Piesteritz/MZ. – Something historic happened in the Piesteritz gymnasium “Pappelbrücke”: Jacques Traus passed the second Dan exam on Wednesday afternoon! The 27-year-old is the first ID judoka – loosely translated: person with a disability – in Germany to have achieved this.
Examiner facing a challenge
“This is unique in Germany,” confirms inspector Egbert Pietsch. “But it was also a special preparation and challenge for us,” emphasizes the Halle native, who evaluated the performances together with Hagen Dolge from Köthen. The success, which will cause a sensation in the professional world, is the result of “a year of hard work,” explains Olaf Rodewald. The world champion prepared this master’s degree exam with Jacques and his father Michael Traus during training twice a week.
Shortly before the start, Jacques Traus doesn’t seem nervous at all, his father seems more so. After the traditional greeting, many technical terms from Japanese can be heard. It’s about Tori and Uke. The Tori can be translated as “performer or attacker”. This can be when practicing standing or floor techniques in training or competition. Tori is the examinee. The uke – Michael Traus – is the one being thrown, the partner with whom the techniques are applied while standing and on the ground. It looks spectacular as Jacques whirls his father through the air several times in front of the two examiners. The duo apparently fulfills the tasks assigned to them very well. It’s a strenuous affair lasting over an hour – only small breaks are allowed – in the constant stress of exams. Then it’s over.
Michael Traus is particularly happy about this. “I feel every single bone,” says the father, who is thrown to the mat dozens of times. “Then the floor techniques worked,” says the uke.
But now it’s getting exciting. The examiners withdraw for consultation. And it takes time. And with every minute that passes, Jacques Traus becomes more nervous. The experts in the hall encourage the judoka. The performance was strong. But weren’t there some errors in concentration in the final part?
The questions are becoming more pressing. And then the waiting time – which lasts what feels like an eternity of more than 30 minutes – is finally over. “Passed,” is the verdict. And the examiners also reveal why the one-on-one conversation took so much time: the documents are filled out.
Eyes on the world title?
And at the tribute in the poplar bridge, the chorus echoes: “We are of the opinion: That was great!” The judo department immediately posts the news on its Facebook page: “And the father-son team is probably also independent of Jacques today Passed 2nd Dan is unique: Only a few Dan candidates can show an Üken over 70 and successfully pass an exam with this,” it says.
But Jacques Trau’s success doesn’t necessarily come as a surprise. He is one of the top international players and is even a real European champion. “I won the title in 2018,” he says. However, he is not yet on the way to becoming world champion. “There is no tender yet,” says Traus, explaining the problem.
Engagement as Promipaths
And the fact that SV Grün-Weiß supports people with disabilities is no coincidence, but rather a tradition in the largest sports club in the district. President Olaf Rodewald and his brother Jürgen – a dance world champion – took part in the state sports games as so-called celebrity sponsors in Wittenberg’s Arthur Lambert Stadium. Here, athletes with and without disabilities compete as a duo. The Rodewald protégés have a lot of fun. And the brother duel is won by the more elegant sport. Jürgen and his temporary partner are at the forefront of a discipline with over 1,000 participants (MZ reported).
