Forming the first of two articles, this dialogue begins from the dilemma posed in the writings of David Kirk that physical education is in crisis because the dominant practice of physical education as "sport-techniques" is resistant to change. In order to make sense of crisis discourse, the discussion explores the potential for change in physical education by examining current practice and practices, and concludes with some remarks that physical education is part of a historical tradition that is dynamic and endlessly evolving due to ongoing and continuous debates surrounding what physical education "is" or "ought" to be.