Bill Orban
Encyclopedia
William Robert Orban was a Canadian
athlete, scientist and academic. He was a pioneer in the field of physical fitness, best known for creating the 5BX
programme in the late 1950s.
Born in Regina, Saskatchewan
, Orban played many sports at the Jesuit
high school he attended, where he also did well academically. In 1941 he was offered a hockey scholarship
to attend the University of California, Berkeley
. He initially studied engineering but soon switched to the physical education
programme, becoming the first Canadian to study it at that university. He was greatly interested in the subject and in 1953 went on to study a Ph.D.
at the University of Illinois
.
After completing his studies he chose to return to Canada, despite offers of employment from several American universities. He took a position at the Department of National Defence
in 1956 and was tasked to develop a fitness programme for Royal Canadian Air Force
pilots, a third of whom were not considered fit to fly.
In response to this brief he created the 5BX
(5 Basic Exercises) plan. The plan was innovative in two respects. Firstly, it did not require access to specialised equipment. Many Air Force pilots were located in remote bases in northern Canada, with no access to these facilities, so it was important to offer a means of keeping fit without their use. Secondly, the plan only required 11 minutes per day to be spent on the exercises. Orban had noticed when testing oxygen intake in Illinois that long periods of exercise did not necessarily lead to significant improvement. This led him to the conclusion that the intensity of exercise was more important that the amount of time spent on it. This aspect of the plan drew a negative reaction from others in the field but the 5BX programme proved its worth. 23 million copies of the booklet were sold to the Canadian public and it was popular around the world, being translated into 13 languages. Orban, as a public servant, received no additional income from the success of the plan.
In 1958 the University of Saskatchewan
employed Orban to take the position of dean
at its new Physical Education programme. While there he initiated the Saskatchewan Growth Study - a pioneering study of physical development in boys aged 7 to 17. In 1966 he returned to Ottawa to become a professor of the University
's Human Kinetics department and became dean of that department in 1968, a position he occupied until 1976. He continued as a professor in Kinanthropology until his retirement in 1987.
Even after his retirement he remained active, exercising daily until shortly before his death at age 81 in Ottawa
. He also continued his academic work, developing the Physical Energetics Systems of Equations (PESE). This would allow individuals to calculate exactly how fit they could potentially be and what level of exercise would allow them to achieve this. He hoped that it would allow training times for athletes to be cut and help people recovering from illnesses to become fitter. Orban died from cancer shortly before his research was published.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
athlete, scientist and academic. He was a pioneer in the field of physical fitness, best known for creating the 5BX
5BX
The 5BX Plan is an exercise program developed for the Royal Canadian Air Force by Bill Orban in the late 1950s, first published in 1961. The plan was developed for men; a corresponding program was developed for women under the name XBX .-The 5BX plan:The 5BX Plan is composed of six charts...
programme in the late 1950s.
Born in Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
, Orban played many sports at the Jesuit
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
high school he attended, where he also did well academically. In 1941 he was offered a hockey scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
to attend the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. He initially studied engineering but soon switched to the physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
programme, becoming the first Canadian to study it at that university. He was greatly interested in the subject and in 1953 went on to study a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
at the University of Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
.
After completing his studies he chose to return to Canada, despite offers of employment from several American universities. He took a position at the Department of National Defence
Department of National Defence (Canada)
The Department of National Defence , frequently referred to by its acronym DND, is the department within the government of Canada with responsibility for all matters concerning the defence of Canada...
in 1956 and was tasked to develop a fitness programme for Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
pilots, a third of whom were not considered fit to fly.
In response to this brief he created the 5BX
5BX
The 5BX Plan is an exercise program developed for the Royal Canadian Air Force by Bill Orban in the late 1950s, first published in 1961. The plan was developed for men; a corresponding program was developed for women under the name XBX .-The 5BX plan:The 5BX Plan is composed of six charts...
(5 Basic Exercises) plan. The plan was innovative in two respects. Firstly, it did not require access to specialised equipment. Many Air Force pilots were located in remote bases in northern Canada, with no access to these facilities, so it was important to offer a means of keeping fit without their use. Secondly, the plan only required 11 minutes per day to be spent on the exercises. Orban had noticed when testing oxygen intake in Illinois that long periods of exercise did not necessarily lead to significant improvement. This led him to the conclusion that the intensity of exercise was more important that the amount of time spent on it. This aspect of the plan drew a negative reaction from others in the field but the 5BX programme proved its worth. 23 million copies of the booklet were sold to the Canadian public and it was popular around the world, being translated into 13 languages. Orban, as a public servant, received no additional income from the success of the plan.
In 1958 the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
employed Orban to take the position of dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
at its new Physical Education programme. While there he initiated the Saskatchewan Growth Study - a pioneering study of physical development in boys aged 7 to 17. In 1966 he returned to Ottawa to become a professor of the University
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
's Human Kinetics department and became dean of that department in 1968, a position he occupied until 1976. He continued as a professor in Kinanthropology until his retirement in 1987.
Even after his retirement he remained active, exercising daily until shortly before his death at age 81 in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
. He also continued his academic work, developing the Physical Energetics Systems of Equations (PESE). This would allow individuals to calculate exactly how fit they could potentially be and what level of exercise would allow them to achieve this. He hoped that it would allow training times for athletes to be cut and help people recovering from illnesses to become fitter. Orban died from cancer shortly before his research was published.