1 grasps No. 2’s wrists, pulls him up, and places his hands on his shoulders; No. 2 continues movement by hand spring over.

33. Facing same way, No. 1 puts head between legs of No. 2, who leans back quickly, and No. 1 straightens up and tosses him over his head; No. 2 doing back somersault movement. Figs. 55, 56.

TWISTING BACK OVER HEAD.

34. Same as 33, only No. 2 throws head quickly to right or left, and alights with back to No. 1.

DOUBLE DIVE.

35. Facing, and 6 feet apart, No. 1 dives forward, and as his head rests on mat—that is, half way over—with feet well apart, No. 2 dives over, comes to feet quickly; each turns, and repeat movement.

TRIPLE DIVE.

36. No. 1 in middle and facing No. 2, No. 3 back of No. 1 and facing in same direction; No. 1 dives forward and No. 2 dives over No. 1 (as in No. 35); No. 3 immediately dives over No. 2, and No. 1 has turned and now dives over No. 3; No. 2 again dives over No. 1, and repeat as before.

LIFT AWAY HAND SPRING.

37. Facing in same direction, No. 1 grasps No. 2’s hands and lifts him to standing position on shoulders; No. 2 jumps to mat between hands, and, without letting go, immediately jumps straight up, doubling up as he goes, stiffening arms and pressing hard against hands of No. 1, who pushes up, straightening arms; No. 2 continues on through, and does a hand spring from No. 1’s hands. Figs. 57, 58.

38. Position same as Fig. 57, only No. 1 rests right knee on mat; No. 2 jumps over No. 1’s right arm, and immediately back to first position, in same manner over left arm, then over head and back again; No. 1 now rises to feet immediately, No. 2 doing lift away hand spring as in No. 37.

39. Same as No. 37, only go straight from mat to hand spring without going to shoulders.

ONE LEG BACK.

40. No. 2 places right leg in No. 1’s hands, leg horizontal, knee stiff; as No. 2 jumps and presses down with right leg No. 1 lifts hard, throwing him a back somersault. Figs. 59, 60.

LAY OUT BACK.

41. No. 1 interlaces fingers, palms up, and stoops well down, feet spread; No. 2 places hands on shoulders (also without placing hands on shoulders) and right foot in his hands, jumps, straightening right leg, and does a hollow back somersault, No. 1 lifting up hard. Figs. 61, 62.

LAY OUT BACK.

42. Same as No. 41, only No. 1 places hands behind back instead of in front.

GAINER LAY OUT BACK.

43. Same as No. 41, only No. 2 turns over No. 1’s head, alighting on opposite side from which he started.

RUNNING FORWARD OVERHEAD.

44. Position of No. 1 same as in No. 41; No. 2 runs, placing hands on No. 1’s shoulders, and right foot in hands, jumps, straightening right leg, and goes for regular front somersault, alighting with back to No. 1.

45. Facing each other, No. 1 bends knees slightly; No. 2 takes a run and places hands on No. 1’s knees and does a hand spring up, assisted by No. 1 grasping him by hips. Now quick roll back from shoulders. Fig. 63.

HIGH ARM HAND SPRING.

46. No. 1 spreads feet and braces himself, bending knees and getting low; No. 2 takes a good run, places hands on shoulders of No. 1, who grasps his thighs and pushes him over for a hand spring. Fig. 64.

PULL UP AND BACK FROM HANDS.

47. Facing each other, and 6 feet apart, No. 2 rolls over and pushes his feet well up under him; No. 1 steps in, grasping No. 2’s hands, pulls him up, and then pushes him up and away; No. 2, doubling up close, pushing hard with hands, throws head back and goes for back somersault. Figs. 65, 66.

BACK FROM BACK.

48. Facing in same direction, No. 1 bends over, placing hands on knees; No. 2 jumps to back, between shoulders, and does a back off, No. 1 lifting up hard. Figs. 67, 68.

FORWARD FROM BACK.

49. Facing each other, and about 20 feet apart, No. 1 stoops over, placing hands on knees; No. 2 runs and jumps on No. 1’s back, between shoulders, and immediately goes for front somersault, as from spring-board, No. 1 throwing hard. Fig. 69.

50. Lift to shoulders, as in No. 23. From position of Fig. 91, No. 2 throws into hand stand.

MOVEMENTS FROM POSITION OF FLOOR

BACK FROM HANDS.

51a. No. 1 lying on back, hands close to head; No. 2 steps in No. 1’s hands and does a back somersault, assisted by No. 1. Figs. 70, 71.

51b. Same as No. 51, only No. 2 takes a few steps and jumps in No. 1’s hands, going for back immediately.

BACK FROM HANDS.

52. No. 1 sits on floor, feet spread, and places hands in front, palms up; No. 2 steps in hands as before, and back out.

FRONT FROM HANDS.

53. No. 2 places toes in No. 1’s hands, and does a regular front, assisted by No. 1. Fig. 72.

TWISTING BACK FROM HANDS.

54. Same as No. 51, only No. 2 twists completely around by turning head to right or left as he goes over, and alights facing in opposite direction from which he started. Fig. 73.

HAND SPRING OVER FEET.

55. Clasp hands (do not interlace fingers), No. 1 placing feet on No. 2’s body, No. 2 jumps, and No. 1 pushes hard with feet and keeps his arms stiff, No. 2 pushing off with hands as he goes over. Figs. 74, 75.

56. No. 2 grasps No. 1’s ankles and places feet against his body, same as in No. 55; No. 2 shoves hard from ankles as he goes over, keeping arms stiff in last part of movement, No. 1 also holding his legs stiff in last part of movement. Figs. 76, 77.

HAND SPRING FROM KNEES OVER HANDS.

57. No. 2 runs and places hands on No. 1’s knees and hand spring over, No. 1 shoving his shoulders, if necessary, as he goes over. Fig. 78.

HAND SPRING FROM HANDS OVER FEET.

58. No. 2 steps in No. 1’s hands and grasps the bottoms of feet of No. 1, who holds legs stiff while No. 2 does hand spring over. Figs. 79, 80.

BACK OVER FEET.

59. Standing close to No. 1’s shoulders, No. 2 sits on his feet, leans back, and No. 1 pushes up hard; No. 2 doubles up for regular back. Figs. 81, 82.

TWISTING BACK OVER FEET.

60. Same as No. 59, only No. 2 throws head quickly to right or left and alights with back to No. 1.

SIDE OVER FEET.

61. No. 2 stands by side of No. 1, and sits on feet. Rest of movement same as in No. 59. Figs. 83, 84.

PITCH BACK FROM FEET.

62. No. 2 sits on No. 1’s feet and lays back; No. 1 kicks vigorously, No. 2 doing regular back movement, and landing away from No. 1 on same side from which he started, not turning over No. 1 at all. Figs. 85, 86.

63. No. 2 jumps on No. 1’s feet, gets a perfect balance, and does a back off.

MOUNT TO FEET AND BACK OFF.

64. No. 1 lies on back, feet up, hands on outside of thighs; No. 2 places right foot on No. 1’s left thigh, and presses inside of knee against No. 1’s foot to steady himself. He then places left foot on No. 1’s left foot and, without touching hands, comes to an erect position, then back somersault off. Figs. 87, 88.

HAND SPRING FROM ELBOWS.

65. Facing each other, No. 1 places hands on knees, bending over so that elbows project above back; No. 2 runs, places hands on elbows, and hand spring over. Figs. 89, 90.

HAND SPRING FROM SHOULDERS.

66. Mount to shoulders as in No. 23, then hand spring off. Figs. 91, 92.

PULL THROUGH TO FEET.

67. Facing in same direction, No. 1 in front, No. 2 rolls to position on back, arms folded, and straightens knees so that his feet can be grasped by No. 1, who pulls him through quickly on to feet. Fig. 93.

MISCELLANEOUS

HAND SPRING OVER HEAD FROM HIPS.

68. Facing each other, No. 1 places head between No. 2’s legs and, grasping his knees, straightens up, throwing No. 2 over his head, who assists movement by placing his hands on No. 1’s hips and pushing off hard, elbows stiff. Fig. 94.

69. No. 1 does a hand stand and roll down; No. 2 stands over him, feet on either side of thighs. No. 2 jumps on No. 1’s back thighs and immediately jumps straight up, No. 1 coming to hands and knees, and No. 2 lands on No. 1’s back just above hips; No. 2 again jumps straight up, and No. 1 comes to feet with hands on knees; No. 2 jumps up again, No. 1 comes to an erect position, and No. 2 lands on shoulders. Lean and roll over.

WALK AROUND.

70. Complete jump to shoulders as in No. 69; No. 1 bends and places right knee and then left on mat, now crosses feet and sits down, straightening legs out in front, then lies down, still holding and steadying No. 2 by ankles, who retains his erect position by standing on front of No. 1’s shoulders; No. 1 brings legs up, feet well apart, and No. 2 steps on his right or left hock and mashes it down; No. 1 turns head to right or left and continues back roll, coming to hands and knees; No. 2 steps up immediately on his back and does two jumps to shoulders (lean and roll over, or back or forward somersault off).

DOUBLE ROLL OVER BACK.

71. Get into position as in No. 2; No. 1 presses hard on heels of No. 2, who comes up quickly and continues movement by rolling on over No. 1’s back. Figs. 95, 96.

HAND STAND AND DOUBLE OVER.

72. No. 2 does a hand stand, and his ankles are grasped by No. 1, who stoops over quickly and assists No. 2 in turning the front somersault after leaving his shoulders, by pushing up hard on No. 2’s ankles (called a double—the body only turns once and a half). Figs. 97, 98, 99.

73. Same as No. 4, only three men grasp each other’s ankles and roll forward. Fig. 100.

BACK FROM THIGHS.

74. Facing each other, No. 1 squats, No. 2 placing hands on No. 1’s shoulders; No. 2 jumps on his thighs, No. 1 catching him by calves; No. 2 does a back, assisted by No. 1 lifting and raising up. Fig. 101.

FRONT FROM THIGHS.

75. Facing in same direction, No. 1 stoops, and placing his head under No. 2’s crotch lifts to shoulders, stoops and places No. 2’s feet on his thighs (or No. 1 grasps No. 2’s hands and lifts to thighs) and grasps his ankles; No. 2 straightens up and No. 1 pulls his head out, and as No. 2 jumps for his forward No. 1 assists by raising up and lifting hard with hands. Fig. 102.

THE BASKET.

76. From this position either a back or front somersault can be easily thrown. No. 1 grasps his left wrist with right hand; No. 2, same; each then grasps the other’s right wrist with left hand, thus forming basket. Fig. 103.

KNEE THREE HIGH.

77. No. 2 lifts No. 3 on shoulders, No. 1 then lifts No. 2 (and No. 3), No. 3 straightens up and leans forward, No. 2 pulls head out and holds No. 3 in position by ankles, No. 2 now raises up slightly and leans forward and No. 1 pulls head out and, straightening up, completes the knee three high. No. 3 jumps down and rolls over, followed by No. 2 and No. 1 in quick succession. Figs. 104, 105, 106.

78. Build three high as in No. 77. No. 3 does a front off, then No. 2, and No. 1 does a standing front. Fig. 107.

STILL MOUNT.
(For Three High.)

79. (The object is for No. 2 to mount to shoulders without moving No. 1 from his tracks. This should first be practiced a number of times on the floor, and then on top of the horse or buck. When practicing a three high the top mount should always have around his waist a belt suspended from the ceiling the first few trials.) Facing each other and clasping hands, No. 1 pulls No. 2 (who jumps) on his feet, hands above head; No. 2 places left hand on top of No. 1’s head, and clasps his right hand; No. 2 bends left leg and places his foot in No. 1’s left hand; No. 1 pulls hard with right hand and lifts with left, No. 2 assisting himself by pressing hard on No. 1’s head with left hand; No. 2 places right foot on No. 1’s right shoulder and left foot on left shoulder, and comes to an erect position. Figs. 108, 109, 110.

THREE HIGH.

80. No. 2 mounts to No. 1’s shoulders and grasps No. 3’s hands (Fig. 111) and pulls him to top of No. 1’s shoulders; No. 3 continues on up by still mount. Lean and fall. Fig. 112.