Physical Fitness For Life: The Leopard’s Code

Grace and Power!!!

Leopards (these are spotted panthers indigenous to Africa) are considered to be mythical creatures. This belief holds true among the indigenous tribes of Africa and South America. The reason is not farfetched. The panther is the picture of physical grace, power, and ageless beauty. In fact, among the Yoruba, an ancient and wise people inhabiting the South Western parts of Nigeria and, can be found in parts of Benin and Togo, the leopard is a symbol of fearlessness, power, and agelessness. There's a saying among the Yoruba which originated from their hunters, which loosely translated means - "you cannot stumble on the carcass of a dead leopard while wandering through the jungle". Now, what does this really mean? The meaning is esoteric. It is the view of a creature that reaches the prime of physicality at young adulthood and retains it until it breathes its last in death. In other words, it is a creature that does not experience the degeneration of old age. This is the "Leopard’s Code"     

   The scientific accuracy and verification of this claim are unimportant, what is important is the principle at work here. The principle of a physically active and productive life without the degeneration and indignity of what is known as "old age". It is an active belief that a creature’s lifespan is genetically coded into its being. Therefore, when its lifespan runs out, it simply dies! Relating this to a human being, it means that one can live a physically active life through one's lifespan without experiencing the indignity of becoming a doddering vegetable before dying!

    The fact remains that, among the Yoruba, thousands of examples of this type of panoramic health existed before the destructive encroachment of modernity. Even in this day and age, we still have examples dotting the landscape here and there. I have seen octogenarians and nonagenarians taking women in their early twenties as wives and are still physically able to do what they were "doing" when they were twenty-five. This is the Leopard’s Code - "To live every single second actively! And then die!!!" Not to waste part of one's precious life as a doddering vegetable!

"They see their bodies for exactly what it is - a superbly engineered, fine-tuned, high-performance bio-machine that houses their essence" - Ayo Sodipo

        In the western world, this kind of panoramic health has been witnessed over and over throughout the ages. Some have attributed it to some mysterious elixirs, magic, mutant genes, or membership of certain esoteric cults, etc. What nobody likes to hear is that these few consciously disciplined individuals have simply been observing and working with natural law. They see their bodies for exactly what it is - a superbly engineered, fine-tuned, high-performance bio-machine that houses their essence. Thus, they don't do things that can destroy it. At least not consciously. They know that like every machine, it has an expiry date. They also know that like every machine, if it is well maintained it serves its owner well throughout its manufacturer's designated lifespan. This is an observable fact.

      I have always been mystified by how a person can take loving and infinite care of their car, motorbike, golf clubs, dog, etc.; and yet be a smoker?! How can you be loving and caring to inanimate objects and lesser creations and be careless and hateful to yourself?! True believers, before you can love anybody or anything you must first love yourself. Intelligent people don't destroy themselves.

        The leopard's code is being observed daily by a few people all over the world. These are men and women in their 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s; but who have the highly functional and fine-tuned bodies of people in their mid-20s to mid-30s

             

A classic example of discipline and self-esteem!!!

Wonder woman!!

The pictures are those of Ernestine Shepherd and were taken when she was 74 years old in 2010. According to the Guinness Book of Records in 2010 and 2011, she was then the oldest competing female bodybuilder in the world. Ernestine started taking care of her body when she was 56. According to her, she could do everything she was doing at 30. I believe her completely!! Now, that's what I call a cougar!!! 
   

Classic self-preservation!!!

The picture above is that of the late Jim Morris, bodybuilder, and former bodyguard to rock star Elton John. The pictures above show his body at different ages. Notice that there's very little difference between how he looked at 25 and how he looked at 77!!! This is the Leopard's Code taken to its zenith. This elderly (not old) gentleman surely enjoyed life to the last seconds of his physical existence on this plane. This is because he has maintained himself for a lifetime.
       It’s very easy to start giving excuses that it’s too late because of advanced age and ill-health but, these are just what they are -  Excuses!! Take the example of the elderly gentleman that has his picture shown below - 

It’s never too late!!!

The late Mr. Ray Moon of Australia took this picture when he was in his 80s. At 75 years of age, Mr. Moon has had polio, open-heart surgery, suffered a cardiac arrest, and was once pronounced clinically dead. He has had a pacemaker fitted, has suffered a twisted bowel, two minor strokes, a hernia, and prostate problems. As you can see, Mr. Moon was an old man having the normal problems of old men. However, at 75, Mr. Moon got tired of being an old man and hit the gym. The result is what you see above. He now has a better quality of life and is happy about it!

       As we can see, the earlier one starts taking care of his/her body the better. Mr. Morris started in his early 20s and today looks better than most 30 years old people. Mrs. Shepherd started when she was 56 and looks like a delicious 40. And, Mr. Moon started at 75 and can pass for well preserved 60 years old. Therefore, it doesn’t matter when you start. Take care of your body, and your body will take care of you!!