The Sokol Movement

The Sokols (Sokol means falcon) were a gymnastic society founded in 1862 by Jindrich Fuegner and Miroslav Tyrs--namely, to promote Czech culture and social life and to cultivate physical, cultural, and intellectual development among its members. It was modeled after the early Greeks and the German "Turnvereine" which played a role in German politics after the War of Liberation. The fifteen thousand men and women in this movement gathered at the Slet, an Assembly of Sokols, and performed physical drills and gymnastics. The first slet was in 1879, and the gatherings have been held every four years since.

The importance of Sokol extends far beyond the influence it has on its members. The movement’s origins date back to the 19th century when Bohemia and Moravia were part of the Austrian Empire and Czech culture was struggling to stay alive under the absolutist government in Vienna. In the days when the Czech language was barred from publishing houses, theaters, and city streets, Sokol played an important role in reviving personal and national consciousness. Due to its ideals, Sokol was always banned in times of restrictions--first under the Habsburgs, for supporting the Czech national revival, then during the Nazi occupation, and again for 40 years under communism.

But Sokol did not remain only a Czech organization--chapters formed in other European countries as well as on the far side of the Atlantic. The American Sokol Organization was founded in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1865, through the formation of Gymnastics Association Sokol St. Louis. This occurred only three years after the establishment of the first Sokol chapter in Prague. Shortly thereafter, units were established in various other cities in the U.S. By 1878, the U.S. had 13 Sokol chapters, and by 1937, ASO membership rolls counted nearly 20,000 adults and as many children and juniors.

“American Sokol” units in the U.S. are divided into six Districts, all of which are members of the ASO (American Sokol Organization) headquartered in the Chicago area. Units in the Czech Republic are affiliated with COS (Czech Organization Sokol). Sokol organizations are also active in other countries, and together with ASO and COS are members of the World Federation of Sokols.

Slets are held each year in Districts and every four years on a National level. Events at Slets include gymnastic & sport competitions, mass calisthenic drills, award presentations, and the opportunity to mingle with Sokols from other units. Activities in the local gymnasiums include warm up exercises, marching, mass calisthenics, training on gymnastic apparatus, volleyball, aerobics, rhythmics, basketball, folk dancing, and other sports. Classes are held for tots, boys & girls, teens, and adults. Additional activities include senior citizen clubs, drama clubs, membership meetings, and numerous social gatherings.

Click here for pictures from the American Sokol Organization (ASO) National Camp in 2006 at our Sokol St. Louis Camp located in Imperial Missouri.

Take me to SokolKids.com for a cool site being developed by our Junior members!!!!

Click for some other Sokol sites: ASO Southern District, Slovak Catholic Sokol web site from Passaic, NJ, Sokol Greater Cleveland (ASO), Sokol Minnesota (ASO),Sokol USA, Sokol Baltimore (ASO),or Sokol Omaha (ASO).