| Trampoline, as a device that bounces people up in | | | | individual in air, holding them back in, and re-bounding |
| the air and then holds them back in to cushion their | | | | them back, was put to good use by the Navy |
| fall on the ground, has been around for quite a long | | | | Freville Flight School trainers to give orientation |
| time. Excavations show the first primitive version of | | | | practice to their pilots and navigators. When the |
| trampoline in the form of walrus skin, used by the | | | | manned Space Flight program began in earnest, this |
| people of Inuit. A circus performer, Du Trampolin, is | | | | same practice was found useful for spacecraft pilots |
| said to have deployed trampolines as a net for | | | | of both the US and Russia, as it helped them get |
| trapeze artists to assist them in even more daredevil | | | | used to variable body positions. |
| performances. Chris Freville is an expert in the field of | | | | In itself, the activity is very natural. The initial |
| history of trampolines (and many other history topics | | | | momentum created by the first jump on the taut |
| for that matter) and within this article, we shall | | | | fabric sets in motion a swing between earth's gravity |
| discuss his view on this particular piece of history. | | | | and the bounce of the springs. What follows is a |
| The history of trampolines begins in April 1934, as | | | | smooth, rhythmic motion that is heightened by the |
| Chris Freville notes in his works, when the first time | | | | experience of being able to jump higher in the air |
| trampoline emerged in its present avatar, when | | | | than was otherwise possible. Learners soon discover |
| canvas fabric was fastened to a frame using coiled | | | | how safe it is even if they do not land on their feet, |
| springs. George Nissen and Larry Griswold, who | | | | and how easy it is to push themselves in the air. |
| preferred the name „trampoline” to the | | | | It was a matter of time before trampoline-ing |
| Spanish „trampolin”, which had come to | | | | achieved recognition at the Olympics, in 2000, |
| mean „diving board”, designed this | | | | introducing itself in three different sports: Gymnastics, |
| contraption. | | | | where the performer goes through acrobatic stunts |
| The duo capitalized on their idea by floating a | | | | while bouncing; Slamball, which is loosely based on |
| company called "The Griswold-Nissen Trampoline and | | | | basketball; and Bossaball, which is akin to volleyball |
| Tumbling Company". The company's products began | | | | and incorporates a net that hangs midway above a |
| being sold throughout the country. People soon saw | | | | huge trampoline canvas. |
| in the trampoline more applications than the original | | | | Enthusiasts install trampolines in their homes. It has |
| usage envisaged in gymnastics. The U.S. Navy Flight | | | | now become a fixture at homes especially with |
| School ordered trampolines for pilot training during | | | | children around. People find it very therapeutic to |
| WWII. During the early days of manned space flight | | | | release all the pent up energies by bouncing on the |
| programs, astronauts and cosmonauts were put | | | | trampolines. Special-purpose trampolines have low |
| through trampoline exercises. | | | | heights and used for physical training programs. It is |
| - The History of Trampolines Throughout World War | | | | easy to run or jump on these devices without the |
| 2 | | | | fear of injury to knees and ankles. |
| The basic trait of the trampoline, throwing the | | | | |