Comparative Analysis of European Gymnastics Schools
Swedish School (Movement of the North) (Analytical System)
German School (Movement of the Center) (Rhythmic System)
French School (Movement of the West) (Natural System)
English School (Sports Movement) (Sports System)
Swedish School
Pier Ling (1776-1839). Professor of fencing / Hjalmar Ling (1820-1866)
Conception: Anatomical-biological-corrective
Features:
- Analytical exercises, localized, structured around a core
- Artificial construction, statism, order
- Tables for teaching gymnastics
Applications:
- Learning specific sports gestures
- Technified movement development
- Development of specific motor skills
German School
Guts Muths (1759-1859): Pedagogical and healing
Conception: Synthetic motion (multi-core joint)
- Current Gymnastics
- Social-political-military (exaltation of the Germanic race)
- Absence of methodological progression
French School
Francisco Amorós (1770-1848) / Gymnastic Institute Pestalozziano / Gymnastics in Spain
- Natural System
- Exile of Amorós to France
- Natural conception and utility of exercise
Herbert’s Natural Method (1875-1957)
Herbert defined his method as the adaptation of procedures used by living creatures in their natural state to acquire full development.
Basic Principles:
- Search in close contact with nature
- Individualized teaching
- Practice rules of hygiene
- Natural exercises, utility, and concrete application
- Avoid artificial exercises
- All natural activity should lead to happiness and joy, expressed freely with enthusiasm through shouting and singing.
Didactic Applications:
- Psychomotricity: Education from motion
- Movement re-education (accident injuries and growth disorders)
- Therapy in personality disorders and congenital diseases
Natural Approach (Closer to Nature)
- Resistance Training
- Sports activities (urban and nature)
- Multisport activities
English School
Thomas Arnold (1795-1842). Professor of Rugby
- Introduction of sport at school
- Educational value of the human attitude to sport and life (life as a sports school)
- Fair play, team spirit, and amateurism
- Sports: More than a game, a lifestyle
Sports Movement Consequences:
- Birth of many sports
- Regulations and standards (universally accepted)
- Baron Pierre de Coubertein, French pedagogue, creator of the modern Olympic Games (1896)
- Boy Scouts (*), closeness to nature. Sir Baden Powell (formation of active citizens, cheerful and helpful)
Educational Applications:
- Multisport Current: Basic motor skills / specific motor skills
- Alternative sports and basic movements
Austrian Natural Gymnastics
- Domain espacio-temporal
- Concept of health
Motor Development Bases Child:
- Recreation
- Games and dances
How is the structure of a session according to Austrian Natural Gymnastics?
Natural gymnastics (school) Austrian bases its principles in biology, reacting against the Swedish and German gymnastics. Its basic principles are those we could structure a session:
- Animation: Warm-up
- School of posture and movement: For complete muscle development
- Sports and skills: Required to implement all the skills of the student games and dances
- Cool-Down
Features of Herbert’s Natural Method
Herbert defined his method as the adaptation of the procedures used by living creatures in their natural state to acquire full development.