Gymnastics may date back to ancient Greece, but Friedrich Ludwig Jahn (Germany 1778-1852) was not called the “father of gymnastics,” a.k.a. “der Turnvater” for nothing. Jahn started what is called the ‘Turner movement’ in Germany in the early 1800s, partly to liberate his country from Napoleon’s rule. His efforts also led to the invention of the parallel bars, rings, high bar, the pommel horse and the vault horse. The Germans also brought gymnastics to the United States in the 19th century where booklets like this were distributed among potential athletes.