“It’s a school for life”
And the muscular trainer Stefan Stöhr shows the next exercise. Since 2003 he has been a full-time martial arts trainer with his own sports and martial arts school in Steinheim. Stöhr has been training martial arts with passion and dedication since he was seven years old. After his black belt exam in judo, he started doing ju-jutsu at the same time, which has developed from a variety of techniques into a kind of higher-level martial art and contains many elements from the martial arts of the samurai. “Ju-Jutsu is often referred to as the decathlon of martial arts because it is so diverse. From punching and kicking techniques to ground fighting or defending against attacks, everything is included. This is exactly how you learn how to counter attacks with a knife or stick,” Stöhr describes the multifaceted nature of the sport. Learning all this means lifelong learning. Today Stöhr is a master and has already achieved the 5th Dan of ten possible master degrees in Ju-Jutsu. In addition, he has dan consecrations in the different styles of Jiu-Jitsu, Hanbo-Jutsu and Eskrima. Stefan Stöhr speaks in a calm, almost gentle voice. “With Ju-Jutsu you don’t just learn martial arts. It’s a school for life,” says Stöhr. Apparently with success, because the syllable “ju” stands for gentle and “jutsu” for art. In the dojo – as the practice room on the opposite side of the old train station in Steinheim is called – the Budo rules are hanging. They indicate values and respect in dealing with one another. This becomes obvious at the latest in training. Before training, you bow, just like after each completed unit. “Ju-Jutsu is defensive, which results in our composure and our self-confidence,” Stöhr explains the basics for an appreciative interaction with each other.
