Education research schools at Lesgaft university: founders, followers and progress milestones

ˑ: 

Dr.Hab., Professor S.M. Ashkinazi1
1Lesgaft National State University of Physical Education, Sport and Health, St. Petersburg

Corresponding author: sergei_ashkinazi@mail.ru

Abstract

Objective of the study was to analyze the education and research progress history of the Lesgaft National State University of Physical Education, Sport and Health.

Results and Conclusion. It should be emphasized that many biomedical schools in the country were founded by P.F. Lesgaft. One of them is the Sports Functional Anatomy Research School at the Anatomy Department.

The multisided research activity of the education research school at the Anatomy and Physiology Departments encouraged many successful solutions and achievements in the sports training individualizing/ customizing and sports genetics and immunology domains, including studies of genetic markers of sports gifts.

 It may also be pertinent to mention a few other no less reputable and successful research schools:

• Training Systems in Wrestling Sports: Theory, Practice and Progress Provisions research school;

• Modern Sports Training, Recreation and Health Technologies research school;

• Aquatic Pedagogy research school;

• Team Sports Transformative Didactics for Athletes and Coaches research school;

• Gymnastics Training Theory and Practice research school

The education research schools have been progressing at the University for 125 years due to contributions from a few generations of the gifted and enthusiastic researchers and educators, students and followers of Peter Lesgaft, with their achievements and ideas highly appreciated both by the University faculty and students and the national physical education community on the whole. The schools are recognized by the relevant governmental agencies and listed by the Science and Academic Education Committee of the St. Petersburg Government in its Education Research School Register.

Keywords: Lesgaft University, education research school.

Background. In 2021 Lesgaft National State University of Physical Education, Sport and Health celebrates its 125th anniversary since the Russian government licensed the first ever women’s Physical Training and Team Sports managers courses that originated the brand new physical education system pioneered by P.F. Lesgaft, an outstanding biologist, anatomist, anthropologist, physician and education specialist, who founded the University. He was the first to formulate the research and education service synergy principle that have been since then pursued by many excellent researchers and academicians, including Academician and Nobel Prize winner I.P. Pavlov, Academicians A.F. Ioffe, A.A. Ukhtomsky, E.V. Tarle, L.A. Orbeli, V.L. Komarov and many others. This principle is still ranked among the education research school pillars by the modern University faculty [2-4].

Objective of the study was to analyze the education and research progress history of Lesgaft National State University of Physical Education, Sport and Health.

Results and discussion. It should be emphasized that many biomedical schools in the country were founded by Peter Lesgaft. One of them is the Sports Functional Anatomy Research School at the Anatomy Department now headed by Biological Science Doctor, Professor M.G. Tkachuk. The school progress has been facilitated by great contributions from the P.F. Lesgaft’s followers and students of a few generations including A.A. Krasuskaya, V.F. Martynov, S.I. Lebedkin, E.A. Kotikova, A.A. Smirnov, F.V. Sudzilovskiy and T.I. Vikhruk. All of them headed the Anatomy Department in different periods to lay a foundation for a few new fields of functional anatomy including the Dynamic Anatomy and Sports Morphology. The core research thrusts of the Anatomy Department education research school are “The Peter Lesgaft’s historical heritage"; "Individual age- and skills-specific typological characteristics of athletes”; "Gender-specific morphological and functional indicators of sports accomplishments"; "Immunological reactivity test and control methods", etc.

The Physiology Department was founded by Academician L.A. Orbeli back in 1919. A wide range of fundamental studies geared to explore the physiological effects of physical practices have been run by the Adaptation in Elite Sports: Physiological Mechanisms and Logics Education Research School presently headed by Professor A.N. Vetosh. The school progress has been spurred up by contributions from Professors A.N. Krestovnikov, N.V. Zimkin, E.K. Zhukov, E.B. Sologub, A.B. Gandelsman, V.V. Vasilieva, S.A. Razumov, A.S. Mozzhukhin and others [2, 3, 5].

The multisided research activity of the education research school at the Anatomy and Physiology Departments encouraged many successful solutions and achievements in the sports training individualizing/ customizing and sports genetics and immunology domains, including studies of genetic markers of sports gifts. These studies have been run by the Boxing Theory and Practice Department and resulted in formation of the Individual Styles in Elite Sports education research school founded and presently headed by Honored Trainer of Russia, Honored Academic Worker, Pedagogical Science Doctor, Professor V.A. Tajmazova, University President. Special great contributions in the school progress have been made by Associate Professor, PhD in Pedagogy S.N. Belousov; University Rector, Doctor of Education, Professor, Honored Physical Education Worker, Honored Coach, Professor S.E. Bakulev; Honored Master of Sports of the USSR G.I. Shatkov and many others.

The Physical Education Theory and Practice Department presently headed by Pedagogical Science Doctor, Professor, Honored Academic Worker Y.F. Kuramshina, has formed the Modern Trends in Physical Education Theory education research school due to contributions and achievements of Professors A.A. Krasuskaya, I.M. Koryakovsky, S.V. Yananis, K.Kh. Grantyn, G.D. Kharabug, V.M. Vydrin, N.I. Ponomarev, B.V. Evstafiev, G.F. Shitikova, Y.M. Nikolaev, Y.F. Kuramshin et al. [6].

The Biomechanics of Strength Abilities research school presently headed by Doctor of Education, Professor A.V. Samsonova and the Biomechanics Department have grown from the Body Movement Theory course that was developed and delivered by Peter Lesgaft. Later on the active educational and research contributions from A.A. Krasuskaya, E.A. Kotikova, E.G. Kotelnikova, I.M. Koryakovsky and others facilitated the formation of the Physical Training Biomechanics discipline. The education research school has been particularly successful in the following subjects: concept of the skeletal muscle hypertrophy applicable in a few biomedical disciplines (A.V. Samsonova); special strength practice improvement principles (L.L. Tsipin), with their practical applications in athletics, cyclic sports and combat sports; biomechanical factors of influence on the health benefits of physical training systems; etc. [1-3, 5].

The Sports Psychology research school as an independent knowledge field was established on the initiative of Professor, Doctor of Psychology A.T. Puni and advanced by his many students including the Psychology Department Professors, Doctors of Psychology T.T. Jamgarov, I.P. Volkov, E.N. Surkov, G. D. Gorbunov, N.B. Stambulova, L.K. Serova, A.N. Nikolaev et. al. The school has developed and advanced the following: basic concept of psychological training in sports; anticipation mechanisms in sports; psychological provisions for technical, tactical and physical training in sports; psychological classification of sports disciplines; principles of psychological support in sports; sports-specific mental control/ self-conditioning and rehabilitation methods and tools in sports; sports career and its psychological guidance concept; coaching service psychology concept; etc.

The Athletic Performance Control and Biochemical Test Methods research school was established back in the 1950s based on the research contributions from Doctor of Medicine, Honored Scientist and Professor N.N. Yakovlev who was in fact a founder of the national sports biochemistry and the relevant education discipline. The school was advanced by special contributions of Professors S.S. Mikhailov, E.A. Factor, E.V. Rosengard, Associate Professor N.D. Golberg and many others. The education research school has been particularly successful in the following research domains: biochemical patterns of muscle activity; rational sports diets and biochemical test basics; studies of super-compensation phenomenon as a basis for the sports training system staging models; cholecalciferol metabolites as triggers of depression and suicides in young people; etc.

The relatively new Adaptive Physical Education Theory, Practice and Tools education research school was established in 1995 as the first national Adaptive Physical Education Faculty later on evolved into the Adaptive Physical Education Department and then into the Adaptive Physical Education Institute. The Adaptive Physical Education Theory, Practice and Tools Department was particularly active, fruitful and creative when leaded by its first Head and founder of the Adaptive Physical Education Institute, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Education, Honored Academic Worker, Doctor of Education, Professor S.P. Evseev; with special contributions from the incumbent Adaptive Physical Education Institute Head, Doctor of Education, Professor O.E. Evseeva; Professors D.F. Mosunov, L.N. Rostomashvili, L.V. Shapkova, A.A. Potapchuk, S.Y. Kalishevich, A.V. Shevtsova et al. who secured leadership of the faculty in the adaptive physical education theory and practice at the federal level.

It may also be pertinent to mention a few other no less reputable and successful research schools:

• Training Systems in Wrestling Sports: Theory, Practice and Progress Provisions research school;

• Modern Sports Training, Recreation and Health Technologies research school;

• Aquatic Pedagogy research school;

• Team Sports Transformative Didactics for Athletes and Coaches research school;

• Gymnastics Training Theory and Practice research school; etc.

Conclusion. The education research schools have been progressing at the University for 125 years due to contributions from a few generations of the gifted and enthusiastic researchers and educators, students and followers of Peter Lesgaft, with their achievements and ideas highly appreciated both by the University faculty and students and the national physical education community on the whole. The schools are recognized by the relevant governmental agencies and listed by the Science and Academic Education Committee of the St. Petersburg Government in its Education Research School Register.

The study was designed to contribute to the Academic Physical Education and Sports Research, Education and Practical Sports Service Integrating Research Project contracted by the Ministry of Sports Order No. 955 of December 22, 2020.

References

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