The tradition continued: for the first official training session of 2026, all members of the Tatsu-Ryu-Bushido clubs from all surrounding dojos, as well as interested parties who simply wanted to try it out, were invited to the Carl-Bosch-Halle in Limburgerhof. New contacts were made and old friendships were refreshed. An exciting obstacle course and two training areas were set up. A ceremonial welcome was given, with Saiko-Shihan Christian Wiederanders and Sensei Thorsten Klein on stage (with over 50 participants, this was necessary so that everyone could see).

There were a few new belts to award and celebrate, as there had been an exam before the course. The participants rotated through the stations in three groups. The parkour course required creative solutions to overcome the obstacles: climbing, balancing, swinging on ropes, sliding and also the question of how the skilled samurai brings his weapons safely to the finish line. Sensei Thorsten held a training session on applied martial arts with fast kick and punch sequences and evasive movements.

Senpai Martin Paetz had unusual sword techniques in his programme. Clamping techniques and parries that can be used to fend off and counter an attack. In addition, a legendary technique that is said to have helped Miyamoto Musashi win many duels – Tobu Tengu, ‘the flying (also: jumping) Tengu’, based on the winged legendary figure from Japanese mythology.

Children under the age of ten were looked after by our kids’ trainers Julia Arz, Angela Walter and Christian Grünert and enjoyed their own training programme. At the end, everyone gathered on the mat again for a sporting cool-down with instructor Ute Kreischer. Afterwards, Ute was also awarded a new belt, as a new, exam-free system will now be used to support seniors and people with physical disabilities.

It was an exhausting day, but a very successful course with students from all over the world. Next year, we will need a larger hall, as more students could not fit into the hall!

# Beautiful pictures from the New Year’s course: https://cloud.tatsu-ryu-bushido.com/index.php/s/7qnH9cr25s3qfjE