Ruch sokoli w Krakowie przed I wojną światową

Abstract

In 1885 in Cracow, the “Sokół” (Falcon) Gymnastic Society started its activity aiming at promotion of gymnastic exercises and other forms of physical education. It was an association whose goal was the physical and spiritual revival of the nation, as the condition sine qua non of regaining freedom. The means to achieve that goal was first and foremost gymnastics and other forms of exercise. Consequently, the “Sokół” Gymnastic Society played a significant role with regard to the practice of physical education of young people who were deprived of rudimentary conditions to exercise, it extended its care over the scouting movement which was emerging at that time, and last but not least, it undertook the task of popularizing numerous sports disciplines while spreading patriotism and national freedom ideas. The basic organisation units conducting the statutory activities of “Sokół” were: the Department, and the Sections of the Society representing the individual exercise and sports disciplines. In Cracow, “Sokół” created several such sections: gymnastics, rowing, horseback riding, bicycling, fencing, tourism. During 1885-1889, the Society used a makeshift gym at the John brothers brewery at Lubicz street. Only in 1889, the Society built its own building called “the falconry” at Wolska Street (presently J. Piłsudskiego Street), which figure the largest gym in Galicia. In 1885-1914, the Society conducted regular physical education for pupils of people’s schools and secondary schools students, within the school programs. It organized training courses for teachers of physical education. Starting from 1906, uniformed members detachments, and from 1912, the Permanent Falcon Teams were created. In 1914, the members of “Sokół” in Cracow joined the Western Legion.