OFFICIAL FREITAL, GERMANY 2026 VIDEO: Martial Arts Media

 The OFFICIAL SEMINAR video is now available on YOUTUBE.

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Freital, Germany Seminar 2026: PART THREE - YouTube VIDEO TWO

 This second video footage, from the Freital 2026 Seminar, is courtesy of Oliver Schömburg.

He gave me permission to use a few clips from his footage; however, stay tuned for a very professional rendition (with many-many other features). 

This will posted on his top-class YouTube Channel: OLLIWAA 

Until then be sure to check out his other videos

Here's a direct link if you haven't subscribed! 

https://www.youtube.com/@olliwaa

About this short and VERY SIMPLE video ... It is basically conveying some key points, of which, I hope assists those who attended the 2026 Freital Seminar. Especially when the event is still fresh in the minds of the participants.

Again, I'd like to thank Oliver very much, and are also really looking forward to seeing the official footage on his channel in the near future. Needless to say, I will also post a link here on my blog.

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2026).

Renshusei from Loxstedt (Niedersachsen), Germany (Part 2): YOUTUBE VIDEO

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2026).

Renshusei from Loxstedt (Niedersachsen), Germany (PART 1): Written Overview

Joshua Block (2nd Dan), Stefan Kurkowski (2nd Dan), Niklas Rudolph (1st Kyu) and Fabian Wolf (1st Kyu) came for two days as a 練習生 (Renshusei/Trainees). Their hometown of Loxstedt is located near Bremerhaven and Bremen.

It was the second time for Joshua to be a Renshusei here in Oita, but the first time for Stefan, Fabian and Niklas.

Based on their technical requests, I establised that 地面反力 (Jimenhanryoku), 腰の回転 (Koshi no kaiten) and 体の伸縮 (Tai no shinshuku) were the focal points they were seeking to better understand and improve.

Accordingly, I decided to primarily utilize 基本一本組手 (Kihon Ippon Kumite) as “Kihon training” to address the aforementioned three aspects; furthermore, practice basic 間合い (Maai). To expand on this, and to bridge to freestyle, 自由一本組手 (Jiyu Ippon Kumite) was also practiced.

Kata covered included 慈恩 (Jion), 壯鎭 (Sochin), and a requested  review of both 波手 (Roushu) and 舞鶴大 (Maizuru Dai), which they’ve learned at my seminars in Europe.

Like for other Renshusei participants, the focus was not on hard physical training, but on traditional ‘Budo Shotokan’ technical development; that is, boosted karate skill development and knowledge.

Our Renshusei Training Program here is now recognized all over Japan as extremely high level for instructors, elite athletes and any karateka seeking to really improve their karate technique. Applications to be a Renshusei must be made via email to: iksjapanhq@gmail.com

To conclude, I’d like to thank Joshua, Stefan, Fabian and Niklas for their efforts whilst here in the dojo. We also had many fun times outside of training as well. I wish all four of you the very best and hope to meet you again in the future.

 

押忍!

André

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2026).

Kihon Ippon Kumite as 'Kihon Training'

Today's training was focused primarily on KIHON IPPON KUMITE with attacks with (and defense/counterattacks against): JOUDAN (Jodan jun-zuki), CHUUDAN (Chudan jun-zuki), MAEGERI (Chudan mae-geri keage), YOKOKEKOMI (Chudan yoko-geri kekomi) and MAWASHI-GERI (Jodan mawashi-geri).

My focus was simply on precise Kihon coupled with a vast array of Unsoku and Tachikata for various transitions. Accordingly, this was my fundamental practice in this session.

To conclude, I went through several kata as depicted below. Three of each Sochin, Unsu, Maizuru Dai (also Jitte and Maizuru Sho).

Current events... Besides Japanese Renshusei, soon there will IKS International Renshusei here from South Africa, Canada and the Netherlands. After that, I will be heading to Poland to conduct a Traditional Budo Karate Seminar there.

押忍

アンドレ 

Sochin Kata after the completion of migi jodan mikazuki-geri.

An off-timed photo just before the complete withdrawal of the third and final attack with ippon-nukite.

The final movement of the Asai-Ha Shotokan-Ryu Koten-gata: Maizuru Dai.

 

Preparing this post after training this evening: April 8th, 2026.

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2026).

大分市の桜 (Sakura of Oita City)

 大分市の桜 (Oita Shi no Sakura)... The Cherry Blossoms of Oita City are now in full bloom.

It has been 33 years since I first came here in Japan to 'Learn the Art of Karate-Dõ from the source', and this year marks 24 years since I first came here to beautiful Oita.

Today I will simply leave you with some images from Oita central city that I've taken from my iPhone over the last couple of days.

押忍！！

AB

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2026).