III.1.1. History

The expression „aerobic” derives from the method invented by a doctor at the US Army and Navy, Dr Kenneth Cooper, who was asked to participate in the physical preparation of astronauts. His main task was to improve stamina that he achieved through continuous exercises. Multiple repetition and the lack of rest periods are key to the method. Cooper called „aerobic exercise” (shortly: „aerobics”) all of the long-duration physical activities in which the oxygen intake and consummation are balanced.  Cooper wrote several books on recreation and promoting healthy lifestyle. This made his name sound familiar not only among professionals and athletes but also to the public. From the second half of the 60s, the fitness movement became more and more popular in the US. In the next 2 to 3 decades, aerobics exercises were constantly developing.

Cooper’s method was improved by Jackie Sorensen in 1969 who added music and dance to it, then started her own business opening several gyms and training instructors. Aerobics got the most attention when in the 70s the admired actress, Jane Fonda contributed to its evolution. She added elements from jazz-ballet and used VHS tapes to make the material intended then only for housewives popular. Soon she realized that this activity is able to occupy great amounts of people because of the lack of necessary equipment. She founded her club franchise and aerobics became a movement. However, at this time, some aerobics exercises did more harm than good because exercises were not prescribed with expertise. Moreover, skipping without shoes, rapid movements with too fast music and extreme twists of the joints took their toll on the musculoskeletal system. In 1986, after getting acquainted with the scientific facts, Fonda published a revised version of her aerobics program that was quite different from the former one. It took into account the gradual increase of heart rate, promoted wearing shoes and the right way of touching the ground with feet in order to avoid injuries. In Europe, this sport became widely known and popular in the early 80s. In Hungary, it was promoted by Dr. Irén Szécsényi Fekete, professor of the Physical Education College, who picked up the principles in 1982 in San Diego and started an aerobics program in the College in 1983. Keeping the principles and methods of the Fonda-model, she created the Hungarian version of aerobics that merges introductory elements of gymnastics, jazz ballet, modern dances and rhythmic gymnastics. The Hungarian Aerobics Federation (MAESZ) was founded in 1991.