The Early Years of Rebounding...

1911 - Albert Einstein's new theory of gravity finds that the human body cannot tell the difference between gravity, acceleration and deceleration.

1936 - The modern trampoline is created by Nissen Corporation in Grand Rapids Iowa.

1938 - The first "small trampoline" is created by Ed Russell; no financial gains materialize so he leaves his ideas and prototype with Victor Green.

1975 - The small trampoline is patented by Victor Green. By the end of the year five (5) American companies are manufacturing rebounders.

1977 - Albert E Carter publishes a pamphlet entitled, "Rebound to Better Health". Later in the year Carter publishes his first full-size book, "The Miracles of Rebound Exercise". Several studies give scientific validation to Carter's claim that rebounding is the most efficient and effective form of exercise.

1978 - Carter connects with Dr. Harry Sneider who develops "Aerobic Resistive Rebounding" which uses 1-3 pound sand bags while rebounding for greater strength. Sneider and his family introduce rebounding to Jack LaLanne and many other athletes and celebrities.

1980 - Linda Brooks starts rebounding.

1981 - Dr Kenneth Cooper's Institute of Aerobic Research finds rebounding gets 25% more strength gains than jogging.

The Rebounding Craze...
By the end of 1981 rebounding has turned into a fad. Over 100 US firms are now competing for the rebound exercise market. Al Carter's National Institute of Rebounding and Health (NIRH) sells lots of research literature to the manufacturers. Such intense competition begins to reduce both rebounder price and the quality.

1982 - $72 billion dollars spent on rebounders - most of them of inferior quality.

1983 - 1,500,000 rebounder units sold. Foreign competition drives price and quality to an all time low. Due to the price wars most US manufacturers go broke and shut down. The fad fizzles out in America.

1984 - Al Carter is invited to Hong Kong and agrees to work with the city engineers to design the first folding rebounder. The half fold rebounder thus created prevents a city wide strike by the police and firemen who required a form of exercise that they could do during their shifts.

After the Fad Faded...
Meanwhile back in the states enthusiasm for rebounding is as broken down as all the cheap, poorly made rebounders. Rebounding goes underground. But endorsements from experts and celebrities keep a candle of awareness burning.

1985 - Sylvia Ortiz produces two bouncing workout videos: "Stay Fit Rebounding" and "Rebound Beyond Aerobics".

1987 - Harvey and Marilyn Diamond endorse rebounding in their "Fit for Life" books.

1988 - Al Carter publishes the "NEW Miracles of Rebound Exercise".

1989 - Dr. Morton Walker publishes "Jumping for Health".

1990 - Michele Wilburn begins formulating the Starbound style of rebounding. - Tony Robbins endorses rebounding in his book, "Unlimited Power". And Needak begins to manufacture high quality non-fold and half-fold rebounders in Nebraska.

1991 - Linda Brooks studies with Al Carter to become a certified reboundologist. Sylvia Ortiz produces another video, "Rebound Aerobics for Kids" starring Al Carter's son Darren and friends.

1992 - Starbound, the book, written by Michele Wilburn, is published.

- The modern stabilizer bar - a portable and easy to install balancing tool - is designed and produced by Needak - making bouncing available to anyone concerned about safety.
- Holly Anderson produces her first video, "airObics". 1993 - Needak introduces fat, muscle-shaped rebounder springs and produces the first "soft bounce" rebounders. Soft bounce units have since revolutionized the rebounding industry as they provide a much more enjoyable and low impact bounce.

1995 - Linda Brooks publishes her book, "Rebounding to Better Health". 1996 - Life Source International, headed by renown lymphologist, Judy Taylor, begins to manufacture rectangular shaped Lympholines in southern California. The Lympholine rebounder with its second set of "suspension style" legs is a quantum step forward in bouncing experience.

- Four more videos debut:

• Dave Hall - "Rebound to Health"
• Carol Brophy - "Carol's Health Bounce"
• Holly Anderson - "airObics phase II"
• Linda Brooks - "Bounce Before You Jump"

  1999 - Dave Hall starts the Center for Cellular Health and creates his half-fold model - the next step in the evolution of the bouncing industry.

  JB Berns publishes his book, "Urban Rebounding". The New Millenium...

  2000 - The "Urban Rebounding" video by JB Berns is produced. Berns, a martial arts instructor, develops a style of rebound exercise influenced by Asian theories of wellness. The wisdom and structure of kata flavors the choreography of the movements resulting in a style that is engrossing, challenging and exhilerating. And although Bern's intention is to create a group experience in gyms - his system works equally well for the individual at home. "Keep on Rebounding" video starring both Holly Anderson and Darren Carter is produced by ReboundAIR. 2002 - Dave Hall's Tri-Fold mini-trampoline debuts - the Rolls Royce of mini trampolines.

  - JB Berns produces two more Urban Rebounding videos, The Basics and The Challenge.
  - Michele Wilburn produces The Starbound Workout in VHS format - a 2-hour video of starbounding exercise.

  2003 - Five Urban Rebounding instructors including JB Berns produce 20 new VHS videos; several of the videos are also made in DVD format. Urban Rebounding has effectively doubled the number of rebounding videos.

  A few months later Urban Rebounding airs the first 'rebounder infomercial' on TV; regardless of the qualilty of the folding rebounder offered in the infomercial - their marketing efforts educate a broader segment of the American public about the benefits of bouncing.

  2004 – Urban Rebounding is launched in the UK by Health2Fitness Ltd.

  2005 – Urban Rebounding classes are running in the UK with major gym chains such as Esporta, Holmes Place and Golds with many more private gyms featuring the urban rebounding programme.

  Urban Rebounding launches in Australia.

  Urban Rebounding launches its UK web site (www.urbanrebounding.co.uk) – bringing the Home Urban Rebounder to the mass market.

  Rebounding's Future...
  People no longer subscribe to the “No pain, no gain” philosophy of the 1980’s – for example, many gyms report that attendance at step classes has dropped off due to increased injuries.

  People are bored – they want to have more fun with their workouts.

  Over the last few years, there has been a dramatic growth in popularity of Pilates, stability ball and balance training – people are aware of the need to exercise the inner unit (deep abdominal muscles) for optimum conditioning, in addition to the traditional forms of exercise like running, spinning, aerobics etc.

  Urban Rebounding combines for the first time a cardio-vascular workout with the core conditioning and balance training. It is a safe, effective style of aerobics that provides a surprisingly challenging cardiovascular workout without excess stress on the heart, muscles and joints.

  The benefits of rebounding have been known for years.

  The Urban Rebounding programme is the key to bringing rebounding to the mass market - with tried and tested Urban Rebounding equipment, over 20 different Urban Rebounding workouts, certified instructors teaching group classesin gyms, and a commitment to ongoing education and improvement, Urban Rebounding will be around in the fitness market for many years to come.