Article - Physical Education, Gymnastics, Games and Sports in Brazil - The German Impact

Abstract

This contribution for the dossier Education, health and recreation: historical processes of body education in the Brazilian journal Educação em Revista is based on a long tradition of research in the history of physical education and sport in Germany with respect to the 19th and 20th century. Next to the Swedish model of gymnastics and body education, the German movement of Turnen and gymnastics was very influential and sustainable for the introduction of concepts of systematic body education worldwide. Brazil is one of numerous countries and nations adopting relevant parts of the German body concept of Turnen and gymnastics. There at least two reasons for this process of cultural transfer and transformation. Firstly, the German emigrants who implemented their body experiences including their cultural traditions in their new home countries, and secondly, the elaborate system of didactics and methodic of German gymnastics which were easy to transfer to the educational institutions. This also happened in Brazil.