Gene,

In exercitatione complemetariis exercitiis interesses, ut corpus tuum excolas. Robora truncum, promoveas flexibilitatem, et cardiovascularem resistere potestatem, qui ipsis facultatibus in arte gladii subveniant.

RE: Our problem term in AGF “Cardiovascularis Resistere Potestas”, is a mix of Latin and English used to describe what is commonly referred to as “cardiovascular endurance” or “cardiovascular fitness” in modern English.

To understand this term, we can break it down into its Latin roots:

Cardiovascularis: This comes from the Latin “cardio-” meaning “heart” and “-vascularis” meaning “pertaining to vessels”. In a medical or biological context, it refers to the system comprising the heart and blood vessels.

• Resistere: This is a Latin verb meaning “to resist” or “to withstand”.
• Potestas: This is a Latin noun meaning “power” or “capacity”.

Put together, “Cardiovascularis Resistere Potestas” could be roughly translated as “the power or capacity to resist or withstand pertaining to the heart and vessels”. In other words, it’s the ability of the cardiovascular system to endure physical activity over a period of time without getting fatigued. In modern fitness terminology, this is simply called “cardiovascular endurance” or “cardio endurance”.

In our ancient or medieval context, Latin would have been used in a slightly different manner, as the concepts of “cardiovascular” and “endurance” as we understand them today were not defined in the same way.

However, if we were to construct a phrase that might have been used to convey the idea of physical endurance or stamina, especially in a context relevant to a warrior or soldier’s training, it might look something like this:

• “Virtus Cardiovascularis”: This phrase combines “virtus” (meaning strength, virtue, or courage) with “cardiovascularis”. It would suggest the strength or virtue of the heart and blood vessels.
• “Robur Cordis et Vasorum”: Here, “robur” signifies strength or robustness, “cordis” refers to the heart, and “vasorum” to the vessels. This phrase would directly refer to the strength of the heart and vessels.
• “Stamina Corporis”: “Stamina” in Latin refers to the threads of the warp in weaving and came to mean the essential stuff or material of which anything is made, a base or foundation. Over time, it came to be associated with the idea of the basic strength or endurance of an organism. “Corporis” means “of the body”. So, this phrase might be used to denote bodily or physical endurance.
• “Perseverantia Physica”: “Perseverantia” means perseverance, persistence, or continued steady belief or efforts, and “physica” refers to natural physical activity.

If the intent is to capture the essence of a warrior’s endurance in combat, including the ability to sustain effort, resist fatigue, and maintain alertness, these phrases might be more historically and contextually appropriate.

For our annotated to the edition, here’s the proposed text for the basics for about complementary exercises for swordsmanship into modern English:

• Core Training: A strong core is essential for stability and effective movement in sword fighting. Exercises like planks, sit-ups, and Russian twists can help strengthen your core.
• Flexibility Training: Martial arts, including swordsmanship, often require good flexibility. Yoga or Pilates, as well as specific stretching exercises, can improve flexibility.
• Cardiovascular Endurance: Practicing swordsmanship can build endurance in your heart and lungs. Running, swimming, or using a stationary bike can increase your cardiovascular capacity.
• Explosive Power: Plyometric exercises (like jumps), sprints, and explosive weight lifting (such as kettlebell swings or Olympic weightlifting) can help develop explosive power, which is very useful for quick and powerful strikes.
• Agility and Speed Training: Agility exercises, such as cone drills or ladder drills, can improve your reaction time and speed in your movements.
• Technical Coordination: Practicing with a wooden sword or doing sparring simulations with a partner can improve technical coordination and reaction time.

When beginning these exercises, it’s always good to start with a moderate warm-up and end with a cool-down and stretching to reduce muscle tension and promote recovery. If you’re unsure how to start, seeking advice from a gym instructor or martial arts teacher can be helpful, as they can tailor exercises to your needs.

Our translation, then, goes something like this:

Exercitationes complementares ad artes gladii valde prodesse possunt. Ecce aliquot genera exercitiorum quae adiuvare possunt:

Roboratio Trunci (Core Training): Truncus fortis est essentialis pro stabilitate et motu efficaci in arte gladii. Exercitia ut planks, sit-ups, et Russian twists adiuvare possunt.

Flexibilitas (Flexibility Training): Artes marciales, inclusa arte gladii, saepe flexibilitatem bonam requirunt. Yoga aut Pilates, necnon specifica extensoria exercitia, flexibilitatem meliorare possunt.

Cardiovascularis Resistere Potestas (Cardiovascular Endurance): Arte gladii exercitio, cor et pulmones robur acquirent. Currendo, natando, aut bicicleta stationali usus, cardiovascularis capacitas augeri potest.

Explosiva Potentia (Explosive Power): Saltus exercitia (plyometrics), sprints, et explosiva pondera levare (ut kettlebell swings aut Olympic weightlifting) adiuvare possunt in incremento potentiae explosivae, quae in ictibus celeribus et potentibus valde utilia sunt.

Agilitas et Celeritas (Agility and Speed Training): Exercitia agilitatis, uti cone drills aut ladder drills, responsionem temporis et celeritatem in motibus tuis emendare possunt.

Technicae Coordinationis (Technical Coordination): Exercitia cum gladio ligno aut simulationes pugnae cum partner technicam coordinationem et reactionem tempus meliorare possunt.

Ut haec exercitia incipias, semper bonum est cum moderato calentamento incipere et cum refrigeratione et extensoriis finire, ut musculorum tensionem diminuas et recuperationem promoveas. Si incertus es quomodo incipere debes, consilium a professore gymnasii aut magistro artium marcialium petere potest, qui exercitia ad necessitates tuas aptare potest.

Still finding “Cardiovascularis Resistere” and “cardiovascularem ” to disjointing in this context, suggest we go for “Robur Cordis”. 

“In exercitationibus complementariis te exercens, corpus tuum excolito. Truncum roborato, flexibilitatem promoveto, et potentiam cardiovascularem augeto, quae ipsae facultates in arte gladii tibi subveniant.”

The adjustments in this translation include:

• In exercitatione complemetariis exercitiis interesses is translated to In exercitationibus complementariis te exercens for smoother medieval Latin syntax.
• ut corpus tuum excolas changes to corpus tuum excolito, adapting the verb form to a more direct imperative.
• Robora truncum, promoveas flexibilitatem, et cardiovascularem resistere potestatem is modified to Truncum roborato, flexibilitatem promoveto, et potentiam cardiovascularem augeto. This rephrasing uses imperatives consistent with medieval Latin, along with vocabulary adjustments for stylistic coherence.

Replacing potentiam cardiovascularem with Robur Cordis et Vasorum, translating to “Strength of the Heart and Vessels,” provides, i think, a more classical and descriptive term for my colleagues cardiovascular strength.

In exercitationibus complementariis te exercens, corpus tuum excolito. Truncum roborato, flexibilitatem promoveto, et Robur Cordis et Vasorum augeto, quae ipsae facultates in arte gladii tibi subveniant.

Suggest we proceed along these lines and do something about the russian twists, Vrashcheniya Tela?

Kind Regards

T.

P.S the digital mock-ups for the facsimile from our fine arts dep are coming along.