HISTORY OF GYMNASTICS The earliest recorded activities in

HISTORY OF GYMNASTICS

The earliest recorded activities in gymnastics were some exercises, stunts and tumbling resembling gymnastics. Hanging, climbing ropes, swinging, balancing on stone and logs, flipping, and turning were common activities during the early civilizations. The Chinese had a sort of exercise called “Kung fu” or Medical Gymnastics, while India had the “Yoga”.

The Greeks had activities with apparatuses and they developed the word “gymnastics” which meant “Naked Art”. The pictures on stone found on Egypt are evidences of the Egyptian participation in some sort balancing activities. The pyramids were inspirations of the pyramid activities in gymnastics.

The Roman because of their love of war, devised a wooden equipment similar to the back of a horse where they could practice mounting and dismounting a horse indoor. This equipment is now being used in the class activities and skills in its use is one of the events in the competitive gymnastics.

The Germans were the greatest Contributors to our present Gymnastics. The following people were instrumental in the of Gymnastics: Ø development 1723 -1790 – Johann Basedow introduced gymnastics in school curriculum. Ø 1759 -1839 – Johann Guts Muths called “great grandfather” wrote a book title Gymnastics for the Youth. Invented the outdoor apparatuses.

Ø 1778 -1852 – Freidrich Jahn is considered the “Father of Gymnastics”. Started the Turveiren movement. Introduced the horizontal bar, the parallel bar, the side horse, and the vaulting buck. Ø 1810 -1858 – Adolf Spies introduced marching and free hand exercises performed with music. Ø 1776 -1839 – Perh Ling a Swedish enthusiast invented the stall bars and vaulting box or Sweding box.

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