Wilhelm Reich has shown us that muscular armoring is a neuro-muscular contractive reaction to physical and psychic stress. This contraction, held over time, leads to the development of the psychic and somatic character armor. While the contractive state and its negative effects are evident, there is now some question as to exactly what this contraction is. If we make a fist and then try to hold our arm out from the body for twenty minutes or even less, we find it is not possible without special training. Yet, according to Reichian theory, we are contracting our muscles for twenty years or longer. How is this possible? If the holding process is a muscular activity, why doesn't the muscle get tired?