Physical education represents the activity of formation and development of the human personality, designed and realized by fully capitalizing on the physical, physiological and psychological potential of the organism in the specific conditions of modern, contemporary society. The objectives of this research were to analyze aspects of traditional physical education compared to modern physical education. Research methods used: study of working documentation, analysis and generalization of literature data. The results obtained: Following the study of specialized literature on traditional and modern physical education, it was found that traditional physical education is assimilated to traditional pedagogy, performance pedagogy, its essence being represented by strategies for practical application of knowledge and is based on the direct and immediate response to be provided by the subject to a stimulus of the teacher. The second approach is given by the humanist conception, oriented especially on integrating critical judgment and personal reconstruction in the social context. It emphasizes the importance of self-development. Conclusions/recommendations: The purpose of the traditional conception of physical education teaching is to learn a series of motor tasks, as faithfully as possible, in a predetermined time, while modern physical education addresses the person and personality, aims at developing the self through action, design and self-improvement. In conclusion, neither of these two conceptions is perfect and a holistic approach to this topic.