The Dojo
Aikido Oberursel stands for open-minded and respectful practice, and for continuous research. We maintain a lively exchange with an international network of friends. This is why we chose the slogan CONNECT ∙ EXCHANGE ∙ DEVELOP. The dojo was founded in 2013, and the first official class was held on 5 January 2014.
Head of the Dojo
Klaus Messlinger, 4th Dan Aikikai Tokyo; photo: Julia Wagner
Klaus Messlinger took his first Aikido lesson in 1996. He practises in a number of dojos dedicated to the tradition of Yamaguchi Seigo shihan (1924-1996) and his direct students Endo Seishiro shihan (Saku/Japan) and Christian Tissier shihan (Paris). Within this line, his most influential teachers are Jan Nevelius shihan and Jorma Lyly (Stockholm). Klaus continues his studies by regularly visiting a large number of international seminars.
Klaus sees tradition as a way of "passing on the flame". To him Aikido is a continuing research, a life-long development where everybody needs to discover their own path and their own interpretation of Aikido.
He is fascinated by movements which connect deeply to the partner's center and at the same time are very subtle. If both succeeds, the attacker does not sense any counter action, while being taken out of balance and given a new destination or unexpected resting spot: "my partners offer me opportunities, I merely guide them from there".
Klaus took his gradings in front of committees of the Swedish Aikikai, and he is a member of Vanadis Aikidoklubb, Stockholm. He is particularly grateful to his long-time teacher Ulli Kubetzek from Aikido Dojo Frankfurt who for over a decade supported him and encouraged him to take on responsibility.
The Logo
Our logo is made up of three concentric circles, drawn by hand with ink. The imperfection of the circles stands for the individual path every Aikido practitioner is following in the art. The logo stands for a number of ideas, in particular:
- Tree rings (growth and development)
- Wavelets caused by a drop in the lake (harmonic movement from silence)
- Contour lines of a mountain (perseverance and vision)
- Three reference points of techniques: centre, contact and distance
- A target symbolising concentration and focus on one task at a time
- Resting in oneself and simultaneously being aware of ambient space
- Three ensō symbols from Japanese calligraphy, expressing the moment when the mind is free to let the body create
- From inside out: Why? How? What? (Read Klaus Messlinger's personal answers)
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