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Schwerin Aikido students achieve their black belt – a great day!
Aikido students from Schwerin successfully pass exams and achieve 1st and 3rd Dan under the guidance of Pierre Congard.
Schwerin Aikido students achieve their black belt – a great day!
A harmonious coexistence that is characterized by body control and mental training: At Pierre Congard's Aikido school in Schwerin, several candidates can now look forward to their first master's degree, 1st Dan. June 27, 2025 is a memorable day for the new black belt holders. Among the graduates is 51-year-old Katrin Brandner, who has been pursuing her passion for Aikido since 2017. She emphasizes that she prefers Japanese martial arts to yoga because it helps her unwind.
With Brandner, other examinees also successfully passed the challenge of 1st Dan: Gerda Hecht, Jochen Bellmann, Jörg Mose and Jörn Philips. For 20-year-old Gerda, Aikido is not just a sport, but a personal path of self-discovery, because competitions are not required here. Former handball player Jörg Mose describes Aikido as “a beautiful way to move,” while Jochen Bellmann emphasizes the importance of tradition and history in this martial art.
Behind the scenes of the dojo
The exams were administered by Toshiro Suga, a renowned teacher who taught Pierre Congard himself. Suga, who gained international fame in the late 1970s for his role in the James Bond film “Moonraker,” will return in November to present the new Dan recipients with their certificates. Congard, a 6th Dan holder, is proud of his students' successes and has been imparting his knowledge in Schwerin for over 30 years.
Pierre Congard, who began learning Aikido in Brest in 1978, founded his own dojo in Schwerin in 1993. He had previously studied with Toshiro Suga, a direct student of Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido. This modern Japanese fighting system combines, among other things, elements from various martial arts and emphasizes peace and harmony koryu-budo.jp is to be read. Aikido literally means “the path of harmony with the spirit” and promotes non-violent conflict resolution.
A lively Aikido community
Pierre Congard is not only the technical director of the Free German Aikido Association, but also ensures the spread of this movement-oriented philosophy in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. He has given over 100 Aikido demonstrations and is actively involved in social projects such as “Sport instead of Violence”. His students, 17 of whom are now teaching themselves, have founded their own dojos in Germany, France and Norway, which speaks for the good network within the Aikido community.
The recent success of the course participants in Schwerin is not only a reason to celebrate, but also a sign of the continued popularity of this martial art, which is practiced in many places. The celebration after training on Friday gave the new Dan holders the opportunity to properly celebrate their successes and strengthen the strong community in the dojo.