Aikido

October 26, starting at 5:00 p.m., two 90-minute sessions with a 30-minute break. “
” with Thomas Christaller

Thomas Christaller writes about his workshop:
“Most martial arts are about learning to inflict pain on others and to endure pain oneself. In my practice of Aikido, my primary focus is on entering into an exchange with another person, even if that person—for whatever reason—attacks me. In this seminar, we’ll explore together how you can dissolve an attack like morning fog in the sun. Very simple exercises will show you how to let an attack fizzle out and ensure that no further attack follows. You don’t need to be particularly strong or have any experience in physical combat. We’ll discover that gentle touches can be more effective than punches and kicks. It’s interesting to note that science (brain research in particular) has only begun to study the human sense of touch in the last thirty years or so. Many experiments have shown that gentle touch, caressing, and putting an arm around someone enable us to sense what’s going on inside another person, express compassion, and nurture social relationships. I try to integrate these insights into the martial art of Aikido, sometimes with astonishing results.”

Participation fee: 40 euros; discounts available.

To register: cs@eaha.org, Christine Simon, Tel.: 038374-75227

Thomas Christaller, Prof. (ret.), Dr. rer. nat., worked in the field of artificial intelligence at the universities of Bonn, Bielefeld, and Hamburg from 1974 until his retirement. From 1989 to 2010, he served as Executive Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Autonomous Systems; from 1998 to 2004, he was a member of the German Science Council. Here, first and foremost, is his “Aikido biography”: Thomas C. began practicing Aikido in 1972 and has been teaching this martial art and art of movement since 1976. In 1986, he co-founded the Aikido Aikikai Bonn e.V. association. After more than 20 years, he founded the Center for Movement & the Art of Living in Bonn. There, various Japanese martial arts (Japanese: Budo), yoga, and Zen meditation are taught. His aikido practice is modeled after Nobuyuki Watanabe, who was famous, among other things, for his so-called “no-touch throws” (throws without physical contact). One of his sayings is now the most important one for Thomas Christaller in his teaching: “You should leave the mat healthier than when you stepped onto it!”

He says of his work with Aikido: “What fascinates me is recognizing and understanding how conflicts can be resolved in a way that allows both parties to reflect on their behavior. Even if someone attacks me, I always see the human being in the other person. The joy of beautiful movements, simplicity, and serenity.”
Thomas Christaller has been associated with the founders of the academy in Klein Jasedow for decades. https://lebenskunst-bonn.de/thomas