A lot of life consists of traditions, be it Christmas, birthdays, toasts or other things. The Internet defines it like this: “Traditions are traditional values, customs and behavior that are passed on from generation to generation and create identity, such as toasting while drinking or celebrating certain festivals with special rituals. They connect the past and present, can be cultural, religious or familial and are often regionally influenced (e.g. Maultaschen in Swabia). Although they change, they form an important part of culture and social cohesion.” There are also many traditions that are lived and honored in our judo sport. The greeting, movements and above all the values: Politeness: respectful treatment, bowing to the partner. Willingness to help: Supporting each other in learning, being a good uke. Honesty: Fighting fairly without ulterior motives. Seriousness: concentration and positive enthusiasm for training. Respect: Courtesy towards teachers and elders. Modesty: Don’t play to the foreground, don’t exaggerate successes. Appreciation: Recognizing the achievements of others. Courage: Accepting challenges, even when outnumbered. Self-control: Discipline, punctuality, control in fair and unfair situations. Friendship: solidarity within the judo community. Other traditions are coming…
After the first joint training camp for the judoka and the JSV Bernau fitness team in December 2023, coach Hartmut “Otti” Ott said that he would not do it again because of the high level of preparation required. And yet the third joint training camp for both sports groups took place from December 12th to 14th, 2025. Otti lives for sport and, above all, for the club. This time there were 35 participants at the start, 22 of whom were judoka and 13 fitness athletes. The youngest participant, Johann, and the oldest participant, Uli, are separated by a total age difference of 63 years. This sports weekend was again a very intense but beautiful one. Otti came up with a variety of exercises for us, both familiar and new. There were joint training sessions for both sports groups, but also separate ones. While the judoka trained with Otti on the tatami, the fitness group was led by Stefan Setz in the weight room. His motto was: “Better a little more than too much” 😃 According to Otti, the preparation and follow-up for this training camp took a total of around 5 to 6 weeks. We athletes don’t get that at all…
