What a Samurai Camp week! The 2026 Samurai Camp organised by Tatsu-Ryu-Bushido in Sri Lanka was far more than just a training camp – it was a journey filled with discipline, cultural exchange and deep friendship, running from 30 March to 9 April 2026. The kick-off: Tradition and sweat: The event got underway on Wednesday with an impressive, traditional Sinhalese opening ceremony. This began with a ceremonial procession of Grand Masters Renil Fernando and Christian Wiederanders into the dojo, accompanied by Kandyan dancers and drummers. The official commencement was marked by the lighting of the palm oil lamp by the instructors and guests of honour. Well over 100 participants had travelled specially for this on the first day. The following days were characterised by a high-calibre mix of various martial arts. The day began with a run around Ragama in temperatures of around 30 degrees, before the training programme commenced.

Under the guidance of Saiko-Shihan Christian Wiederanders, participants immersed themselves deeply in the martial art of Tatsu-Ryu-Bushido. In parallel sessions across two halls, morning classes covered various aspects of the martial art and focused training on the Tachi-waza Kata. Muay Thai under the guidance of Grand Master Renil Fernando, Taekwondo, MMA, Capoeira and the exotic Indian martial art Kalarippayat were also taught in the afternoons. For active recovery, Yoga and Zumba with Nilangika Kumari were on the programme, providing the necessary balance. As if 8 hours of training weren’t enough, the participants gathered after the seminar day to continue training intensively. Or, to put it another way, training from 9 to 9.

Exam stress and a party atmosphere. Saturday was all about performance: in the morning, the belt examinations took place at Tatsu-Ryu-Bushido. The ceremonial presentation of certificates and awards was an emotional highlight for everyone involved. There were also two participants who achieved 6th Kyu (green belt) and were thus presented with their hakama and gi for the Sri Lanka branch during a traditional induction ceremony with the Grand Masters.

In the afternoon, the upper floor of the dojo was transformed into a professional sports arena. Once the ring and spectator stands had been set up, the ring was blessed and inaugurated with the traditional Wai Kru. Then the fights began – eight in total: seven Muay Thai bouts and one MMA fight.

A special highlight for those at home: The 7th Muay Thai Combat Fight Night was streamed live via Zoom to Germany, South Korea and Sri Lanka, so that our friends and families could experience the action up close as sparks flew in the ring. Among the eight fights was one featuring a member of Tatsu-Ryu-Bushido Limburgerhof, who put in a very strong performance.

The grand finale was the celebration of the 39th anniversary of Tatsu-Ryu-Bushido, complete with a birthday cake and a tribute to everyone who helped organise the event. Sports1st, the national TV channel, also made sure to be there and broadcast it on television the following day.

Cultural highlights and hospitality: A special thank you goes to the Muay Thai Kickboxing Federation, which brought the Singhalese and Tamil New Year celebrations forward to Sunday (originally 13–14 April) so that we could immerse ourselves in Singhalese traditions together. There was music, group activities and games, food and, to round it off, a dance party. After the intensive training days, we used the last few days of our second week in Sri Lanka for relaxation and exploration:

• Sightseeing in Colombo: From the spiritual tranquillity of Hindu and Buddhist temples to the modern architecture of the Lotus Towers.
• Shopping & the sea: A stroll through the souvenir shops of Negombo was, of course, a must.
• Farewell in Ragama: On Wednesday, we returned to the dojo in Ragama one last time. A meal together sealed the deep bond between the German and Sri Lankan martial artists.

With suitcases full of souvenirs and hearts full of memories, we set off on our journey home on Thursday. This camp has shown us once again: martial arts unite nations!