Owingen May 1986

New Aikido Club

Haigerloch-Owingen

After an article in the "Hohenzollerische Zeitung", 17.05.1986.

Aikido fever is currently sweeping through Owingen, to put it somewhat dramatically. Around 50 curious individuals – mostly teenagers – gathered on Monday evening in the multi-purpose hall of the Eyach community to get a taste of this Japanese self-defense art. The newly founded "Association for Ki, Aikido and Health Zollernalb e.V." had invited people to its first training session and experienced an unexpectedly large turnout. The Hohenzollerische Zeitung spoke with the association's chairman, Bernhard Boll (1st Dan Aikido DAB), about the goals of the club with its unusual triple name.

Ki – Aikido – Health

These are just terms that the layperson only knows what to do with the last one.
A look at the statutes of the new association provides some insight (at least a little). It says: Ki is the one Japanese term for a type of internal energy that allows people to make optimal use of their energy mental, physical and emotional abilities.” Bernhard Boll also understands Ki as an expression of will to live, strength of personality.
Developing this Ki in people is the main task of the self-defense art of Aikido. Applied to a combat situation, this means in simple words: The defender should learn through a calm and relaxed reaction, the Ki (the physical and mental will of the attacker), to absorb and redirect in a relatively gentle way. This is how Bernhard Boll describes it. The attack can be directed into the void without the attacker being forcibly incapacitated.

Benefiting Health

This description doesn't fully capture the purpose of the association, however. Aikido, a system derived from traditional Japanese martial arts, serves not only the development of Ki, but also, quite simply, physical fitness. Similarly, Ki is not solely a component of Aikido, but—in isolation from it—represents personal development in general.
The overall goal—and this is the common denominator of the planned activities—is to promote health. For Bernhard Boll and the association's co-founders, practicing Ki and Aikido means "concrete health care." Therefore, in addition to Ki and Aikido classes, the association's organizers plan to include lectures on Asian health care methods in their program and teach members specific techniques such as acupressure, meditation exercises, massage, and breathing techniques.

Regular Training

This week, the club began with what is likely to be the most appealing offering, especially for young people: an introductory Aikido course for self-defense. Bernhard Boll, a 32-year-old physics graduate who serves as the initiator, chairman, and instructor, was "very pleased" that the club has secured a weekly training slot in the Owinger multi-purpose hall. Regular training sessions will be held there in the future. Later, once all the formalities of the club's founding are completed, Ki courses and lectures on interesting health topics will follow. After three months – as envisioned by Bernhard Boll – the club plans to present its methods to the public with a demonstration event.
The club also aims to foster social interaction among its members. Furthermore, it intends to encourage participation in international Ki and Aikido events to promote "cultural exchange" with other countries. According to Bernhard Boll, the club plans to join the German Aikido Federation to be able to conduct examinations. In contrast, no sporting competitions are held in Aikido. This – as well as the avoidance of aggressive methods – is, according to Bernhard Boll, a significant difference from the better-known East Asian self-defense or martial arts.

Target audience beyond Owingen

Although Boll chose his Owingen - his place of residence - as the club's headquarters, the inclusion of "Zollernalb" in the club's name signals that it aims to reach interested individuals from across the entire district. Until now, Aikido in the Zollernalb district was only known to participants in the courses offered by Gebhard Stein from Hechingen at Sickingen. Bernhard Boll also participated in these courses for a time.
Over time, he explains, the commute became too far for him and his wife, so he decided to establish a similar program in Owingen. His primary goal is to raise awareness of the aikido method.

“Sport with Meaning”

It's clear that a target group can't be defined precisely. However, Boll considers Aikido ideal for people who want to combine physical activity with “a meaning.”
According to Boll, most people are initially drawn in by the self-defense aspect; over time, however, they realize “that Ki is even more important.” Boll emphasizes that “anyone who is reasonably willing” can take advantage of the young club's offerings. “Artistic talent isn't necessary,” explains Bernhard Boll, especially since the movements aren't artificial, but rather fluid and adapted to the body's anatomy. Of course, a certain level of health awareness is required to practice Aikido effectively.

Need seems to exist

In the Eyach Valley, the need for health-promoting activities certainly seems to exist.
It couldn't have been mere curiosity that drew around 50 people from Owingen to the first training session on Monday evening. Even Bernhard Boll was surprised by the turnout. He's not letting it go to his head, however: "That will die down once the novelty wears off."
For now, though, there's no way around forming three age groups for training: a children's group for five- to nine-year-olds, a youth group for ten- to thirteen-year-olds, and a group for teenagers aged fourteen and up, as well as adults. The younger members will train on Mondays from 5 p.m., and the older ones (aged fourteen and up) from 6 to 7:30 p.m.