On the weekend of June 20 and 21, 2026, the Aikido department of TV Linkenheim hosted an international seminar with Master Takashi Kuroki (6th dan in Aikido, 5th dan in Toho Iaido, 5th dan in Judo). A native of Japan, he has lived in Ukraine for many years and traveled all the way from Kyiv to teach the defensive martial art of Aikido in Linkenheim. Participants from Germany, France, Ukraine, and Spain took to the mat during the two days of training. After a long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, this was the third seminar with Kuroki Sensei in Linkenheim.
Master Kuroki demonstrated and explained a wide variety of aikido techniques, both unarmed and using a staff and sword. In doing so, he placed emphasis on teaching and explaining not individual techniques, but the system of Nishio-Aikido itself. What makes this style of Aikido, founded by Nishio-Sensei, unique is that all unarmed defensive techniques against an attacker are derived from traditional Japanese combat techniques using the sword and staff. As a result, there was also a lot of training with wooden swords (bokken) and staffs (jo).
Despite the heat, the atmosphere on the mat was excellent, and communication with the constantly changing training partners—who spoke many different languages—went smoothly. During the break, a lavish buffet and chilled drinks awaited the athletes in the shade near the hall. The time leading up to the second session in the early evening was used for rest but also for in-depth conversations among the participants.
Five members of the TVL Aikido section took advantage of the master’s presence to take the 3rd Kyu Toho Iaido exam between the two training sessions on Saturday.
Toho Iaido serves as a bridge to the classical Japanese sword arts, thereby highlighting the origins of Aikido in samurai swordsmanship. Of the 15 katas specified by Nishio Sensei, five must be demonstrated for the 3rd Kyu (student rank). In each kata, the sword is drawn and used against one or more imaginary attackers. Afterward, the blade is symbolically cleaned and sheathed again.
All five candidates successfully performed the required katas despite the three-hour seminar that had preceded the test and the heat in the hall. Afterward, the master offered praise and some advice for their future training. The next day, at the end of the seminar, Alexander Schneider, Bernd Bolz, Ines Bartnick, Mihail Valchev, and Willi Schneider were ceremoniously presented with their certificates.
The training weekend was an educational and exciting experience for all participants. In addition to the unique opportunity to train with a Japanese master, the interaction among the participants was especially enjoyable.
A big thank you goes out to all the volunteers who helped with setup and takedown, mat transport, catering, and photography. In addition to the active members of the club, spouses and the parents of our young Aikido students also pitched in. We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Takashi Kuroki Sensei for undertaking the long journey from Kyiv via Warsaw to Linkenheim to make this unforgettable seminar possible for us.
Kids’ Class with Takashi Kuroki Sensei
On the Monday following the seminar, the children’s aikido class also received a visit from Takashi Kuroki Sensei. Everyone was very excited to meet a “real” Japanese master. The Ukrainian children were also delighted that the master lives in their home country. After the traditional Japanese greeting and a game, Kuroki Sensei led the warm-up. During the joint mobilization exercises, the children counted in Japanese and used many Japanese terms such as mae and ushiro (forward and backward), ue and shita (up and down), and kaiten (rotation), which they are expected to learn over time.
Afterward, Lars and Ines took over the training as usual; they are currently preparing the students for their first belt exam before summer break, while the distinguished guest watched with interest. As a highlight, the children were treated to having the sensei write their names in Japanese characters on the sleeves of their aikido uniforms at the end of the session.
