The journey to the International Budo Seminar of the WJJF Germany started with the first fully packed cars (Steffen and Andreas as drivers) on Friday 6 October 2017 already at 1 p.m. at the foot of the Fockeberg towards Süßen. The trip was very quiet. Although it was Friday, we had hardly any traffic jams. The weather - a mixture of autumn and April - was relatively unimportant to us passengers. Because we were entertained to the best of our ability. For example with the supposed dream that a participant from Leipzig wanted to come to Stuttgart with a plane, with an air guitar and air drum contest as well as karaoke inserts. In between we had ice cream, coffee and cake in the American restaurant of the Goldenden "M "öve and regular updates about the start and progress of all the other passengers in Leipzig.

Arrived in the country of the Hobbits - the landscape looks partly really like this - our partial travel group is shortly before 18:30 clock. When we wanted to bring the bags to our sleeping camp, the back gymnastics just started there. The older ladies were visibly surprised about the many young people and wanted to persuade us to participate. The tempting beer barrel, which Andreas had brought with him and stabbed shortly after half past six, still had a greater attraction for us.

With the throat moistened, we went to the Italian (well, someone had ordered in advance) and bit by bit the table filled up with those who had left a little later. Everybody got fed up, there was everything from spaghetti to salad to pizza - as a small starter there was bruschetta for everybody (it was very tasty, thanks Andreas!), so that in our sleeping camp no one was kept awake because of the smell of garlic. After a cosy evening we walked back to the gym, where the night camps were set up... Interesting were the different variants of the "beds" and their superstructures.

On 7.10. we were woken up with a hymn which some of us didn't even know and therefore were a little irritated. Hans Eisler and Johannes R. Becher hardly know anybody anymore...

After breakfast at the baker's we left for Schwäbisch Gmünd, so that we arrived on time shortly before 9:00 a.m. and got our hands on some great parking lots. Immediately after getting out we were recognized and greeted very friendly by WJJF Germany President Richi. At the registration in the foyer of the hall we were very happy to see one or the other acquaintance again and to welcome him.

After changing clothes, taking the line and the obligatory "before photo" Andreas warmed us up with his famous "video game". Then we went, divided by graduation and U18, to one of the six Tatami. The instructors simply changed the mats according to the units and we participants could stay on the spot. In between we could see that everyone had fun to implement one or the other tricky technique. It didn't matter if it was a newcomer or an old hand - everyone could take new impressions with them.

There were two longer breaks and really good and inexpensive food. Thanks to coffee and tasty cake we as Saxons felt almost like at home... After about 7.5 hours on the Tatami we had still photo sessions with the present grandmasters and passed afterwards all our courage test and showered cool or a...cold. Also the girls noticed well. Whether this was intentional or not, no matter we can simply...

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After the shower we sat down in the foyer for a while, as the evening event was not supposed to start until 1.5 hours later. To describe this again in detail would simply go beyond the scope here. You have to experience that. Therefore only briefly summarized: Eating, drinking, singing, dancing, Alphorn blowing and bob driving were some of the activities....

Shortly after midnight we all from Leipzig were again in Süßen in the gym - supplemented by three Italians, who had no hostel and stayed overnight with us.

Whoever is a real Budoka can celebrate in the evening and is fit in the morning - that's why we all arrived punctually at the baker's for breakfast. Around 9:00 o'clock we said goodbye and decided to drive over the Schwäbische Alp this time after refueling. The weather was mixed again, but the Golden Seagull was comfortable as always. In spite of the most different driving styles and ways we arrived exactly behind Steffen again at the Fockeberg and 49.5 hours Dojo excursion went to end. That this was again a full success was confirmed in the evening also in the WhatsApp chat.


Year
2017
Author of the text
Claudia Moser
Name of photographer
WJJF-D