Peter Menke, 5th Dan Aikikai Tokyo
Born in 1968, teacher of biology and sports at a vocational college in Düsseldorf.
At the end of his sports studies, he was looking for a new form of movement that went beyond the conventional understanding of sports. This led him to Aikido.
Until 2007, he trained intensively with Frank Ostoff in Düsseldorf and got to know other Aikikai teachers through him. Seminars with Shihans Christian Tissier and Seishiro Endo broadened his perspective in Aikido.
A special relationship developed with his teachers from Scandinavia, Jan Nevelius, Jorma Lyly (Stockholm), and Mouliko Halén (Oslo), who have supported him on his path. In 2009, he also met Miles Kessler, whose integral approach to Aikido and meditation, as well as modern didactics, has influenced Peter’s Aikido.
Peter founded Aikido im Hof in 2008 as an Aikido school. Since the founding of Aikido im Hof e.V. in June 2019, he has been the chairman of the club.
Sonja Sauer, 5th Dan Aikiai Tokyo, 2nd Dan DAB
When I started Aikido in 2003, almost by chance, it didn’t take long for me to fall in love with this martial art, which combines so much: dynamic movement, the martial aspect of Budo, a path for the growth of the self, physical communication, and the experience of a form of conflict resolution I had not known before.
My Aikido journey began with Martin Glutsch (7th Dan DAB, Böblingen), who gave me my first Aikido home and guided me to the 2nd Dan in the DAB. I still train with Martin whenever I can and owe him my foundation and much more.
In 2007, I met Jorma Lyly Shihan (6th Dan Aikikai, Stockholm), Jan Nevelius Shihan (6th Dan Aikikai, Stockholm), and Mouliko Halén (7th Dan, Oslo), whose focus on the deep connection between Tori and Uke has strongly influenced my Aikido and my life since then. In the summer of 2010, I decided to fully embrace this new path and take my future Dan exams under the guidance of these teachers (Aikikai). Aikido has enriched my life, brought me many valuable friendships, and broadened my horizons. It is an integral part of my life now.
In August 2013, I moved from Stuttgart to Duisburg, where I have been Aikido im Hof ever since. In addition to my work at the dojo, I also teach Aikido in the business sector, in leadership training and stress reduction courses (www.aikido-in-business.com).
Sonja is the Vice Chair of Aikido im Hof e.V.
The Kyu Grading Preparation Team
On Sundays from 7 to 8 PM, there is a special class for those who would like to prepare for their next grading. Every week, an Aikidoka from the grading preparation team will be there to assist you with questions about the exam syllabus.
The team consists of:
David (4th Dan), Christoph (2nd Dan), Dagmar (2nd Dan), Sarah (2nd Dan), and Thomas (2nd Dan).
Our technical orientation in aikido
We align ourselves with the teachers of Aikikai, the World Aikido Federation based in Tokyo, led by the grandson of Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba.
Since there were many direct students of the Aikido founder who interpreted his teachings individually and adopted different developments of Aikido at various times, many different "flavours" emerged.
Our orientation is shaped by the lineage of Seigo Yamaguchi Sensei (9th Dan Aikikai Tokyo, passed away in 1996) and his most important representative in Europe, Christian Tissier Shihan from France (8th Dan Aikikai Tokyo), as well as Seishiro Endo Shihan from Japan (8th Dan Aikikai Tokyo).
Our direct teachers are:
- Jan Nevelius Shihan, 7th Dan Aikikai Tokyo, from Stockholm
- Jorma Lyly Shihan, 6th Dan Aikikai Tokyo, from Stockholm
- Mouliko Halén, 7th Dan Aikikai Tokyo, from Oslo
Similar to music, Aikido has many different styles and focuses. The reason we have chosen to follow the aforementioned teachers lies in how they interpret and develop the aspects of this martial art.
The focus is less on self-defense through control of the attacker. Instead, it’s about studying the contact and communication between the practitioners. Therefore, we try to make our movements and techniques as soft and relaxed as possible, while still acknowledging the aspects of Budo ("martial art"), as they are the foundation for advanced, free practice, just like the ABCs.
Words can only describe this fragmentarily, so we would like to invite you to experience firsthand what "our" aikido feels like. Just drop by and give it a try!
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