01-09-2020, 09:18 AM
WORLD BODYBUILDING HISTORY.
PERIODS OF BODYBUILDING DEVELOPMENT IN SOCIALIST COUNTRIES
BODYBUILDING IN SOCIALIST WORLD. HISTORIC BOOK.
In the last period of tome International sport society started to be interested in the history of our sport. Some time ago the World learned about the first fitness athlete from the USA BRONE DUBAR (New York, 1927). The World learned about the various International Sport Organizations. Today a number of historical books and articles are published. Many of them are presenting not full and often incorrect information. For example, several years ago in Lithuania was issued a book “Lithuanian bodybuilding history” which carries facts that are not correct. Some time ago in Russia was issued a book about a famous Russia bodybuilder VLADIMIR DUBININ. For thirty years VLADIMIR DUBININ was the President of the National IFBB (International Federation of Body Builders) Federation of Russia. There are many not correct facts and interpretations on the history of the USSR bodybuilding in the book.
Until now nobody did a thorough analysis of our sport history and nobody ever underlined important facts for all World bodybuilding history.
In 2020 working more than fifty years the WFF-WBBF International (World Fitness Federation, World Body Building Federation) is planning to publish in various languages a historical book on the Bodybuilding in Socialist Countries. Remember – the Socialist World united half of the World Countries. It was living a separate individual life that was much different from the “Western” World. This book will be a part of our unique International project – the “World Bodybuilding Encyclopedia”.
PREPARED IN LITHUANIA, PRINTED IN INDIA.
The historical book on the Bodybuilding in Socialist Countries will be prepared in Lithuania and printed in India. At this work the I.S.U. International Sports University (www.isuniversity.lt ) is involved very much now. Since 2017 I.S.U. is associated member of the UNESCO at the United Nations (UN). Professors VASILIJ BESPALENKO (Ukraine), LALIT KUMAR SONI (India) and DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS and World Bodybuilding Pioneer VALERIJ KORESHKOV (Lithuania) are working in the project very much.
PERIODS OF BODYBUILDING DEVELOPMENT IN SOCIALIST COUNTRIES
Basing on the political situation the development of bodybuilding in the socialist countries can be divided in the following periods:
- The First Period, 1957-1970
- The Second Period, 1971-1975
- The Third Period, 1976-1981
- The Fourth Period, 1982-1986
- The Fifth Period, 1987-1991
THE FIRST PERIOD
Bodybuilding in the socialist countries started at the second part of fifties of the last century. It appeared suddenly and at once became very popular. Many people wanted to develop and change their bodies.
A known contemporary poet and drama producer, a former famous USSR bodybuilding trainer VITALIJ ASOVSKIJ (Vilnius, Lithuania) writes:
«Developing the Ancient God.
When in the middle of fifties of the last century bodybuilding was a popular sport in the Western countries, the Europe was making the first steps. But the young people did not pay any attention to the negatyve sayings about bodybuilding and rushed to the gyms to train. The enthusiasm was unbelievable. The first Man reached the Cosmoss. People thought that there are no limits and everything is possible. It seemd that the Golden Times came. We know how to reach the Cosmoss, how to develop atomic enegry, how to create fantastic fipls and how to write perfect books. It seemed that people had found the way to develop their brains like a sportsme do at their training. Developing the brains the people are like a sportsmen. Popular saying „If one has body power, no brains needed“ seemed uncorrect. The stereotip of a scientist was like an aold thinny man. People were jocking thet a scientist better do not go outside his home in a windy day. The wind will blow him out. And now, finally, the bodybuilding opened new horizons to develop both brains and muscles as well. It seemed that a Man is very close to the God“.
There was no any leadership in the socialist bodybuilding at that time. It was the time of great popularization of bodybuilding. One of the bodybuilding pioneers in the USSR VALERIJ KORESHKOV (Vilnius, Lithuania) underlines that he started bodybuilding training in 1957. The training process was primityve, athletes needed knowlidge. From time to time contests were organized. Every time the judging criteria was different. First information about bodybuilding, famous athletes and some methods of training reached the USSR through bodybuilding magazines „Health and Strength“ and „Iron Man“ (both UK), through „Muscle Builder“(USA) and through “Sport dla Wszystkich“ (Poland). Then local press of various Social Republics started publishing materials about bodybuilding too. Among them Russian „Gantelnaja gimnastika“ (1957, Борис Пустовойт, «Гантельная гимнастика»), „Sportivnaja zizn Rissii“ (1960-1970, "Cпортивная жизнь России"), Lithuanian „Science and Life“ („1965 -1966, „Mokslas ir Gyvenimas“), „Kalba Vilnius“ (1967-1969), Polish „How to become strong and attractive“ (1960, Stanislaw Zakrzewski, „Jak stac sie silnym i sprawnym“), „Strength, health, beauty“ (1962, Stanislaw Zakrzewski, „Sila-sprawnosc-piekno“), „ABC of a Young Strongman“ (1965, Stanislaw Zakrzewski, „ABC mlodego silacza“).
It were Poland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary to start bodybuilding in the socialist countries. Bodybuilders of these countries organized local competitons and sometimes competed in between. New famous names appeared such as 1967 Czechoslovakia Champion JURAJ VYSNY.
First to visit the mentioned countries from the USSR were the Lithuanians. In 1968 Lithuania Kaunas „Azuolas Gym“ bodybuilders went to Warszawa to compete with „Herkules Gym“ athletes. Lithuanians were led by VYTAUTAS ZUMERIS and Polich team by EUGENIUSZ PAWLOK.
Also in April 17, 1968 the first in the USSR International Contest was organized. It was held in Lithuania Kaunas City and national teams of Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Russia participated there. The competiton lasted two days and six thousand spectators filled the biggest hall of the city. Then the over all Champion was LEONAS PIVORIUNAS (Vilnius, Lithuania).
After that the first „Amber Prix International“ (1968, „Gintarinis prizas“, «Янтарный приз») contest was held in Lithuanian Klaipeda. Again the over all Champion was LEONAS PIVORIUNAS. Today „Amber Prix International“ is the World‘s oldest recognized traditional International bodybuilding competition.
Every day bodybuilding became more stronger and more popular. More competitoons were organized and new names came in public. It needed to have definite leadership to give some order for the movement. During the 1968 contest in Kaunas the „USSR Social Bodybuilding Committee“ («Общественный комитет по атлетической гимнастике СССР») was established. The positions of it‘s members were the folowing:
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
1. ROMAN MOROZ, Moscow, Russia
2. VLADIMIR PETROV, Moscow, Russia
3. GENADIJ BALDIN, Moscow, Russia
4. VYTAUTAS ZUMERIS, Vilnius, Lithuania
5. VALERIJ KOREŠKOV, Vilnius, Lithuania.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Along with the Executive Council a number of Committee Members were ellected:
6. FIODOR MANKO, Leningrad, Russia
7. ELEONORA VOLOKONCEVA, Leningrad, Russia
8. VALERIJ SEMIONOV, Tiumen, Russia
9. VLADIMIR DURNENKO, Omsk, Russia
10.EMANUILAS BEZMOZGIS, Riga, Latvia
11.ERVIN LIBERT, Tallin, Estonia.
Then it was a calm and productive period of the USSR bodybuilding. It came as a tradition and in 1969-1970 the „Amber Prix International“ contests were organized in Klaipeda. Suddenly due to political reasons in 1971 the bodybuilding activities in the USSR and other socialist countries were stopped. For many years the Communist regime prohibited and prosecuted the bodybuilding.
INFORMATION.
More detailed information on the Global International Site www.wff.lt, see forum topics. Also information available on the Facebook pages: WFF-WBBF International, WFF-WBBF North America, WFF-WBBF South America, WFF-WBBF Asia, WFF-WBBF Europe, WFF-WBBF Africa, WFF-WBBF Asia Continental Federation, WFF-WBBF Pro Division, International Sport University (ISU, www.isuniversity.lt ), WPSF World Power Sports Federation.
PERIODS OF BODYBUILDING DEVELOPMENT IN SOCIALIST COUNTRIES
BODYBUILDING IN SOCIALIST WORLD. HISTORIC BOOK.
In the last period of tome International sport society started to be interested in the history of our sport. Some time ago the World learned about the first fitness athlete from the USA BRONE DUBAR (New York, 1927). The World learned about the various International Sport Organizations. Today a number of historical books and articles are published. Many of them are presenting not full and often incorrect information. For example, several years ago in Lithuania was issued a book “Lithuanian bodybuilding history” which carries facts that are not correct. Some time ago in Russia was issued a book about a famous Russia bodybuilder VLADIMIR DUBININ. For thirty years VLADIMIR DUBININ was the President of the National IFBB (International Federation of Body Builders) Federation of Russia. There are many not correct facts and interpretations on the history of the USSR bodybuilding in the book.
Until now nobody did a thorough analysis of our sport history and nobody ever underlined important facts for all World bodybuilding history.
In 2020 working more than fifty years the WFF-WBBF International (World Fitness Federation, World Body Building Federation) is planning to publish in various languages a historical book on the Bodybuilding in Socialist Countries. Remember – the Socialist World united half of the World Countries. It was living a separate individual life that was much different from the “Western” World. This book will be a part of our unique International project – the “World Bodybuilding Encyclopedia”.
PREPARED IN LITHUANIA, PRINTED IN INDIA.
The historical book on the Bodybuilding in Socialist Countries will be prepared in Lithuania and printed in India. At this work the I.S.U. International Sports University (www.isuniversity.lt ) is involved very much now. Since 2017 I.S.U. is associated member of the UNESCO at the United Nations (UN). Professors VASILIJ BESPALENKO (Ukraine), LALIT KUMAR SONI (India) and DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS and World Bodybuilding Pioneer VALERIJ KORESHKOV (Lithuania) are working in the project very much.
PERIODS OF BODYBUILDING DEVELOPMENT IN SOCIALIST COUNTRIES
Basing on the political situation the development of bodybuilding in the socialist countries can be divided in the following periods:
- The First Period, 1957-1970
- The Second Period, 1971-1975
- The Third Period, 1976-1981
- The Fourth Period, 1982-1986
- The Fifth Period, 1987-1991
THE FIRST PERIOD
Bodybuilding in the socialist countries started at the second part of fifties of the last century. It appeared suddenly and at once became very popular. Many people wanted to develop and change their bodies.
A known contemporary poet and drama producer, a former famous USSR bodybuilding trainer VITALIJ ASOVSKIJ (Vilnius, Lithuania) writes:
«Developing the Ancient God.
When in the middle of fifties of the last century bodybuilding was a popular sport in the Western countries, the Europe was making the first steps. But the young people did not pay any attention to the negatyve sayings about bodybuilding and rushed to the gyms to train. The enthusiasm was unbelievable. The first Man reached the Cosmoss. People thought that there are no limits and everything is possible. It seemd that the Golden Times came. We know how to reach the Cosmoss, how to develop atomic enegry, how to create fantastic fipls and how to write perfect books. It seemed that people had found the way to develop their brains like a sportsme do at their training. Developing the brains the people are like a sportsmen. Popular saying „If one has body power, no brains needed“ seemed uncorrect. The stereotip of a scientist was like an aold thinny man. People were jocking thet a scientist better do not go outside his home in a windy day. The wind will blow him out. And now, finally, the bodybuilding opened new horizons to develop both brains and muscles as well. It seemed that a Man is very close to the God“.
There was no any leadership in the socialist bodybuilding at that time. It was the time of great popularization of bodybuilding. One of the bodybuilding pioneers in the USSR VALERIJ KORESHKOV (Vilnius, Lithuania) underlines that he started bodybuilding training in 1957. The training process was primityve, athletes needed knowlidge. From time to time contests were organized. Every time the judging criteria was different. First information about bodybuilding, famous athletes and some methods of training reached the USSR through bodybuilding magazines „Health and Strength“ and „Iron Man“ (both UK), through „Muscle Builder“(USA) and through “Sport dla Wszystkich“ (Poland). Then local press of various Social Republics started publishing materials about bodybuilding too. Among them Russian „Gantelnaja gimnastika“ (1957, Борис Пустовойт, «Гантельная гимнастика»), „Sportivnaja zizn Rissii“ (1960-1970, "Cпортивная жизнь России"), Lithuanian „Science and Life“ („1965 -1966, „Mokslas ir Gyvenimas“), „Kalba Vilnius“ (1967-1969), Polish „How to become strong and attractive“ (1960, Stanislaw Zakrzewski, „Jak stac sie silnym i sprawnym“), „Strength, health, beauty“ (1962, Stanislaw Zakrzewski, „Sila-sprawnosc-piekno“), „ABC of a Young Strongman“ (1965, Stanislaw Zakrzewski, „ABC mlodego silacza“).
It were Poland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary to start bodybuilding in the socialist countries. Bodybuilders of these countries organized local competitons and sometimes competed in between. New famous names appeared such as 1967 Czechoslovakia Champion JURAJ VYSNY.
First to visit the mentioned countries from the USSR were the Lithuanians. In 1968 Lithuania Kaunas „Azuolas Gym“ bodybuilders went to Warszawa to compete with „Herkules Gym“ athletes. Lithuanians were led by VYTAUTAS ZUMERIS and Polich team by EUGENIUSZ PAWLOK.
Also in April 17, 1968 the first in the USSR International Contest was organized. It was held in Lithuania Kaunas City and national teams of Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Russia participated there. The competiton lasted two days and six thousand spectators filled the biggest hall of the city. Then the over all Champion was LEONAS PIVORIUNAS (Vilnius, Lithuania).
After that the first „Amber Prix International“ (1968, „Gintarinis prizas“, «Янтарный приз») contest was held in Lithuanian Klaipeda. Again the over all Champion was LEONAS PIVORIUNAS. Today „Amber Prix International“ is the World‘s oldest recognized traditional International bodybuilding competition.
Every day bodybuilding became more stronger and more popular. More competitoons were organized and new names came in public. It needed to have definite leadership to give some order for the movement. During the 1968 contest in Kaunas the „USSR Social Bodybuilding Committee“ («Общественный комитет по атлетической гимнастике СССР») was established. The positions of it‘s members were the folowing:
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
1. ROMAN MOROZ, Moscow, Russia
2. VLADIMIR PETROV, Moscow, Russia
3. GENADIJ BALDIN, Moscow, Russia
4. VYTAUTAS ZUMERIS, Vilnius, Lithuania
5. VALERIJ KOREŠKOV, Vilnius, Lithuania.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Along with the Executive Council a number of Committee Members were ellected:
6. FIODOR MANKO, Leningrad, Russia
7. ELEONORA VOLOKONCEVA, Leningrad, Russia
8. VALERIJ SEMIONOV, Tiumen, Russia
9. VLADIMIR DURNENKO, Omsk, Russia
10.EMANUILAS BEZMOZGIS, Riga, Latvia
11.ERVIN LIBERT, Tallin, Estonia.
Then it was a calm and productive period of the USSR bodybuilding. It came as a tradition and in 1969-1970 the „Amber Prix International“ contests were organized in Klaipeda. Suddenly due to political reasons in 1971 the bodybuilding activities in the USSR and other socialist countries were stopped. For many years the Communist regime prohibited and prosecuted the bodybuilding.
INFORMATION.
More detailed information on the Global International Site www.wff.lt, see forum topics. Also information available on the Facebook pages: WFF-WBBF International, WFF-WBBF North America, WFF-WBBF South America, WFF-WBBF Asia, WFF-WBBF Europe, WFF-WBBF Africa, WFF-WBBF Asia Continental Federation, WFF-WBBF Pro Division, International Sport University (ISU, www.isuniversity.lt ), WPSF World Power Sports Federation.
WFF-International Official Information Only