We recently visited the RE: PUBLIKA Festival, marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia. One of our favourite displays was about Czech Sokol Movement.
The Sokol movement is an all-age gymnastic organisation first founded in Prague in the Czech part of the Austrian Hungarian Empire, in 1862. The ethos of Sokol was based upon the principle of " a strong mind in a soul body".
Through lectures, discussions, and group outings, Sokol provided what Tyrš viewed as physical, moral, and intellectual training for the nation. This training extended to men and women of all ages and classes.
The idea of physical education as well as the promotion of moral values was formulated by Miroslav Tyrš, a professor of the Charles University, and by Jindrich Fugner. The philosophy, evolved from the ancient Greek ideals of "kalokagathia" and now popularised by Miroslav Tyrš and his followers, became the basis of the movement and is closely attached with the origin of Czechoslovakia, now the Czech Republic.
Four times Sokol was banned or its activities were restricted by wars or totalitarian regimes. However, it remained alive in other countries, in communities of Czech immigrants on all continents of the world.
In 1989, when the communist regimes in eastern Europe collapsed, the Czech Sokol was restored after 42 years. The program's traditions, connected with the physical education of a man responsible for himself, for his community and for democracy in his country, was renewed.
