REVIVAL OF GYMNASTICS IN EUROPE

Johann Bernhard Basedow (1723-1790)

Johann Basedow (1723-1790) was the first to conduct
gymnastics as part of education. He was the first modern writer
and teacher of organized gymnastics for whom records survive.
He was a German, and he is credited with founding the
Philanthropinum and Education of the Mind and Body.
Established a school called Philanthropinum, the first school
in modern Europe that offered a program where physical
education was a part of the curriculum. Basedow, (born Sept. 11, 1724,— July
25,1790, Brandenburg), influential German educational reformer who advocated the use
of realistic teaching methods and the introduction of nature study, physical education,
and manual training into the schools. He also called for an end to physical punishment
and to rote memorization in language learning.

Johann Christoph Friedrich Guts Muths (1759-1839)

Guts Muth (1759-1839) (the Great Grandfather of Gymnastics) wrote
many influential books including carefully chosen gymnastic exercises for
girls in 1818. He wrote Gymnastics for Youth, the first book on modern
gymnastics in 1793. He describes the use of sloping beams, climbing
poles, ladders and ropes along with the balancing beam and the swinging
beam.
Wrote two books, “Gymnastics for the Young and Games”, which
contained illustrations of various exercises and apparatus, arguments in favor of
physical education institutions; Often referred to as one of the founders of modern
physical education in Germany.
The “grandfather” of modern gymnastics, Johann Christoph Friedrich Guts
Muths(1759–1839), was a leading teacher at the Philanthropinist school in
Schnepfenthal. In his seminal work, Gymnastik für die Jugend (1793; Gymnastics for
Youth), Guts Muths envisioned two main divisions of gymnastics: natural gymnastics
and artificial gymnastics.
 Friedrich Ludwig Jahn (1778-1852)
Friedrich Ludwig Jahn (1778-1852) (The Father of Gymnastics and
The Turn Father) started the Turners in Germany and influenced many
gymnastics leaders, including Francis Lieber (1800-1872) who
emigrated to the U.S. in 1824. Two other disciples of Jahn, Charles
Follen and Charles Beck, along with Lieber, started gymnastics in
America.
His name is associated with the “Turnverein”, an association of gymnasts, which he
inaugurated to help German youth into strong and hardy citizens. Instilled in the youth a
love for gymnastics because of his belief that physical education is a means of aiding
the growth and development of children, and that the country could be made strong
through physical education.
The acknowledged “father” of gymnastics, Friedrich Ludwig Jahn, founder of the
Turnverein movement, is credited with the rapid spread of gymnastics throughout the
world. Gymnastic competition can be traced to the outdoor playground (Turnplatz) Jahn
opened in a field known as the “Hasenheide” (rabbit field) on the outskirts
of Berlin. Ernst Eiselen, Jahn’s assistant and the coauthor of Die Deutsche
Turnkunst (1816; The German Gymnastic Art), carefully noted and explained the various
exercises developed on the playground. The pommel horse was used for leg-swinging
exercises and for vaulting. Jahn invented the parallel bars to increase the upper-body
strength of his students, and immense towers were erected to test their courage.
Balance beams, horizontal bars, climbing ropes, and climbing poles were also found at
the Turnplatz. Primitive pole vaulting was practiced along with other athletic games. The
wide variety of challenging apparatus found on the playground attracted young men
who were then, in addition, indoctrinated with Jahn’s dream of German unification and
his ideas on the defense of the fatherland and ridding Prussia of French influence.
Jahn invented several pieces of equipment: the horizontal bar, parallel bars, side
horse, and the vaulting buck.

Per Henrick Ling (1776-1839)

In Scandinavia, Per Henrik Ling (1776-1839) was one of the
great gymnastics leaders and called the "Father of Swedish
gymnastics". Hundreds of students would participate in mass floor
exercise drills.
His name is symbolic of the rise of physical education in
Sweden. Strove to make physical education a science; stressed
that through anatomy and physiology one would be better able to
understand the human body and its needs, and apply activity intelligently through the
scientific approach. Established the Royal Central Institute of Gymnastics: educational,
military, or medical. His objective of physical education was to develop the body to its
fullest extent, to restore health to the weak, and to make the country strong against
aggressors.
The prime developer of natural gymnastics was Per Henrik Ling. In 1813 Ling
founded a teacher-training centre, the Royal Gymnastics Central Institute, in Stockholm.
Ling devised and taught a system of gymnastic exercises designed to produce medical
benefits for the athlete. Calisthenics are attributed to him, including free calisthenics—
that is, exercises without the use of hand apparatus such as clubs, wands, and
dumbbells. Although Ling did not promote competition, free calisthenics have evolved
into the competitive sport now known as floor exercise.

Franz Nachtegall (1777-1847)

Franz Nachtegall (1777-1847), formed a gymnastic club,
opened a private gymnasium and through his success encouraged
the government to incorporate training into its school curriculum. His
gymnastics program in Denmark emphasized mass calisthenics,
mass vaulting and drills using dumbbells and balls.
Introduced physical education into the schools of Denmark.
First director of a Training School for Teachers of Gymnastics army.
Director of Gymnastics for all Denmark.

Adolf Spiess(1810-1858)
Adolph Spiess (1810-1858) (Father of School Gymnastics) German
who taught gymnastics to his classes in Switzerland and added marching
and free exercises to music.
Founder of school gymnastics in Germany.
Helped to make physical education a part of school life; is thoughts
about physical education:
“Physical education should be required of all students”. It should receive the
same consideration as other subjects in the curriculum. The physical education program
should be progressive, starting with simple exercises and proceeding to the more
difficult.