The uniform of the Jiujitsuka. Today: The belt

Traditional we wear a Gi in Jiu-Jitsu which is held together by a belt. The Jiu-Jitsu Gi is very much the same than the Judo Gi. Find out about it on Wikipedia.org/wiki/Judogi

The belt holds the jacket of the Gi together and comes in different colours. At Ichinen Bridport we use the basic traditional variations of colours. White for the beginner, followed with each grading by yellow, orange, green, blue and the highest student belt/grading would be brown. Master belts are black and if there is a 10th Dan Master grade, the belt would be white and light pink. This indicates the circle; back to white...

Well, and for the beginner one of the hurdles to take is to bind this belt in the right way. There are only a few difficult tasks to learn in Jiu-Jitsu. First is, go through this door... and join the training! Second are the rolls and falls. That takes some time to learn . And third it's how to bind the belt. But don't worry, you will learn it and once manage to do the knot and you attend regular to the training, you do it a lot and you'll never forget it.

Why I write about this today? Sometimes I bring a little boy to his Taekwondo training and he wears already his uniform. And as his belt was done wrong, I helped him to correct it and thought, yes, that's nothing new. Many students struggle with belt binding ... so look at the graphic above or come along. Jiu-Jitsu in Bridport every Thursday at 7.00 and 8.45 pm. See you there!

The logo of Ichinen Bridport

As our Jiu-Jitsu group is growing fast, I thought to introduce the original Ichinen logo, used in all my other Martial Art Clubs (SDS Bremen, Ichinen Bremen at Jacobs University), to give the family of the Bridport Jiu-Jitsukas a distinctive sign.

This Ichinen Emblem was created by myself, after my first black belt grading and when I run my first Martial Art School in Bremen / Germany, the SDS Bremen. That was actually the time, before I first came to Bridport. And therefor we had a German-English Seminar under the Union Jack and the German flag and I passed my very first school over to one of my students, who had just received his first black belt (1. Dan) in Jiu-Jitsu.

Foto: Master Horst Lindenau passes his self defense school SDS Bremen / Germany over to his former student Frank Burdorf, who just passed his first black belt grading in Jiu-Jitsu. After this seminar Master Horst left for Bridport.

Running - the most effective way to keep fit

As a martial artist, you need a lot of endurance and physical power. I keep it with the legend Bruce Lee. He said, running is the best way to stay fit. It not enough just to do the regular martial art session. If one wants to be fit, the easy way to do so is, go out and run.

That reminds me again of the "Bridport Harriers". No evidence to find, they seem to be gone. I really liked the way they used to run together. Is it more than 15 years ago? We all met up and had a good workout. So, I thought why not reinvent this good procedure? If anybody interested to have some rounds together, come and join me. Regular time 6pm, every Monday, start at St.Swithun's Corner shop, North Allington. Full round will be one hour and beginners can stop after 30 minutes.

Self defence becomes more important

Photo: Selection of training knifes as used in Jiu-Jitsu and Self Defense Training.

Since I arrived in lovely old Bridport, times have changed a lot. As there was hardly any fighting 25 years ago, it is nowadays quite common to get unwanted involved into any form of aggression or violence in the streets of Bridport. But one fact has to be looked at in particular. The kind of street fighting known in bigger cities has obviously arrived in Dorset. I am talking about the use of illegal weapons, especially knifes.

As a teacher and black belt holder in the German radical self defense style of "Anti-Terrorkampf", I know what I am talking about. Attacks with knifes and knife like objects are not only severely dangerous, it also requires a lot more to defend yourself against this specific violence.

You only need to have a look at our local news papers and you find reports of recent knife attacks on members of the public.

The news paper cut here on the left is from the Bridport News two weeks ago, but I guess everybody knows what I am writing about. It is a big concern in the community. Well, personally I do not favour to get more armed as the crime is growing around us. But as an expert on self defence and a Martial arts teacher for meanwhile 23 years, I like to offer you answers to this unpleasant development. The answer is: Learn the art of self defence and stay safe. What I mean is, as better you are prepared against a situation which might risk your health or even life, as less likely it will be, that such a situation can harm you. In my Jiu-Jitsu lessons held at Loders Village Hall every Tuesday at 7 pm and in Bridport at the British Legion hall 7 pm you will learn these skills. Beginners very welcome! Age up from 16 years upwards.

Something I do not quite understand

Tonight is the restart for the Jiu-Jitsu this year in Bridport. After a short break of nearly four weeks I look forward to a good session of Fitness training, a bit of wrestling and grabbing and of course work on some Jiu-Jitsu techniques.

What makes me thinking is the fallen number of students over the years. And very contrary to this development I notice the change in the streets. When I came first to Bridport in 1988, there was hardly any, or better said, no fighting at all in the streets or in the pubs of Bridport. And now? About 25 years past? Nearly every Saturday the kids perform some aggressive and sometimes violent action. Mainly around East Street and late night. But as there were many people interested in studying Martial Arts in the old days, today it looks like they can't be bothered.

Instead, I was asked to teach the doormen crew of a popular pub some knife defense techniques.Ok, that can be done, but it would be better, teach the folks the same. The first thing a Jiu-Jitsuka learns: The best fight is the one which never happens.

This was an article in the Bridport News from April 1993, when I moved to Symondsbury near Bridport and started teaching Martial Arts in Bridport.

New course for Jiu-Jitsu starts soon

New course for Jiu-Jitsu will start in 10 days time with Master Horst Lindenau at the Loders Village Hall.
Date: 17.01.2012
Time:  08.15 pm
Where: Loders Village Hall, Loders, Bridport
Booking or any further information:  Tel. 01308-459781


This class is held by Master Horst Lindenau. He is a Jiu-Jitsu black belt holder and Master of 5 other Martial Art Styles. This will guarantee you the very best knowledge and tuition for self defense, fitness and Budo. Horst is a teacher for Meditation and Yoga too. As a sports teacher with a German diploma you can be sure, you are in the right hands.

The Jiu-Jitsu class offers traditionell teaching and will include self defense techniques from the German system Anti-Terrorkampf. This is a radical and straight forward combat system. Horst Lindenau is a holder of the second Dan in this school.

The class is suitable for everyone who is fit for sports in general. All ages older than 18 years are very welcome. And even if you haven't done anything for ages... Horst will sort you out.

One lesson costs Pounds 5.00 and if you join the group your first lesson will be refunded. There is an insurance cover with the AMA. You need just some loose clothing to start with.

Ichinen Bridport Jiu-Jitsu at the Bridport Leisure centre

 This shows one of the Squash courts at Bridport Leisure Centre. For a while we used to train here Jiu-Jitsu. They supplied some mats but they were a bit thin, so not really useful for beginners for example. And the noise from neighbouring courts was too much of a distraction, very very loud. so we only stayed here for a couple of months.

Grandmaster Horst Weiland (10th Dan) is dead

 “The spirit directs, the body performs the soul combines both.”

 On Thursday, April 26, 2007, Grandmaster Horst Weiland (10th Dan Jiu-Jitsu) died after a serious illness at the age of 79. We mourn the founder of the Budo Academy Europe, Anti-Terrorkampf self-defence, but above all a unique martial artist, great master and revered teacher. His death represents an immeasurable loss for the budo world and for all those who were lucky enough to learn from him or know him.

Grand master Horst Weiland 10th Dan and master Horst Lindenau 2nd Dan in Germany 

 

The elephant becomes the mascot of Ichinen Bridport

In March 2003 Master Horst Lindenau introduced the elephant as the mascot of Ichinen Bridport martial arts school. Elephants form deep family bonds called a herd. The herd is led by the oldest and often largest female. Elephants are extremely intelligent animals. Elephants are known for their enormous memory, strength and very good social behaviour. That’s why we have chosen them as our mascot. Unfortunately they are under big threat in nature wildlife and need much protection.

The elephant becomes the mascot of Ichinen Bridport in 2003

A bit of history of our local martial art school

Lorraine and Mark from the Jiu-Jitsu group in march 1995. Training was at the local Judo club.

Zen in the martial arts

 In 1994 I crated a Japanese Zen garden in the village of Symondsbury / Dorset / UK.

It was done by the help of several of my martial arts students and other friends. the building of it took twelve months. The size was about 100 square meters and one had to enter via a small gate.

 

Stone of courage in the former Zen garden

One inspiration to build the garden came by reading this book:

"Zen in the martial arts"