Report 5 – Germany – Jiu-Jitsu International Annual European Seminar
On the Friday the instructors from various parts of Europe began to arrive for the weekend seminar. Kyoshi Jurgin Kippel (8th Dan, Based in the North of Germany) was one of the first, and Dave had met him previously at a military training camp in Switzerland and they already had a good raport.
Jurgin offered a tour of the Black Forest area which is close by (ski resorts etc) and Dave accepted. They were joined by Frank Nickel who is a 3rd Degree instructor in CQB and Krav Maga and is an instructor for the military Special Forces in Germany. This is a picturesque area of Germany bordering Switzerland and near the Rheine River.
Later in the afternoon on return to the dojo, Soke Richard Morris (10th Dan and founder of Jiu-Jitsu International) arrived. Soke Morris should be an inspiration to all martial artists. How many times in New Zealand do we have students who miss training because they have a sniffle or because there is a good TV programme on? As a contrast, and as a great leadership role-model, Soke Morris had recently come out of hospital recovering from very major surgery and was still under doctor’s supervision and orders to stay home.
Despite this he took time to fly to the seminar to teach and to support the organisation he founded as well as, supporting all who attended. Let that be an example to all of us, instructors, students and administrators – to get to the top you must have single minded perseverance and determination.
Top martial artists and instructors from around Europe and other parts of the world continued to arrive over the afternoon until the gathering consisted of the largest number of high ranked Ju-Jutsu masters likely to have been assembled in a single place and time. The atmosphere was awe inspiring.
Samurai-Arts have had a long association with Soke Morris as we represented JJI interests in New Zealand some 25 years ago. Instructors and students from Samurai-Arts had attended conventions in Toronto, Ottawa, France, UK, Scandinavia and elsewhere with Jiu-jitsu International and a strong relationship had been formed. Later, Jiu-jitsu International transformed into the World Kobudo Federation of which Soke Morris was a co-founder with Kyoshi Therien, but it is only within the last few years that Soke Morris made a move to concentrate his energy on Jiu-Jitsu International. A huge number of schools, instructors and students followed Soke’s lead and now make Jiu-Jitsu International the largest and most highly recognised Jiu- Jitsu body in the world today.
Because of this strong historical link, Soke Morris dedicated a lot of time to Dave on this occasion, with a view to bringing Jiu-Jitsu International back to New Zealand with vigor. Such a move is designed to support the art of Ju-Jutsu in New Zealand and to provide a path for higher learning in the field of martial arts for both instructors and students. This is something that Ju-Jutsu needs in our country, that is, to take the personalities, politics and individual ambitions out of the martial arts. Emphasis can then be placed back onto raising the standards of our instructors through access to the very best technicians in the world. When we raise the standard of our instructors, the standard of students also rises, and the arts become more attractive for new members.
Dave’s experience at the seminar reinforces the benefits of membership of an international governing body. The instructors of many different nations came together with a common purpose and instead of undermining each other; they choose to support one another and to grow the martial art they share. This is exactly the atmosphere at Rheinfelden in 2008.
In addition to Ju-Jutsu, the seminar attracted instructors from Karate, Aikido, Penkat Silat, Kali-Eskrima, Close Quarter Battle, and a range of other disciplines. The one thing they had in common was to support a common goal which was refreshing to see.
As well as technical excellence, Soke Morris spoke to the seminar about friendship and family. He sees all members of JJI as being part of a big family and that this is more important than anything else. Without the common purpose and desire to help each other any organisation is doomed to failure despite any other attributes it may have. This point was stressed.
Help and support each other.
Of course, once in the dojo and on the mat the aspect of brotherhood is stressed less than technical and physical ability and hard work. The dojo is where we sweat.
The seminar consisted of 20 training sessions whereby students were categorised by ability (rank) and rotated amongst the many instructors.
Dangerous high level technique was taught to those able to safely train at this level. More junior students were taught at a level appropriate to their grade. Dave got to train with most of the top level instructors at the seminar and described what he saw as “Technical Excellence“. The instructors were able to provide demonstrations of principle and technique of the highest order.
Some were absolutely brutally efficient, while others concentrated on concepts, principles and strategies. Some of the techniques were so simple yet effective that it had to be asked “why didn’t I think of that?” Most techniques were very physical and Dave reports during the seminar that there was lots of “happy pain” enjoyed by all. 2 days after the seminar he still reports feeling “happy pain”.
Technical excellence has already been mentioned but it cannot be stressed enough. Complacency in the martial arts and the desire to simply get another Dan grade can lead people to think that this is the purpose of martial arts training. This attitude only leads to instructors with Fat Heads and of limited ability. This doesn’t just harm us; it also harms our students who believe that because they are learning from a (xyz) Dan, they must be getting the best tuition when in fact they may not be. Soke Morris reiterated that one of the guiding principles of Jiu-jitsu-International is to maintain not just high standards, but in fact only The Very Best Standards. This was evident from the standard of instruction given at the seminar, the variety of technique and the prevailing attitude. This was an outstanding experience of excellence.
In NZ we have limited access to some of these things – in part we are a closed shop because of geographical isolation and lack of exposure to people who are better than ourselves. Dave is first to admit that he was exposed to a lot of people that are better than himself and has become a better martial artist as a result. He encourages others who want to have an enlightening Budo experience to enquire about joining Jiu-Jitsu International and to obtaining access to a worldwide circle of friends who will provide the “happy pain” we all need to improve ourselves.
If martial arts make better people, then this seminar in Rheinfelden, Germany is surely an example of it. Apart from great technique and exceptional ability on show, it is an example of people helping one another, cooperating, and becoming friends. It is also an illustration of great hospitality by the organisers who went out of their way to assist a visiting Kiwi in every way possible. Those contemplating such an event in the future (and there are regular JJI seminars in Europe) you should not feel reluctant to attend.
Kyoshi Jurgin Kippel has invited us to attend his October seminar in the north of Germany in October, and we have been invited to similar seminars in Portugal, Norway and Ireland over the coming months but time and distance must make us regrettably selective about which ones we attend. Next year at about the same time Samurai-Arts will be sending a delegation of students and instructors to the Rheinfelden JJI seminar so anybody feeling so inclined should contact Samurai-Arts or Action Martial Arts Supplies to enquire – send an email to christine@action.org.nz and I will keep a record of those interested. Start saving and planning now! You won’t be disappointed and you have a full year to prepare.
When Dave returns from this trip he will be re-vamping and updating the Samurai-Arts website and will include a Jiu-Jitsu International page with links to many of the European schools and instructors.
The visit to Germany has now come to an end and Dave departs for the long flight from Basel to Frankfurt and on to Tokyo, Japan. Here he intends to visit the dojo of Kuroda Sensei who runs a traditional family Ryu-ha (family school of Kenjutsu, Ju-Jutsu and samurai-related arts handed down from generation to generation). Dave was invited personally by Kuroda Sensei to visit last year following an introduction, but this is the first opportunity since that time.
So – off to the airport once more.
Next Report on traditional Bujutsu from Tokyo, Japan
Jurgin offered a tour of the Black Forest area which is close by (ski resorts etc) and Dave accepted. They were joined by Frank Nickel who is a 3rd Degree instructor in CQB and Krav Maga and is an instructor for the military Special Forces in Germany. This is a picturesque area of Germany bordering Switzerland and near the Rheine River.
Later in the afternoon on return to the dojo, Soke Richard Morris (10th Dan and founder of Jiu-Jitsu International) arrived. Soke Morris should be an inspiration to all martial artists. How many times in New Zealand do we have students who miss training because they have a sniffle or because there is a good TV programme on? As a contrast, and as a great leadership role-model, Soke Morris had recently come out of hospital recovering from very major surgery and was still under doctor’s supervision and orders to stay home.
Despite this he took time to fly to the seminar to teach and to support the organisation he founded as well as, supporting all who attended. Let that be an example to all of us, instructors, students and administrators – to get to the top you must have single minded perseverance and determination.
Top martial artists and instructors from around Europe and other parts of the world continued to arrive over the afternoon until the gathering consisted of the largest number of high ranked Ju-Jutsu masters likely to have been assembled in a single place and time. The atmosphere was awe inspiring.
Samurai-Arts have had a long association with Soke Morris as we represented JJI interests in New Zealand some 25 years ago. Instructors and students from Samurai-Arts had attended conventions in Toronto, Ottawa, France, UK, Scandinavia and elsewhere with Jiu-jitsu International and a strong relationship had been formed. Later, Jiu-jitsu International transformed into the World Kobudo Federation of which Soke Morris was a co-founder with Kyoshi Therien, but it is only within the last few years that Soke Morris made a move to concentrate his energy on Jiu-Jitsu International. A huge number of schools, instructors and students followed Soke’s lead and now make Jiu-Jitsu International the largest and most highly recognised Jiu- Jitsu body in the world today.
Because of this strong historical link, Soke Morris dedicated a lot of time to Dave on this occasion, with a view to bringing Jiu-Jitsu International back to New Zealand with vigor. Such a move is designed to support the art of Ju-Jutsu in New Zealand and to provide a path for higher learning in the field of martial arts for both instructors and students. This is something that Ju-Jutsu needs in our country, that is, to take the personalities, politics and individual ambitions out of the martial arts. Emphasis can then be placed back onto raising the standards of our instructors through access to the very best technicians in the world. When we raise the standard of our instructors, the standard of students also rises, and the arts become more attractive for new members.
Dave’s experience at the seminar reinforces the benefits of membership of an international governing body. The instructors of many different nations came together with a common purpose and instead of undermining each other; they choose to support one another and to grow the martial art they share. This is exactly the atmosphere at Rheinfelden in 2008.
In addition to Ju-Jutsu, the seminar attracted instructors from Karate, Aikido, Penkat Silat, Kali-Eskrima, Close Quarter Battle, and a range of other disciplines. The one thing they had in common was to support a common goal which was refreshing to see.
As well as technical excellence, Soke Morris spoke to the seminar about friendship and family. He sees all members of JJI as being part of a big family and that this is more important than anything else. Without the common purpose and desire to help each other any organisation is doomed to failure despite any other attributes it may have. This point was stressed.
Help and support each other.
Of course, once in the dojo and on the mat the aspect of brotherhood is stressed less than technical and physical ability and hard work. The dojo is where we sweat.
The seminar consisted of 20 training sessions whereby students were categorised by ability (rank) and rotated amongst the many instructors.
Dangerous high level technique was taught to those able to safely train at this level. More junior students were taught at a level appropriate to their grade. Dave got to train with most of the top level instructors at the seminar and described what he saw as “Technical Excellence“. The instructors were able to provide demonstrations of principle and technique of the highest order.
Some were absolutely brutally efficient, while others concentrated on concepts, principles and strategies. Some of the techniques were so simple yet effective that it had to be asked “why didn’t I think of that?” Most techniques were very physical and Dave reports during the seminar that there was lots of “happy pain” enjoyed by all. 2 days after the seminar he still reports feeling “happy pain”.
Technical excellence has already been mentioned but it cannot be stressed enough. Complacency in the martial arts and the desire to simply get another Dan grade can lead people to think that this is the purpose of martial arts training. This attitude only leads to instructors with Fat Heads and of limited ability. This doesn’t just harm us; it also harms our students who believe that because they are learning from a (xyz) Dan, they must be getting the best tuition when in fact they may not be. Soke Morris reiterated that one of the guiding principles of Jiu-jitsu-International is to maintain not just high standards, but in fact only The Very Best Standards. This was evident from the standard of instruction given at the seminar, the variety of technique and the prevailing attitude. This was an outstanding experience of excellence.
In NZ we have limited access to some of these things – in part we are a closed shop because of geographical isolation and lack of exposure to people who are better than ourselves. Dave is first to admit that he was exposed to a lot of people that are better than himself and has become a better martial artist as a result. He encourages others who want to have an enlightening Budo experience to enquire about joining Jiu-Jitsu International and to obtaining access to a worldwide circle of friends who will provide the “happy pain” we all need to improve ourselves.
If martial arts make better people, then this seminar in Rheinfelden, Germany is surely an example of it. Apart from great technique and exceptional ability on show, it is an example of people helping one another, cooperating, and becoming friends. It is also an illustration of great hospitality by the organisers who went out of their way to assist a visiting Kiwi in every way possible. Those contemplating such an event in the future (and there are regular JJI seminars in Europe) you should not feel reluctant to attend.
Kyoshi Jurgin Kippel has invited us to attend his October seminar in the north of Germany in October, and we have been invited to similar seminars in Portugal, Norway and Ireland over the coming months but time and distance must make us regrettably selective about which ones we attend. Next year at about the same time Samurai-Arts will be sending a delegation of students and instructors to the Rheinfelden JJI seminar so anybody feeling so inclined should contact Samurai-Arts or Action Martial Arts Supplies to enquire – send an email to christine@action.org.nz and I will keep a record of those interested. Start saving and planning now! You won’t be disappointed and you have a full year to prepare.
When Dave returns from this trip he will be re-vamping and updating the Samurai-Arts website and will include a Jiu-Jitsu International page with links to many of the European schools and instructors.
The visit to Germany has now come to an end and Dave departs for the long flight from Basel to Frankfurt and on to Tokyo, Japan. Here he intends to visit the dojo of Kuroda Sensei who runs a traditional family Ryu-ha (family school of Kenjutsu, Ju-Jutsu and samurai-related arts handed down from generation to generation). Dave was invited personally by Kuroda Sensei to visit last year following an introduction, but this is the first opportunity since that time.
So – off to the airport once more.
Next Report on traditional Bujutsu from Tokyo, Japan
Labels: blog, By Christine Butler, Close Quarter Battle, Kali-Eskrima, Penkat Silat, Technical Excellence
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