THE HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT OF PARALLEL BARS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52165/sgj.17.2.199-220Keywords:
history, artistic gymnastics, gymnastics apparatus, parallel bars, design, innovationAbstract
The parallel bars are an essential part of artistic gymnastics, as evidenced by their inclusion in the core Olympic disciplines of men's and women's gymnastics. This article looks at the origins and development of the men's gymnastics apparatus – the parallel bars. The late 18th and early 19th centuries, during the rise of the German gymnastics system, are seen as key periods for its development. The article provides a detailed insight into the conditions and social events that played a decisive role in the emergence of parallel bars. It also sheds light on the key figures involved in the construction of the parallel bars, focusing on historical developments, structural improvements and innovations that have made the parallel bars an integral part of elite men's gymnastics competitions today. As far as the methodology used in this manuscript is concerned, the authors have adhered to the standard methods of historical research. The authors' main focus was on collecting relevant material on the subject. The authors conscientiously searched for primary sources, including books, scientific articles and digitised documents. These facts were classified by the authors and their relationships were analysed using the comparative method. Based on the analysis of this information, the authors prepared the manuscript.
Metrics
Downloads
References
Bjella, L. (2015). Early Gymnastics in the World (n.p.). Washington State Gymnastics History. Retrieved from https://wanawgj.com/history/early-gymnastics-in-the-world/
Bornemann, J. W. J. (1814). Lehrbuch der von Friedrich Ludwig Jahn unter dem Namen der Turnkunst wiedererweckten Gymnastik [Textbook of gymnastics revived by Friedrich Ludwig Jahn under the name of the art of gymnastics]. Berlin: Dieterici. Retrieved from https://digital.zlb.de/viewer/image/15818425
Božik, R. (2018). Základy tělesné kultury [Fundamentals of Physical Culture] (p. 26). Zlín: Univerzita Tomáše Bati.
Calvert, R. N. (2002). The history of massage: An illustrated survey from around the world (p.93). Rochester: Healing Arts Press.
Čuk, I., Karácsony, I. (2016). Parallel Bars – Methods, Ideas, Curiosities, History (pp. 6, 18). Slovenia: Brezovica pri Ljubljani and Hungarian Gymnastics Federation.
Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica (2024). Emil Heinrich Du Bois-Reymond. Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Dec. 2024. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Emil-Heinrich-Du-Bois-Reymond
Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica (2024). Friedrich Ludwig Jahn. German educator. Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11 Oct. 2024. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn
Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica (2024). Turnverein. Encyclopaedia Britannica, 17 Jul. 2024. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/sports/turnverein. Accessed 11 February 2025
Euler, C. (1894). Encyklopädisches Handbuch des gesamten Turnwesens und der verwandten Gebiete. [Encyclopedic Handbook of the Entire Gymnastics Field and Related Areas] (p. 81). Wien, Leipzig: Verlag von A Pichler's Witwe & Pädagogische litteratur. Retrieved from https://www.google.sk/books/edition/Encyklop%C3%A4disches_Handbuch_des_gesamten/t8uUfE3z6ZYC?hl=en&gbpv=1
Euler, C., Eckler, G. (1896). Monatsschrift für das Turnwesen mit besonderer Berücksichtigung des Schulturnens und der Gesundheitspflege [Monthly journal for gymnastics with special consideration of school gymnastics and health care] (p. 95). Berlin: R. Gaertners Verlagsbuchhandlung. Retrieved from https://www.google.sk/books/edition/Monatsschrift_f%C3%BCr_das_Turnwesen/98Yp1pLGHLAC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Barren%20mit%20drei%20Holmen%20geschichte&pg=PP4&printsec=frontcover
Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (2023). Apparatus norms. International Federation of Gymnastics. Retrieved from https://www.gymnastics.sport/publicdir/rules/files/en_Apparatus%20Norms.pdf
Gajdoš, A., Jašek, Z. (1988). Športová gymnastika. História a súčasnosť [Artistic gymnastics. past and present] (pp. 80, 81, 82, 84). Bratislava: Šport.
Gems, G. R., Borish L. J., Pfister, G. (2023). Sports in American History: From colonization to globalization. Third edition (p. 42). Champaign, Illinois: Human Kinetics, Inc.
Göhler, J., Spieth, R. (1981). Geschichte der Turngeräte [History of gymnastics equipment] (pp. 15, 19, 21). Stuttgart: Sprint-Druck GmbH.
Götz, F. (1892). Handbuch Der Deutschen Turnerschaft: Im Auftrage Des Ausschusses Derselben Herausgegeben von Ferdinand Goetz [Handbook of the German Gymnastics Association: Published on Behalf of Its Committee by Ferdinand Goetz] (p.46). 4. Ausg. Hof: G.A. Grau & C.
Grexa, J., Strachová, M. (2011). Dějiny sportu: přehled světových a českých dějin tělesné výchovy a sportu (1. elektronické vydání) [History of sport: An overview of world and czech history of physical education and sport (1st electronic edition)] (p.76). Masarykova univerzita v Brně. Fakulta sportovních studií.
GutsMuths, J. Ch. F., Klumpp, F. W. (1847). Gymnastik für die Jugend. [Gymnastics for youth] (n.p.). Stuttgart: Hoffmann.
Gymmedia (n.d.). History of parallel bars. From Jahn’s training apparatus
to an independent tournament apparatus. Retrieved from https://www.gymmedia.com/Rotterdam10/ag/appa/bars/history_ba.htm
Hardman, K., Naul, R. (2002). Sport and physical education in Germany (p. 15). Oxford: Taylor & Francis Group.
Harter, J. K. (2006). 12: The Elements of Great Managing (p.16). New York: Gallup.
International Olympic Committee (2025). Olympic Games. Retrieved from https://www.olympics.com/en/olympic-games
Jahn, F. L., Eiselen, E. (1960). Die Deutsche Turnkunst [German art of gymnastics] (p. 73). Berlin: Sportverlag.
Jahn, F. L., Eiselen, E. W. B. (1816). Die Deutsche Turnkunst zur Einrichtung der Turnplätze [German art of gymnastics for the arrangement of gymnastics fields] (p. 73). Berlin. Retrieved from https://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:109-1-15358193
Kaimakamis, V., Papadopoulos, P., Kaimakamis, D., Duka, S. (2010). Invention and evolution of the parallel bars in the first half of the 19th century (pp. 168, 170). In: Studies in physical culture and tourism Vol. 17, No. 2. Poznań: Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego.
Kasa, J., Švec, Š. et al. (2007). Terminologický slovník vied o športe [Terminological dictionary of sports sciences] (p. 58). Bratislava: Univerzita Komenského, Fakulta telesnej výchovy a športu.
Kenneth Spencer Research Library Archival Collections (2008). Hugo Rothstein Letter. University of Kansas. Retrieved from https://archives.lib.ku.edu/repositories/3/resources/4240
Kluge, H. O., Euler, C. (1872). Turngeräthe und Turneinrichtungen für Schul und Militair Turn Anstalten und Turn Vereine [Gymnastics equipment and facilities for school and military gymnastics institutions and gymnastics clubs]. Berlin: Schroeder. Retrieved from https://www.google.sk/books/edition/Turnger%C3%A4the_und_Turneinrichtungen_f%C3%BCr/8v8KM1bX7MMC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Hermann%20Otto%20Kluge%20verstellbar%20Barren&pg=PR1&printsec=frontcover
Kössl, J., Štumbauer, J., Waic, M. (1999). Vybrané kapitoly z dějín tělesné kultúry [Selected chapters from the history of physical culture] (pp. 37, 42, 44, 47). Praha: Univerzita Karlova.
Kössl, J., Štumbauer, J., Waic, M. (2008). Vybrané kapitoly z dějín tělesné kultúry [Selected chapters from the history of physical culture] (p. 37). Praha: Univerzita Karlova.
Kössl, J., Štumbauer, J., Waic, M. (2023). Kapitoly z dějin tělesné kultury (Druhé vydání) [Chapters from the history of physical culture (Second edition)] (p.56). Praha: Univerzita Karlova, nakladatelství Karolinum.
Krüger, M. (1993). Das Turnen als reaktionäres Mittel — Wilhelm Angerstein und die Disziplinierung des Turnens [Gymnastics as a reactionary means — Wilhelm Angerstein and the discipline of gymnastics] (p. 17). Retrieved from https://www.bisp-surf.de/dokumente/1993_01_001.pdf
Kulcke, G. (2006). Foltergeräte in Wertarbeit [Torture devices in high-quality craftsmanship]. In: Das archiv der Taz. Retrieved from https://taz.de/Foltergeraete-in-Wertarbeit/!446079/
Leirich, J. (1961). Zur Geschichte unserer Turngeräte [On the history of our gymnastics apparatus] (pp. 8-9), In: Neue Deutsche Turnzeitung – Organ des Deutschen Turnverbandes in DSTB, 1961, Jahrgang 10, Nummer 1.
Munzel, G. F. (2012). Kant's conception of pedagogy: Toward education for freedom (p. 87). Evanston, Ill.: Northwestern University Press.
Nečas, M. (2020). Historie a vývoj gymnastických disciplín mužů [History and development of men's gymnastics disciplines] (Bachelor's thesis) (p. 34). Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci, Fakulta tělesné kultury. Retrieved from https://theses.cz/id/jpcyin/Bakalarska_prace_-_final.pdf
Perútka, J. et al. (1980). Malá encyklopédia telesnej výchovy a športu. [Small encyclopedia of physical education and sports] (p. 28). Bratislava: Šport – Obzor.
Petráčková, V., Kraus, J. et al. (1997). Slovník cudzích slov. [Dictionary of foreign words] (p.281). Bratislava: Media Trade, spol. s.r.o. – Slovenské pedagogické nakladateľstvo.
Pfister, G. (2003). Cultural Confrontations: German Turnen, Swedish Gymnastics and English Sport – European Diversity in Physical Activities from a Historical Perspective (pp. 81-82). Taylor & Francis: Culture, Sport, Society 6 (1). DOI 10.1080/14610980312331271489.
Robolsky, H., Töppe, A. (1845). Abbildungen von Turn-Uebungen [Illustrations of gymnastic exercises]. Berlin: Reimer. Retrieved from https://www.digitale-sammlungen.de/en/view/bsb10481781?page=,1
Rodde, Ruesch (1889). Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie. Neunundzwanzigster Band [General German Biography. Twenty-Ninth Volume] (p. 376). Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot.
Rovegno, I., Bandhauer, D. (2017). Elementary physical education: curriculum and instruction (p. 5). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Retrieved from https://samples.jblearning.com/9781284077988/Chapter1_secured.pdf
Saure, F. (2009). Beautiful bodies, exercising warriors and original people: Sports, Greek antiquity and national identity from Winckelmann to ‘Turnvater Jahn’ (n.p.). German History, Volume 27, Issue 3. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/gh/article/27/3/358/699911
Spieth-gymnastics.com (n.d.). Our philosophy. Reach the maximum!
Retrieved from https://www.spieth-gymnastics.com/about-spieth/we-are-spieth/philosophy-history/
Stabbs, R. et al. (2009). Kniha športov. [Sports book] (pp. 80 - 81). London: Dorling Kindersley Limited.
Swierczeková, L. (2015). Turneři 1846 – 1938 (1986) [Turners 1846 – 1938 (1986)] (n.p.). Praha: Archiv sportu a tv. Retrieved from https://www.nm.cz/cs/file/45582275b9b90f7fe818ca2d71ad340f/5892/Turne%C5%99i.pdf
Šteigl, J. (2021). Využití bradel v tělesné výchově [History and development of men's gymnastics disciplines] (Bachelor's thesis) (p.12). Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci, Fakulta tělesné kultury. Retrieved from https://theses.cz/id/6lsdvq/BP_-_Jan_Steigl.pdf?lang=sk
Švedová, M., Uher, I. (2013). Kapitoly z dejín telesnej kultúry a športu. [Chapters from the history of physical culture and sport] (p. 38). Košice: Univerzita Pavla Jozefa Šafárika.
Tröhler, D. (2017). Shaping the national body: Physical education and the transformation of German nationalism in the long nineteenth century (p. 35). Nordic Journal of Educational History, Vol. 4, no. 2 (2017). Retrieved from https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1746040/FULLTEXT01.pdf
Žáček, R., Janoušek, V. (1961). Gymnastické náčiní a nářadí a jejich údržba [Gymnastics equipment and apparatus and their maintenance] (p. 36). Praha: Sportovní a turistické nakladatelství.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Michal Babela, František Seman
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
