ABSTRACT
France’s long tradition of gymnastics is largely due to the weight of the Army in the country and the role that physical education played in the preparation of soldiers and workers. Against the background of growing nationalism which characterized the beginning of the twentieth century and, in particular, the 1920s, the search for a national method of physical education and military training became more central and subsequently led to the formalization of a so-called ‘French method of physical education’. Attempts were made to disseminate this model in parts of the world where the influence of France was more likely to counterbalance American influence. This was the case for Brazil. Although the active propaganda of French officers sent by the xixmilitary school of Joinville to Brazil resulted in the official recognition of the French method of PE, the real dissemination of the concept remained limited and was mainly perceived as being inappropriate for Brazilians.
