Since 1986 Max Girardin D.O.M.R.O. and Jean-Paul Höppner D.O.M.R.O. apparently follow their own different roads related to the osteopathic concept. The numerous exchanges and the close cooperation between them however should lead to a harmonious totality of both approaches. The ontogenetic approach to osteopathy originated under the impulse of Jean-Paul within the dissection room, in many cases the motor for deeper discussions concerning the subject of structure and function. The phylogenetic approach to the osteopathic concept, related to histological background knowledge by Max, was often a way out in a sheer unsolvable problem. And this although it looks as if phylogenesis seems to indicate a contradiction to the ontogenetic approach according to the basic principles of Prof.Blechschmidt.
Many questions related to embryology according to Blechschmidt were often answered by the hierarchy and chronology of the evolution of life in general and specifically of human life as well. This also often takes place in practical questions related to osteopathic diagnosis and treatment.
M.Girardin wrote in a curriculum the chronology and hierarchy within human evolution. JP.Höppner found a way to unite this curriculum with the work of Prof.Blechschmidt concerning the metabolic fields. In doing so, both created an original and complete new approach to osteopathy and the way osteopathy could be taught.
Finally, in 1996, a synthesis for osteopathic teaching was available. This synthesis should become a fundamental basis for an osteopathic education which by far did not only bring up the technical aspects of osteopathy. The main goal was trying to stay as close as possible to the original concept, philosophy and spirit of osteopathy. Time however decided differently and so both of them decided to take this idea and give it another, a more independent possibility to come alive.
In the year 2000, M.Girardin was invited by the "South African Osteopathic Association". He was asked to organise a number of postgraduate courses which he did under the title of "Evolutionary Medicine within the Osteopathic Field" (EVOST). In the same year he was asked by the "Sutherland Cranial Teaching Foundation" to give some lectures embryology according to Blechschmidt. Due to the specific nature of this request he proposed them that his friend and collegue J.Höppner would take care of that. But, since these two are like a left and right hand, they decided to do it together and they organised two seminars on the subject.
Some of the attendants to the two seminars already took some lectures of the "Biodynamic Courses" given by Dr.J.Jealous. It was was there they already heard something about Blechschmidt and his work.Now they wished to know more about it. The seminars on embryology established a contact with R.Briend, a French osteopath. He was more than interested in more information concerning the subject. Jean-Paul and Max however had noticed that much information during the seminars got lost. According to them this had two reasons. On the one hand the attendants were not sufficiently prepared and therefore there was not much ground to build on. On the other hand there was not enough time to tell the whole story and at the same time answer many fundamental questions. To them, it led to the conclusion that in the future, when seminars took place it had to be the whole story or nothing. It seemed that R.Briend was interested to organise a course for French collegues, the subject would be the embryology according to the findings of Prof.Blechschmidt. Therefore Jean-Paul and Max proposed him the complete story, meaning starting from scratch. They explained him that part 3 of the EVOST-course concerns the complete human ontogenesis and explained him that it would be wise to use this part to have a more complete picture of human embryology.
The curriculum of EVOST consists of 5 parts. The third part is an extensive study of the human ontogenesis according to Blechschmidt. This third part has the title "Homunculus Osteopathicus Embryologicae" and contains 4 seminars. Finally, it were these four seminars which would take place in Bretagne for R.Briend and his collegues.
Meanwhile, the course EVOST was started in Belgium. In time it became clear that for many young osteopaths the philosophical approach within EVOST was not a simple task. Therefore Jean-Paul proposed his friend Max a new project. A project in line with EVOST and the Homunculus but with a less steep approach. He came up with the idea to give young osteopaths the possibility to step in at a lower threshold on the subject and, at the same time, giving them some practical support to the theoretical background. The idea was to create a step in between their osteopathic education and EVOST with the Homunculus. Experiences from the seminars in Bretagne played an important role in this matter. In the end they both went for it.
During several years Max had worked intensively on the subject of EVOST. Jean-Paul had added the Homunculus to it and now it was his time to work out the details concerning this new project. The general idea was easy but the proper construction and contents were another item. Finally it became more clear and transparent. The experiences gathered during the courses of EVOST and the Homunculus gave birth to the new project: knoWledge WortWhile for the Osteopathic Practice.