Together, the departments Aikido, Ju-Jutsu, Karate and Kyudo round off the year with an interdisciplinary workshop.

Pictures: Eva Klingmann

Admittedly, the planning was somewhat last-minute and a little chaotic. Nevertheless, a nice group came together on 9 December. It was great fun to see what the others were doing in their training sessions. And not just watching: of course, it was time to join in.

There were clear differences between the divisions. Where the Ju-Jutsuka counterattack hard, the Aikidoka prefer to let their opponent run into the void first. Kicking and pushing? Normal for some, rather undesirable for others! Nevertheless, it was not difficult to find elements that unite them, as Ju-Jutsu in particular combines elements from many other Budo styles. Similar techniques can be found in all three disciplines and were also demonstrated in parallel in the workshop.

During a breather, the kyudoka could be watched with their impressive bows. Up on the stage, they were busy aiming, while down in the hall they rolled and kicked. The aikidoka's hakama got in the way of the ju-jutsu, and the karateka's high kicks were a little unusual for the others. On the other hand, the aikidoka impressed with the lightness that is central to their techniques.

Has one department now taken members away from the other? It doesn't seem so: although it was always fun to try out the other style, most of us will probably stick to our own department. After all, we chose them for a reason - whether the focus is on action, elegance or suitability for everyday use.

Afterwards, the buffet was bursting at the seams thanks to the many gifts brought by everyone involved. There was room in the hall's vestibule for all the participants and those who only came for the social part. Thanks for the organisation go above all to Uwe, but also to everyone else who invested time and energy to make the celebration possible.