Interview and text by Grigoris Miliaresis

Photo by Inyokai Dojo Italy

In volume 24 of the Worldwide Koryu Dojo Report, we visit Fulda, a city in the center of Germany, 87 kilometers northeast of Frankfurt to meet with the German representative of Miyamoto Musashi’s  Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu, Mr. Roland Gericke.

Roland Gericke (Photo by Hans-Joachim Müller)

Name: Kenkyukai Fulda e.V.
Location: Fulda, Germany
Foundation year: 2001
Arts practiced: Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu, kendo
Local affiliation: No local affiliation for Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu, Deutscher Kendo Bund e.V. (kendo)
Japan affiliation (instructor/organization): directly connected to Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu Hombu Dojo and 12th soke Kajiya Takanori
Instructor’s name: Roland Gericke
Instructor’s credentials/grades: no gradings in Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu, kendo 2nd dan
Number of members: 25
Members advanced/beginners ratio: 13/12
Days of practice/week: 1-2
Website/social media/email:
kendo-fulda.de, nitenichiryu.de, hyohonitenichiryu.com (Hombu Dojo), dojocho@nitenichiryu.de

1) When and how did you get involved with the classical art(s) you practice?

I’ve practiced budo for almost my whole life, starting in the age of six with judo. The first contact with classical budo has been through magazines and books, especially the work of Diane and Meik Skoss. The first contact with Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu was in 2004, when my former teacher visited the international seminar in France, and we got the permission to open a keikojo. We kept contact with the Hombu Dojo, and visited every international seminar we could. In 2015 I became the official German representative.

Photo by Renate Tervoort

2) How widespread in your country are the classical martial art you practice and the classical arts in general?

Before Covid came and changed everything (hopefully not for much longer), I’ve worked hard to start some keikojo around my country; I’ve got a few members which are traveling up to 200 km one-way to take part in our keiko. I hope, I can continue with that soon. Budo is quite wide spread in Germany, but classical budo, koryu bujutsu is still sort of a niche.

3) Do you and the members of your group travel to Japan to practice?

I hope, we can do this more frequently in the future. We are very fortunate in that our Soke travels to Europe once a year and every country representative of Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu has the opportunity to host the international seminar with him. So it’s very nice that we all can see each other at least once a year and have a good gasshuku together. True friendships have grown through this.

4) What is the biggest difficulty in practicing classical martial arts?

There are different levels of difficulties in my opinion. If you never had contact with Japanese martial arts before, you’ll enter a whole new world of complicated and difficult movements and it takes some time before you realize why you are doing them. Another difficulty is achieving the correct mindset during keiko by leaving your own ego out of the dojo and diving into the philosophy of your ryu.

5) What is the difference between practicing classical and modern Japanese martial arts?

That is a really difficult question, because there are many levels of challenge. Speaking for the art I’m practicing which is mostly famous for its kenjutsu, it’s difficult for a beginner to see some kind of practical use. In addition to that, we don’t have gradings like the kyu/dan system which can be a big motivator for students i.e. getting some sort of certificate which proves their progress. That makes it also difficult for me to get new students, but every downside can also be seen as an upside. The students I have are without an exception special characters: well educated, highly motivated and they love what they do.

6) What is your art’s strongest characteristic, historically or technically?

Photo by Annemijne Peeters

First of all, it’s the school of Miyamoto Musashi who is famous far beyond the borders of his homeland. Unfortunately I’ve got just a few insights in other koryu, but compared to what I know, our style is extremely fast and direct. If practiced correctly, the level of inner strength and dynamics can’t be compared to anything I’ve done before.

7) What is the benefit of practicing classical martial arts in the 21st century- especially for someone who isn’t Japanese?

That brings us back to question no.5: Having no obvious benefit like being able to defend yourself, the real benefits are latent. Since you can’t train properly if you’re taking your everyday problems into the dojo, your dojo becomes a refuge, a place of silence for your soul. You become mindful of the small things in your life and you learn a kind of endurance that’s sadly rare in our modern times. Above all things, it’s just an honor to be part of a group of people which preserves historical treasures.

Photo by Annemijne Peeters

8) Is there a Japanese community in your city? Do you have any connections to them and to other aspects of Japanese culture?

Sadly there is no organized Japanese community but we are friends with a taiko drumming group, and we collaborate at special events.

Photo by Annemijne Peeters