Present Status of Gymnastics in Germany

- An Example of Sport and Gymnastic School in Kiedaisch -

Abstract

The author has had an opportunity to visit and study at Sport and Gymnastic School in Kiedaisch (Sport und Gymnastikschule Kiedaisch) that is in Stuttgart, the capital of Baden-Wuerttemberg, for a year. The Sport and Gymnastic School in Kiedaisch, established in 1928, is a traditionally prestigious private gymnastic school in Germany, and is one of the schools that employ eminent teachers in gymnastics, together with “Bode School (Bode Schule)” and “Medau School (Medau Schule)”. The aim of this paper is to prepare some fundamental data concerning the present status of gymnastics in Germany by reporting classes given at Sport and Gymnastic School in Kiedaisch with a help of vision based upon these experiences and collected data of the author. The main conclusion of my study is as follows.
· In 1967, the number of classes in gymnastics-related area was as many as 11 a week, but now the curriculum has been changed to cover a wide range of fields. Now, classes of fundamental theories and exercises necessary for the health education and sports occupy the main part of the curriculum for the semesters 1 and 2; from the 2nd semester on full-fledged teaching training classes are given. Classes of gymnastics-related area consist of exercises that can be fundamentally bases of all sorts of sports.
· In “Ground Gymnastics” classes, mainly five ground forms in the German gymnastics, namely, “to bounce, to walk, to run, to jump, and to swing”, are taken into the movement. In “Hand-apparatus Gymnastics” classes, such ordinary apparatuses as “a ball, rope, ribbon” are used, and teaching is concerned not only with the way of handling the apparatus but also with the manner how to use the body. More stress is put on the latter. More unique classes are employed such as “Motion Games” in which students invent movements taking the characteristics of the apparatus into account, “Pilates” whose main object is to activate a group of muscles deep in the body. In the last year, students have to learn the minimum ability in exercising as well as teaching capability.
· In the last year students have to take six items of examination in a broad area of gymnastics, they have to learn the minimum ability in exercising as well as teaching capability. Examiners consist of three teachers in the School and one evaluation-board member of the gymnastics dispatched from the City, altogether four people.