Obstacle course

Obstacle course

An obstacle course is a series of challenging physical obstacles an individual or team must navigate usually while being timed. Obstacle courses can include running, climbing, jumping, crawling, swimming, and balancing elements with the aim of testing speed and endurance. Sometimes a course involves mental tests. Scholars believe that the modern obstacle course was created in the Asia/Pacific area, likely around the 1800s in Japan, which coincided with the end of the shogun era.

Contents

Types of courses

Military

Military pentathlon in Germany
Obstacle-course training at the Royal Military College of Canada circa 1917
The annual obstacle course race at Royal Military College of Canada is memorialized by a sculpture by John Boxtel, "To Overcome", which was a gift of the class of 1991

The military obstacle course is used (mostly in recruit training) as a way to familiarize recruits with the kind of tactical movement they will use in combat, as well as for physical training, building teamwork, and evaluating problem solving skills. Typical courses involve obstacles the participants must climb over, crawl under, balance, hang, jump, etc. Puddles of muddy water, ropes/nets, and "no touch" restrictions are often used to make the course more difficult. They tend to be outdoors. Often, specialized courses are made to focus on specific needs, such as night movement, assault, and bayonet training. Military courses can also contain climbing walls and rappelling walls.

At the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario, officer cadets in first year participate in an obstacle course, which is designed by senior cadets. The obstacle course lasts a little over an hour, consists of thirteen obstacles built by each squadron located around the RMC grounds. Obstacles such as a 12-foot (3.7 m) wall and truck pulling are designed to test teamwork and physical fitness of First Years. The First Year flights are judged on the time it takes to complete each obstacle. The annual obstacle course race is memorialized by a sculpture by John Boxtel, "To Overcome", which was a gift of the class of 1991. Officer Cadets in third year take a physical education courses Obstacle Course and Water Borne Training. In the Obstacle course, cadets design obstacles with the available equipment and are evaluated on their leadership and innovation in the design of an obstacle course for their classmates. In the Water Borne training, cadets learn about aquatic obstacle courses training and improve their basic swimming skills.[1] At the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY, Cadets must take and pass the Indoor Obstacle Course Test (IOCT). The test consists of 11 obstacles that must be navigated sequentially and is a vigorous test of total body fitness and high intensity cardio-vascular capacity.[2] First year Cadets take the IOCT as part of mandatory gymnastics training, while Third Year Cadets must pass the IOCT as a stand-alone test of fitness.

Inflatable

Fort Pickett, VA "stairs" obstacle

Inflatable (air filled) obstacle courses can have participants go through a variety of areas like the Bish Bash, a tall loose structure to push or wade through, nets to crawl under, walls to climb over and holes to jump through. Some larger inflatables have even more areas.

Assault

An assault obstacle course can be done inside or outside. The outside course is usually messy and filled with mud and muddy water. An inside course is similar to an inflatable course, but it is used in physical education lessons or holiday camps, using gym equipment or whatever is at hand.

Crufts

Crufts is a dog show in the United Kingdom and includes a competitive category for dog agility.

Popular culture

  • The Superstars featured an obstacle course, usually featured as the final event.
  • Battle of the Network Stars featured an obstacle course as one of its many events.
  • Survivor makes extensive use of obstacle courses for their challenges.
  • Gladiators had an indoor obstacle course called "The Eliminator" at the end of each episode.
  • The Peruvian children's series Nubeluz featured a mini-obstacle course called "El Circuito Glufico" as one of its many games in rotation.
  • Viking: The Ultimate Obstacle Course is a Japanese endurance game show.
  • Show jumping is an obstacle course for horse riding.
  • Nickelodeon's Double Dare bonus round is an obstacle course.
  • Sasuke (TV series), otherwise known as Ninja Warrior, is a Japanese obstacle course show aired on G4.
  • On an episode of Total Drama Island, the campers build bikes and then use them to compete in an obstacle course.
  • The Nickelodeon TV show GUTS used obstacle courses for most of their challenges, including the final, the Aggro Crag.
  • The Disney Channel Games or Disney's Friends for Change Games use obstacle courses often to determine the winner of their weekly competitions.
  • The show Wipeout on ABC revolves around the objective of completing obstacle courses.
  • The Canadian show Splatalot on YTV consists of a medieval-themed obstacle course teens must complete to capture a crown as their objective.

References

  1. ^ Athletics Department - Royal Military College of Canada
  2. ^ http://www.usma.edu/dpe/courses/Gymnastics/IOCT.pdf

See also


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • obstacle course — obstacle courses 1) N COUNT In a race, an obstacle course is a series of obstacles that people have to go over or round in order to complete the race. 2) N COUNT: usu sing If you refer to a situation as an obstacle course, you mean that it is… …   English dictionary

  • obstacle course — n. 1. a physical exercise course with barriers, ditches, and other obstacles, used to train military personnel 2. any situation or course of action that presents obstacles or obstructions …   English World dictionary

  • obstacle course — n 1.) a line of objects which people have to jump over, climb through etc in a race 2.) a series of difficulties which must be dealt with to achieve a particular aim 3.) an area of land with special equipment that soldiers must run through, climb …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • obstacle course — obstacle ,course noun count 1. ) a series of objects or structures that you have to get over, under, or through in a race or in a training exercise 2. ) a series of problems that you have to deal with in order to succeed in something …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • obstacle course — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms obstacle course : singular obstacle course plural obstacle courses 1) a series of objects or structures that you have to get over, under, or through in an obstacle race or in a training exercise 2) a series of… …   English dictionary

  • obstacle course — noun (C) 1 a line of objects which runners in an obstacle race have to jump over, climb through etc 2 a series of difficulties which must be dealt with to achieve a particular aim 3 AmE an assault course …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • obstacle course — track made up of various physical challenges to be overcome in an obstacle race …   English contemporary dictionary

  • obstacle course — noun Date: 1943 a military training course filled with obstacles (as hurdles, fences, walls, and ditches) that must be negotiated; broadly a series of obstacles that must be overcome …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • obstacle course — 1. a military training area having obstacles, as hurdles, ditches, and walls, that must be surmounted or crossed in succession. 2. Informal. an event, situation, course of action, or the like that presents many challenges or difficulties. * * * …   Universalium

  • obstacle course — ob′stacle course n. 1) mil a military training area having obstacles, as hurdles and ditches that must be surmounted or crossed in succession 2) cvb inf an event, situation, or the like with many challenges …   From formal English to slang

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