JOURNAL OF HUMAN KINETICS VOLUME 6, 2001

SCIENCE OF HUMAN MOVEMENTS – MEANING,

NAME, DIRECTIONS OF DEVELOPMENT

by

Włodzimierz Starosta ∗

Movement is the biological need of every living organism. The human, by creating
modern civilization, somehow has forgotten about his genetic code. Man started to lead
a sedentary life style, which causes many civilization diseases. In such a case an
alternative appears: either man makes an effort to care about his physical development,
or the number of disabled people will start to grow. Then the theory and practice in the
movement science will become more significant. For ages, movement has been a
subject of interest for many representatives of different scientific disciplines. Its
meaning was shortly defined by Aristotle: “Movement is life”. The multiplicity and the
variety of terms proposed to name the movement science demonstrates how intensive is
the interest of the teams of specialists from other field of knowledge, in this developing
scientific discipline, and especially in the 20th century. The multitude of terms proposed
shows how extensive is the topical scope of the movement science. Movement science
has and will always have a universal meaning, since it refers to every human being
regardless of: sex, age, race, occupation etc. Movement performance of a man is
extremely rich and complex and mastering the conditions and regulations of its
development, requires versatile and interdisciplinary studies. The outstanding activity of
the IASK members in the international arena, as well as the increasing prestige of the
Association prove how necessary the organization is.

Key words: genetic code, kinesiology, definitions development

Introduction

The paradox of our times lies in the fact that many of our professional
activities demand higher and higher motor competence, while at the same time
the lowering of its level among the societies of various nations is being
observed. The human being when creating the modern civilization which
released him from performing hectic physical labor, apparently did not notice

∗
Institute of Sport in Warsaw (Poland), Institute of Physical Education of Poznań
University School of Physical Education in Gorzów

3
that operating technical devices that gets the work done for him, require high
level of motor abilities, and particularly co-ordination abilities. This depends
highly on the efficient functioning of the central nervous system. This system is
developed thanks to the performance of movements, which many inhabitants of
our globe try to abstain from. The growing inconsistency of the two tendencies
must find an eventual solution: either the human will take up the efforts of the
motor education, or the increasing number of disabled people will require
physiotherapeutic treatment. Within this context, the theory and practice in the
science of movement will become extremely relevant.

About the meaning of movement in human life

The orthopedist A.Senger has defined the meaning of the human activity in
a very synthetic way: “Movement is life - life is movement.” (Fig.1). In this
brief definition he has demonstrated the outstanding importance of movement –
human life commences with it and comes to an end with it. An entire ocean is
created between the very first movement and the last one. The more active the
life style is and the longer the human life is- the bigger the ocean is.
A.Schopenhauer expressed a similar thought earlier: “Life consists of
movement and movement is its essence”. It is quite possible that the great
philosopher of the ancient times- Aristotle served as an example when
formulating the meaning of movement. He himself expressed the relationship
between life and movement very briefly: “Movement is life”.
The entire creative and reproductive activity, independently of its character
–whether productive, professional, artistic, daily or sportive (Fig.2) – is always
manifested through movement! Movement occurs also in situations where its
external forms of manifestation are less visible, that is during breathing, blood
circulation, metabolism, digestion etc. Movement accounts for the universal
aspect of every living organism! Without this aspect there is no life! Movement
is indispensable for: relocating, expressing emotions, creating and for every
other activity (Fig.3).

4
Fig. 1. Movement sciences (Kinesiology) in human’s life and selected conditions of his
development

5
6

Fig. 2. Different kinds of movements in human life as elements of human kinesiology

Fig. 3. Self-expression as a sphere of physical activity experience [Hoffman, Harris,
2000: Introduction to Kinesiology]

A short history of the development of movement science

A long time ago movement and its conditions were already dealt with. The
first discoveries related to the essence of movement are associated with the
name of the Roman doctor – Galen [approx. 130-200]. In his works he
demonstrated experimentally that muscle contractions are formed due to
movement impulses, which run along the nerves. Also, Leonardo da Vinci
[1452-1519], one of the greatest scientists of the Renaissance times became
interested in selected issues related to movement. He was one of the first who
attempted to solve the problem of subordinating human body to the rules of
mechanics. An important role in the studies on kinetics was also played by a

7
natural scientist, mathematician and doctor – G.A.Borelli who conducted
research on the classification of locomotive movements of animals and humans,
as well as on the location of the center gravity in the body [Donski 1963;
Meinel 1962, 1967]. One should also mention the orthopedist H.Bayer, who
formulated the so-called theory of kinetic chains. This theory was further
developed then by D.Schmidt [Meinel 1967]. One of the first investigations,
which dealt with the fundamentals of the development of movement abilities
were carried out by R.S. Woodworth at the end of the 19th century. He sought
basic principles which ruled the performance of brisk movements of the arm
and hand [Osiński 2000]. The discoveries of E.L. Thorndike [1914] had also
crucial impact on the development of new trends in the researches. They dealt
with the processes which were the roots of the phenomenon of learning and of
other behaviors. He defined the substance of relationship that exists between the
reward and the motivation to repeat exercises. He was the pioneer of researches
concerning individual differentiation of results of people who perform
exercises.
Some consider Aristotle as the father of science on movements [Celikovski
et al. 1987], others [Renson 1999] mention N.Dally - the author of the first
course-book entitled “Cinesiologie” published in 1957 as the father of the
science. However, scientific definition of the movement became possible only
in the 20th century. A lot of novelty was introduced in the knowledge on the
essence of movement by N.A.Bernstein [1897-1966] with his fundamental
works entitled: “ On Building Movement” [1947], “An Outline of Physiology of
Movement and Physiology of Activity” [1966], and then “On Agility and its
Development” [1991] (Fig.4). The works were much ahead of the times in
which the author lived. That is why they actually became recognized worldwide
only after many years, and the versatile scientist N.Bernstein (he graduated
from three faculties) was recognized as one of the founders of the contemporary
science dealing with movement, and one of the outstanding 20th century
scientists who investigated the brain.

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 Fig.4

Many new contents were introduced into the science of movement by

K.Meinel, who worked out a synthesis of the hitherto existing scientific output
in the field of human kinetics. The fruit of his many years’ efforts was the work

9
“Bewegungslehre” or “ Movement Teaching” published in Berlin in 1962 (over
38 years ago). K.Meinel has supplemented this laconic title with a slightly
longer subtitle: “The Attempt to Form Theories of Sport Movements in
Pedagogical Aspects”. The work of K.Meinel was translated in 6 countries, first
in Poland [1967]. The work presented an enormous and yet little penetrated area
of various manifestations of the human kinetics. In the synthesis mentioned
above, K.Meinel turned out to be an extremely versatile scientist who despite a
humanistic education, was able to handle other scientific disciplines. His work
was extremely saturated with texts that appeared in publications of other
outstanding scientists [I.P. Pavlov, N.A.Bernstein, I.M. Sjetshenov,
P.K.Anochin et al.].

In the search of a name for the science of movement

The science of movement possesses a variety of names: starting with

kinesiology, anthropomotorics, kinathropology and ending with motorics or
psychomotorics (Fig.5). These are not all names that try to give the most proper
definition for the science above. Some of these names have their origins in
other, more general, attempts to define this scientific discipline: human
movement science, physical activity science, anthropokinetics [Blahus1999],
reflexomotorics, somatomotorics, sensomotorics, psychomotorics, kinesic,
technomotorics, motology, anthropomotorics, sportmotorics [Hirtz et al. 1994].
Long time ago instead of the notion of physical education - human movement
was proposed, as well as - kinesiology, exercise, sport science, movement
science [Thomas, Nelson 1990]. The number and variety of names proves how
vast was the interest in this developing scientific discipline and how many
specialists from various fields became interested in it. This interest was fully
justified, hence the movement science is of universal importance i.e. it concerns
every human being regardless of: sex, age, race, occupation etc. Developing a
new scientific discipline opens an enormous and little penetrated research area.
Thus, it creates perspectives for long - term interdisciplinary studies. Moreover,
the area is so vast that it provides opportunities for specialists of nearly all
scientific disciplines (Fig.6).

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 PSYCHOLOGICAL
ANTHROPOLOGICAL Psychokinesiology
Anhtropokinetics Psychokinetic
Anthropomotorics Psychomotorics
Anthropomaximology Sensokinesiology
Human Kinetics Sensomotorics
Human Kinesiology Neuromotorics
Kinathropology Neurokinesiology
Kinathropometry Reflexomotorics
Somatomotorics Reflexokinesiology
Human
Kinesiology
(Kinathropology)

BIOLOGICAL
SOCIOLOGICAL Biokinesiology
Sociokinesiology Biokinetics
Sociokinetics Bionics
OTHERS
Sport Kinetics
Sport Kinesiology
Isokinetics
Kinesics
Technomotorics
Kinesitherapy
Gymnology

Fig. 5. Directions of human movement sciences development (human kinesiology) and

its different names

Looking for the proper term for movement science contains an element of
rivalry about the “super problem” thanks to which everyone has a chance to find
a place for himself. The more so that the name given to the movement science
may define a leading discipline. Therefore, the number of names may confirm
the extensive scope of the topic, as well as the number of competitors who
participate in this rivalry. In some of the terms proposed human movement or its
connection with the body structure is stressed (anthropological direction -
anthropomotorics, anthropokinetics, kinanthropology, kinanthropometrics,
somatomotorics, anthropomaximology), and in other names psychical
manifestations are exposed (psychomotoric direction - sensomotorics,
psychomotorics, reflexomotorics). In 1989 the American Academy of Physical

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Fig. 6. The sphere of scholarly study of physical activity [Hoffman, Harris, 2000:
Introduction to Kinesiology]

Education approved the name – kinesiology as science that deals with all sub-
disciplines oriented to the studying and the use of physical education [Wuest,
Bucher 1991]. However, in Central European countries, and especially in
Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, the notion is sometimes related to
physiotherapy, functional anatomy, and medical sciences [Blahus 1999] The
same year R.Renson [1989] proposed the name of kinanthropology, claiming
that the name had its origins in the Greek word “kinein” (meaning - to be in
movement), “anthropos” (human being) and “logos” (science). One may agree
with P.Blahus [1999] as far as the close relationship of these notions with
kinanthropology and kinesiology (Fig.7).

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 Anthropokinetics
Anthropomotorics Special movements of concrete
Anthropomaximology sport disciplines kinesiology
ANTHROPOLOGICA Human Kinetics
Human Kinesiology Concrete sport disciplines kinesiology
Kinanthropology
Kinanthropometry
Somatomotorics Individual sports kinesiology
Martial arts kinesiology
Team sports kinesiology
Psychokinesiology
Psychokinetics
Psychomotorics Sport kinesiology
PSYCHOLOGICAL Sensokinesiology
Neuromotorics
Fundamental and applied kinesiology
Neurokinesiology
Reflexomotorics
Reflexokinesiology
HUMAN KINESIOLOGY
Biokinesiology
BIOLOGICAL Biokinetics Kinesiological:
Bionics recreation, rehabilitation, tourism

SOCIOLOGICAL Sociokinesiology
Sociokinetics

Sport Kinetics
Sport Kinesiology
Isokinetics
OTHERS Kinetics
Technomotoric
Kinesitherapy
Kinetotherapy
Gymnology

Fig.7. Directions of human movement sciences development (human kinesiology) and

its different names

Even this brief outline of all the names given to the subject that deals with
movement science, shows how vast is the interest in it from the part of
representatives of nearly all scientific disciplines. The phenomenon is extremely
advantageous, since all movement performances of a human being are
unusually abundant and complex, and getting to know all of their conditions and
rules of their development, requires very versatile and interdisciplinary studies.
Another scientific approach may provide some explanation to just a fraction of
the very vast and complex problem of human kinetics. It is unfortunate that such
an approach was the most frequent one in this young scientific discipline.
Out of the many proposed names, kinesiology seems to be the most
adequate one. It is not only because it stresses the autonomy of this scientific
discipline and because it emphasizes its scientific status, but also because it
defines the subject it deals with in a very precise and explicit way. The name
has already a tradition of 144 years, since in 1857 N.Dally already entitled his
book on movement -”Cinesiologie” [Renson 1999]. The term has gradually
started to appear as a name of: ► scientific institutions (i.e. Institute of

13
Kinesiology of the Faculty of Sports of University in Lubljana); recently the
American Academy of Physical Education has changed its name into –
Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education [Jable 1997].; ► scientific
associations (Society for Kinesiology – Belgium, Croatian Association of
Theoretical and Experimental Kinesiology) (Tab.1);

Table 1
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFICS ORGANIZATIONS RELATED
WITH MOVEMENT SCIENCES

Nº Name of organisation Country

AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATION FOR EXERCISE AND SPORT

1. Australia
SCIENCE [Northfield]
2. SOCIETY OF KINESIOLOGY (UNIVERSITEIT GENT) Belgium
Czech
3. CZECH KINANTHROPOLOGICAL SOCIETY [Prague, 1993]
Republic
4. UNIONE NAZIONALE CHINESIOLOGIA Italy

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SPORT KINETICS

5. Poland
(IASK) [Warsaw, 1990]

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF

6. USA
KINANTHRPOMETRY (ISAK) [San Diego]

7. EUROPEAN ISOKINETIC SOCIETY (EIS) [Assenede] Belgium

► scientific journals of worldwide reach (i.e. Acta Kinesiologiae Universitatis

Tartuensis” – Estonia; a journal which has been regularly published since 1971
– “Kinesiology International Journal of Fundamental and Applied Kinesiology”
– Zagreb; “Kinesiologia Slovenica” publication of the Institute of Kinesiology
of the Faculty of Sports in Lubljana; “Chinesiologia” published in Italy (Tab.2);

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 Table 2
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL JOURNALS CONNECTED WITH
MOVEMENT SCIENCES

Nº Name of journal Country

ZEITSCHRIFT FUR MOTOPADAGOGIK UND

1. Austria
MOTOTHERAPIE MOTORIK (Lemgo, 1977)
2. REVISTA BRASILEIRA de CIENCIA e MOVIMENTO Brazil

ACTA UNIVERSITATIS CAROLINAE Czech

3.
KINANTHROPOLOGICA (Prague, 1993) Republik
4. PRAXIS DER PSYCHOMOTORIK (1975) Germany
JOURNAL OF HUMAN MOVEMENT STUDIES
5. Great Britain
(Edinburg, 1960)
ACTA KINESIOLOGIAE UNIVERSITATIS TARTUENSIS
6. Estonia
(Tartu, 1996)
7. ANNALES de KINESITHERAPIE (Saint-German, 1973) France
8. HUMAN MOVEMENT SCIENCE (1980) Holland
9. CHINESIOLOGIA (Cunea) Italy
HUMAN KINETICS - ANTHROPOMOTORIC
10. Poland
(Katowice-Kraków, 1989)
11. JOURNAL OF MOTOR BEHAVIOUR - ENGLEWOOD USA
12. HUMAN PERFORMANCE USA
13. MOTOR CONTROL USA
14. PERCEPTUAL AND MOTOR SKILLS USA
KINESIOLOGY - INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF
Yugoslavia-
15. FUNDAMENTAL AND APPLIED KINESIOLOGY
Croatia
(Zagreb, 1971)

► organizational units of sport institutes (i.e. Department of Kinesiology of the

Institute of Sports in Warsaw) (Tab.3-4). It is worth mentioning that the Department
of Physical Education (Kinesiology) of the University of Zagreb was the host of an
international scientific conference entitled “Kinesiology for the 21st Century”
[1999] and is planning another one in 2003, entitled “Kinesiology – New
Perspectives” with the participation of representatives from various countries.

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 Table 3
Institutions in different countries connected with the name movement sciences

No Name of Institution Country

The Department of Human Movement and Exercise Science
1. Australia
[University Western Australia]
School of Human Movement Studies
2. Australia
[University of Queensland, Brisbane]
School of Human Movement, Recreation and Performance
3. Australia
[Victoria University Melbourne]
School of Human Movement Studies
4. Australia
[Queensland University of Technology]
5. Department of Movement and Sport Sciences [Ghent University] Belgium
Department of Sport and Movement Sciences
6. Belgium
[Katholieke Universiteit Leuven]
7. Human Performance Laboratory [University of Calgary] Canada
Laboratory of Sport Movement Sciences Czech
8.
[Charles University, Prague] Republic
Czech
9. Laboratory of Movement Sciences [Charles University, Prague]
Republic
10. Muscle Research Centre [National University Hospital] Denmark
Institute of Exercise and Sport Science
11. Denmark
[University of Copenhagen]
12. Centre for Sensory-Motor Interaction [University of Aalborg] Denmark
Psychobiology of Motor Behaviour and Sport Sciences
13. France
Laboratory [University, Strasbourg]
Laboratoire d’Etudes de la Motricite Humaine
14. France
[Universite de Lille]
Movement & Perception
15. France
[CNRS&Universite de la Mediterrane, Marseille]
Institute for Theory and Practice of Training and Movement
16. Germany
[German University Cologne]
Institute for Movement and Training Science
17. Germany
[University of Leipzig]
18. Institute for Sport and Movement Science [University Essen] Germany
19. Institute for Movement Sciences [University of Muenster] Germany
Department of Systematic Movement- and Sportpedagogy
20. Germany
[University of Hamburg]
Great
21. Department of Exercise and Sport [University of Exeter]
Britain
Department of Exercise and Sport Science Great
22.
[Manchester Metropolitan University] Britain

16
 Great
23. School of Sport and Exercise Sciences [University of Birmingham]
Britain
Laboratory of Motor Behaviour and Sport Psychology
24. Greece
[University of Athens]
25. Institute of Motor Sciences [University of Rome] Italy
Institute of Movement Sciences
26. Italy
[IUSM University Rom-Foro-Italico]
27. Faculty of Motor Sciences [University of Urbino] Italy
28. Facolta di Scienze Motorie [University of Milano] Italy
29. Facolta di Scienze Motorie [University of Bologna] Italy
30. Dipartimento Scienze Motorie [Universita di Medicina di Udine] Italy
31. Centro di Bioignegneria e Scienze Motorie [Rovereto, CeBiSM] Italy
32. Facoltá di Scienze Motorie [University of Verona] Italy
Exercise and Sport Science – Department of Environmental
33. Japan
Science [Yokohama City University]
The Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies
34. Japan
[Kyoto University]
Biodynamic and Human Performance Laboratory
35. Japan
[Kokushikan University]
Laboratory of Human Motorics
36. Lithuania
[Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education, Kaunas]
Department of Human Movement Sciences
37. Holland
[University of Groningen]
38. Department of Movement Sciences [Maastricht Univeristy] Holland
Institute for Fundamental and Clinical Movement Sciences -
39. Holland
Faculty of Movement Sciences [Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam]
40. Faculty of Human Movement [Technical University, Lisbon] Portugal
Human Movement Laboratory
41. Portugal
[Higher Education Institute of Maia, Porto]
42. School of Life Sciences [Dundee University, Scotland] Scotland
Department of Human Performance
43. Spain
[Physical Education Institute, Madrid]
44. Human Performance Laboratories [Texas A&M University] USA
Human Performance Laboratory
45. USA
[Ball State University, Muncie, IN]
46. Department of Human Performance [University of Alabama] USA

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 Table 4
Institutions in different countries connected with the name kinesiology and kinetics

Nº Departments of Kinesiology Country

Department of Kinesiology - Institute for the Study of Youth
1. USA
Sports [Michigan State University]
2. Department of Kinesiology [West Chester Univeristy] USA
3. Department of Kinesiology [University of Illinois, Urbana] USA
Department of Kinesiology, Anatomy and Physiology
4. USA
[Kansas State University]
Department of Kinesiology - and Health Education
5. USA
[University of Texas at Austin]
6. Department of Kinesiology [University of North Texas, Denton] USA
7. Biokinetics Laboratory [Temple University, Philadelphia] USA
8. Department of Kinesiology [University of Pennsylvania] USA
9. Department of Health and Kinesiology [Texas A&M University] USA
10. Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education USA
11. Department of Kinesiology [University of Lethbridge] Canada
12. School of Human Kinetics [University of Ottawa] Canada
13. Departement de Kinesiologie [Universite de Montreal] Canada
14. School of Kinesiology [University of British Columbia, Vancouver] Canada
15. Faculty of Kinesiology [University of Calgary] Canada
Department of Kinanthropology [Charles University Prague] Czech
16.
Republik
17. Institute of Kinesiology [Semmelweis University] Hungary
18. Department of Kinesiological Anthropology [University of Zagreb] Croatia
19. Faculty of Kinesiology [University of Zagreb] Croatia
20. Faculty of Human Kinetics [Technical University of Lisbon] Portugal
21. Faculty of Human Kinetics [University Lisbon] Portugal
22. Department of Kinesiology [Katholieke Universiteit Leuven] Belgium
Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education South
23.
[University of North, Sovenga] Africa
24. Department of Kinesiology [Institute of Sport, Warsaw ] Poland
Department of Sport Kinetics
25. Poland
[University School of Physical Education in Poznań-Gorzów]
Department of Kinesiotherapy
26. Poland
[University School of Physical Education, Wrocław]
Department of Kinetics Theory
27. Poland
[University School of Physical Education, Katowice]

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 Establishment of an international organization of movement science

The motor activity of man has been the subject of innumerable

publications, countless numbers of scientific meetings (congresses, conferences,
symposia). In the majority of them the essence of movement was treated as a
secondary problem. The primary subject was usually the determinants of
movement – frequently detached from the main essence. In this way, something
that was crucial became marginal. Even during international scientific
congresses devoted to the movement activity of man in a specific sport
discipline (i.e. “Science and Football”), all works that dealt with the techniques
of specific exercises and their teaching receded into the background. This clash
between various forms of movement and their determinants became more and
more evident. Some called it a hiatus between theory and practice. Conferences
gathered mainly specialists of particular sport disciplines, who very often
attempted to solve problems without connecting them with practice. Hence, the
isolation of many of the theoreticians has become more noticeable.
Acknowledging the fact that such a disintegration is unfavorable for both
sides, and at the same time observing the increasing interest in movement and
its significance in the various kind of human activity – it has been decided to
look for a platform of agreement. The platform was to integrate not only
theoreticians and practicians around the problems of kinetics, but particularly
was to integrate specialists of different scientific disciplines. In order to achieve
this aim, specialists of human kinetics decided to create a separate international
organization. The decision was made during an international conference on
“Movement Co-ordination in Sports” on the 28th April 1990 in Rogi in the
vicinity of Gorzów (Poland). An International Association of Sport Kinetics
(IASK) was established, and its official registration took place on 29th
November 1991.
The creation of IASK [Starosta 1991] gave rise to many determinant. 1. In
the last quarter of the century the scientific recognition of various elements of
kinetics in sports has developed enormously. 2. Elements distinguishing sport
kinetics from within general human kinetics have become more evident. 3.
Interdisciplinary approach to solving different problems of sport kinetics takes
place, which means that more and more frequently representatives of different

19
scientific disciplines participate in the researches. This testifies to the fact that
sport kinetics may be the subject of research for many specialists and moreover,
it may integrate them. 4. As a result of this interdisciplinary co-operation, broad
foundations of sport kinetic theory are being developed, in which ideas of N.A.
Bernstein are highly recognized. These foundations serve, first of all, human
kinetics. 5. Slowly, specific research methods, adequate to the needs of sport
kinetics, are being separated. An intensification of efforts of some scientists
from different countries is being observed. 6. A very dynamic development of
sciences dealing with[of] sports is being recorded, among them much
importance is being attributed to sport kinetics, which is named in various ways
(i.e sport kinesiology). 7. Parallel to the above, during different international
scientific events, the issues of motorics, and particularly – sport motorics is
treated marginally and disproportionately to its significance (Pre-Olympic
Congress 2000 held in Brisbane, exposed medical sciences in a very
disproportionate way, despite the fact that the title of the congress anticipated
subjects related to sports and physical education). 8. Among the existing
international scientific organizations, none have ever managed to gather a larger
number of specialists in human kinetics, and specifically in sport kinetics. The
closest to our subject seems to be the International Society for the Advancement
of Kinathropometry – which puts, however, stress on anthropometry, and that
accounts just for a small part of the movement science. 9. The dynamic
development of sports which is being observed, both of the Olympic and non
Olympic sports (which is manifested in forms of World Games), exerts pressure
on experts who deal with sport kinetics and who are expected to provide
assistance in the field of diagnosing and predicting the course of development of
sports disciplines and athletes. Simultaneously, technical progress in nearly
every discipline is recorded (the number of complex exercises is growing), and
consequently the number of practicing individuals also rises.
In such situation specialists in human kinetics, and particularly specialists
in sport kinetics, felt obliged to undertake competent efforts, and following the
example of representatives from other disciplines of science, decided to
associate. After nearly 10 years of existence IASK proves how necessary the
organization has been. IASK members (there are about 300 of them from 35
countries of the world) have managed to organize, in this short span of time,

20
over 30 international scientific venues, including cyclic conferences “Sport
Kinetics”.

Final remarks

1). Movement is the biological need of every living organism. The human,
by creating the modern civilization, somehow has forgotten about his genetic
code. Man started to lead a sedentary life style, which causes many civilization
diseases. 2). In such a case an alternative appears: either man makes an effort to
care about his physical development, or the number of disabled people will start
to grow. Then the theory and practice in the movement science will become
more significant. 3). For ages, movement has been a subject of interest for many
representatives of different scientific disciplines. Its meaning was shortly
defined by Aristotle: “Movement is life”. 4). The multiplicity and the variety of
terms proposed to name the movement science demonstrates how intensive is
the interest of the teams of specialists from other field of knowledge, in this
developing scientific discipline, and especially in the 20th. The multitude of
terms proposed shows how extensive is the topical scope of the movement
science. 5). Movement science has and will always have a universal meaning,
since it refers to every human being regardless : sex, age, race, occupation etc.
6). Movement performance of a man is extremely rich and complex and
mastering the conditions and regulations of its development, requires versatile
and interdisciplinary studies. 7). The outstanding activity of the IASK members
in the international arena, as well as the increasing prestige of the Association
prove how necessary the organization is.

REFERENCES

Bernstein N.A. 1947. Über den Aufbau der Bewegungen. Moskau.

Bernstein N.A. (1966) Grundzuge der Physiologie der Bewegungen und der
Physiologie der Aktivität. Moskau.
Bernstein N.A. (1991) O łowkosti i jejo razwitji. Moskwa, “Fizkultura i Sport”.

21
Blahus P. (1999) Measuring and modelling motor abilities as concept formation
in scientific theory building in kinanthropology. Intern. conf.
“Kinesiology for the 21st century”, Faculty of Physical Education
University Zagreb, 43-50.
Ćelikovski S. [et all.] (1987) Antropomotoryka. SPN, Praha.
Doński D. (1963) Biomechanika ćwiczeń fizycznych. SiT, Warszawa.
Hirtz P., Kirchner G., Pöhlmann R. (1994) Sportmotorik. Univesität
Gesamthochschule Kassel.
Hoffman S.J., Harris J.C. (2000) Introduction to Kinesiology. (Studying
Physical Activity). Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
Jable J.T. (1997) Whatever Happened to Physical Education? Journal of
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Meinel K. (1962) Bewegungslehre (Versuch einer Theorie der sportlichen
Bewegung unter pädagogischem Aspekt. Volk und Wissen Volkseigener
Verlag, Berlin
Meinel K. (1967) Motoryczność ludzka (zarys teorii czynności sportowych i
działań ruchowych z punktu widzenia pedagogicznego). “Sport i
Turystyka”, Warszawa.
Osiński W. (2000) Antropomotoryka. AWF w Poznaniu. Seria: Podręczniki nr
49.
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