Dealing with the object of knowledge of physical education requires, absolutely, a careful examination of its conceptual essence. Being at first sight a semantic compund it may happen, and has happened, that counfusions arise and, therefore, the educational fact is distorted as evidenced in the instructionist reductionisms with an apparent sports or military character. Therefore, this paper makes a necessary analysis aimed to propose clarity, with the possibility of overcoming the contrapositions, reductionisms and distortions mentioned. The theme is tackled with the intentionality of drawing attention to the ethical and human background implied in self achievement stemming in what is basic corporal and based on what is personalized.