This was our Kagami Biraki 2026 (now including Video)

As every year, we held our traditional New Year’s celebration – kagami biraki – based on the Japanese model. The aim is to get in the mood for the new training year and to appease the spirits of Budo.

The number of participants and guests was higher than ever before. Friends, families with numerous children and spectators came to the join our training session, the Aikido demonstration (embu) and the get-together afterwards.

Nine of our students ventured onto the mat to give an insight into their Aikido. Others were just as active as taking ukemi or were even kind enough to take care of the photos (thanks to Patrick, who was there despite his injured knee and did this for us). Some could not make it this time to take part, were missed but not forgotten.

As always, it was a pleasure for me to watch your presentations, which you all performed with great dedication and controlled consideration for your partners. Watch the video of our sudent’s and teacher’s embu here:

After a good 30 minutes and my not-so-short speech, we were able to devote ourselves to the social part of the evening. Mochi was devoured, sake and juice were sipped, there was lots of chatting and laughing – while the mat remained well populated and was used for playing and for one or two practical discussions.

For me, it was particularly nice – also in view of the development of the dojo over the past eleven years – to see how a friendly, family-like atmosphere manifests itself and enriches our joint training.

I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone who demonstrated, helped, enjoyed themselves, tidied up, laughed, etc., and I wish you all a successful Aikido year in 2026.

See you soon on the mat.

Yours,
Fritz, dojo-cho