In early December 2024, Mgr. Jiří Buben from the Department of Sport at the Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacký University Olomouc, carried out a teaching mobility at the Nippon Sport Science University (NSSU) in Tokyo. The one-week stay was part of the Erasmus+ KA171 programme and focused on gymnastics, offering not only opportunities for professional exchange but also for active involvement in teaching at one of the most renowned sport universities in Japan.
During his stay, Jiří Buben taught practical gymnastics lessons within classes led by Dr. Ryosuke Miyake, head of the university’s General Gymnastics Club. “We worked on basic gymnastics skills and shared different instructional approaches and methods. I had the opportunity to introduce the structure and content of how gymnastics is taught at our faculty,” Buben explained.
The practical classes were conducted in well-equipped gymnasiums, typically in 90-minute blocks with groups of 30 to 40 students. Despite the group size, the excellent facilities enabled efficient and engaging instruction. In addition to his own teaching, Jiří Buben also attended classes led by other instructors, gaining insights into the differences in teaching content and organisation between NSSU and Palacký University.
The programme also included a professional meeting with Prof. Tatsuo Araki, Head of the Gymnastics Laboratory at NSSU and a prominent figure in international gymnastics (member of the FIG Gymnastics for All Committee and president of both AGU and JGA Gymnastics for All committees). Buben also participated in a discussion session with students from the General Gymnastics Club and had the chance to observe their training and meet with their coaches.
All formal and informal meetings were marked by a very open, collaborative atmosphere. “The cooperation with colleagues from the International Center and academic staff was smooth, with everyone being extremely helpful and eager to share their expertise and experience,” Buben said.
NSSU operates two campuses – in Tokyo and Yokohama – and provides outstanding conditions for both academic education and athletic development. Many of its university sports clubs have a history spanning over a century and actively contribute to the training of Japanese national athletes and Olympians. Instruction is often delivered by former top athletes or members of international sport governing bodies.
“This experience gave me new perspectives on gymnastics education, confirmed the quality of our teaching at the Faculty of Physical Culture, and inspired me with new ideas I can apply in my future work,” Buben concluded.
