Right after the New Year, members of our dojo took part in a New Year jodo seminar led by Beat Sensei. The seminar took place in Switzerland, in the picturesque town of Kriens, located just a short distance from the capital of the canton, Lucerne.
Already on Friday, our members Marián and Adriana had some time for a little sightseeing in Lucerne – a city buzzing with life and tourists from all over the world. Although it was chilly, the sun occasionally peeked through the clouds, casting gentle rays over the streets and creating an almost fairytale-like atmosphere. The biggest admiration went to the world’s oldest covered wooden bridge with its iconic Water Tower. People strolled across, took photos, admired its historic architecture, and perhaps secretly imagined themselves in some old Swiss postcard.
Over the weekend, jodo enthusiasts from Italy, Slovakia, and Switzerland gathered in the dojo. While there weren’t many participants, the majority were godan-ranked practitioners. Sensei focused especially on them, as they are preparing for upcoming exams. The training was intense, technically demanding, and full of valuable advice, pushing every detail to the next level. There were also enbu performances and, to finish, koryu kata from the Chudan series, which thoroughly tested everyone and some may have quietly thought it would be better with chocolate in hand.
The entire weekend was incredibly enriching, not only from a technical perspective but also socially. Between training sessions and conversations, a friendly atmosphere developed, full of laughter, learning, and unforgettable experiences. And let’s be honest, a bit of Swiss chocolate and a touch of winter romance definitely added a sweet charm to the seminar.
From Switzerland, we were escorted home by snow, which welcomed us back in Košice as well. A big thank you goes to Beat Sensei for leading the seminar, for his valuable advice, and for his patience.
