Story - The Meade County Messenger


Vol. 116, No. 35	Month DAY, 2007

Spanning the ocean
Love of judo brings Germans here

By LARRY SEE JR.
Messenger Staff

Bound only by the love of judo and a yearn to visit the United States, 33 Germans arrived in Meade County Aug. 20, intent on making their 10-day Urlaub memorable.

The group are members of Eb Kieslich’s judo club, called TSV TBB Tauberbischofsheim, which he started participating in at the age of 13.

Photos by Larry See Jr.
Judo instructor Eb Kieslich instructs one of his prime students, Zach Smith of Brandenburg, in one of the moves during a demonstration last week. Kieslich’s club is hosting 33 German students this week on a judo cultural exchange trip. Below right, Kieslich accepts a judo uniform and a gong from his German counterparts for his efforts in arranging the visit.

“I have been fascinated by over 35 years of judo, but there is so much more to learn,” he said, during a welcoming ceremony which packed the courtroom of the Meade County Courthouse.

Kieslich relocated to Kentucky in 1990, due to his job. In 1998 he formed a local judo club, which meets weekly in the banquet room of the Meade County Messenger.

It was judo which brought the Germans and the nearly 20 Meade County participants together. Several times, during the ceremony and in the stuffy meeting room, Kieslich translated the various moves being demonstrated by instructors from Elizabethtown and Louisville prior to having the eager students attempt them.

During the welcome, a United States flag, which flew over the state Capitol in Frankfort, a Kentucky flag and a glass obelisk were presented. In return the guests presented officials with German wine, and in the case of city officials, an aerial map of their hometown, and a special wall hanging for state Rep. Jeff Greer.

“This has been a great welcoming ceremony and we are honored to be here in front of these important people from the county and the city,” he said. “This honor is just not for me and you, but also the sport of judo, which is severely lacking recognition in America.”

According to Kieslich, if viewers were paying attention to the Beijing Olympics they would see judo is practiced in more countries than any other sport. It became an official Olympic sport in 1964, having made the cut following the urging of world judo followers.

“The sport is only surpassed by soccer,” he said. “It has the most people except for soccer.”

“In Brandenburg the sport is thriving,” he said, adding the local club has fostered several champions as well as placement in several national events.

“The judo club is on their way, but they’re not there yet,” he commented.

Participants in the German program run the gamut, both in age, occupations and interest in the sport.

Philip Schuman, a 26-year-old university student studying electronics, got involved in the program at the young age of “6 or 7.”

“I had researched football and handball and some other stuff and it just did not fit,” he said in his broken, but well-spoken Deutsch. “My father knew the judo trainer and we decided to become involved in the program.”

Jonas Muller, a 17-year-old high school student had a different motivation for participating in the sport.

“I wanted to be able to defend myself,” he said. “I wanted to be able to fight and I liked this sport.”

He commented the town where he lives in Germany is slightly smaller than Brandenburg, but he echoed a comment offered by all four students interviewed that the houses “were really close together.”

“Yours are so far apart here,” he said. “These (in America) are wide apart and they have big areas. In Germany the houses are close together.”

When asked why he decided to come to the United States, he also had a matter-of-fact answer.

“I want to enjoy life, travel around and discover some new cultures,” he said. Whether they be in Brandenburg or Louisville, Jonas is sure to experience some of the Commonwealth’s hospitality.

During their stay, members performed and practiced judo, not only in Elizabethtown and Louisville, but had a chance to visit Holiday World, The Kentucky State Fair, Mammoth Cave National Park and a Louisville Bats game.

Another team member, Jurgen Vath, 24, is a few weeks away from receiving a university degree. After graduation, he has his eyes set on a management position in information systems and economics.

“I just came here because I wanted to see America,” he said. “I wanted to experience the different culture. I also wanted to fight with the Americans and see how they fight.”

Jurgen admitted it was a long flight from his country to America, but enjoyed the fact their motel had an indoor pool.

Johanna Schuman, the oldest female of the group at 24, is also a university student, studying to complete a teaching program. She will eventually teach religion and work with – naturally – some sports.

“My brother (Philip) and I wanted to do some sports and everything we heard was that judo was the best and we wanted the very best,” she said.

She lives with her family in a small town.

When Kieslich broached the idea of having the students experience Kentucky, he expected they would have 10 or 15 people sign up, in part due to the cost.

“All of the clubs there (in Germany) are organized under the government,” he said. He said the local city, an area Judo council and a youth development organization provided trip funds, but the members first paid the entire upfront costs, with 30 percent refunded through these sponsors.

“This is a unique experience,” he said, adding he was shocked when he learned there were 33 who expressed an interest in attending.

“I hope all of the city, the county or even the state picks up on this,” he said, indicating perhaps it might be a good start for a cross-cultural exchange, not only in judo, but other sports as well.

He explained in the German club there are other sports, with the organization boasting 2,800 members, of which 200 are in judo.

Following their event last week, the club members enjoyed one of America’s favorite foods – hot dogs – which ironically are pronounced the same way there. Comments from the team members were the food was small, and Americans put a lot of ice into their pop.

Team members attending included Sandra Adrian; Andrea Durr; Andreas Eisenhauer, Joachim Fels, Monika Fels, Kornelia Hammerich; Diana Hammerich; Simon Hener; Christoph Kasti; Wolfgang Kinscher; Carsten Kunze.

Also Michael Kunze; Mario Lang; Andreas Morstatt; Jonas Muller; Julian Scherer; Jutta Scherer; Klaus Scherer; Laura Scherer; Markus Schlegelmitch; Thomas Schlegelmitch; Johanna Schuman; Philip Schuman.

Also, Gabriele Spang; Georg Spang; Tobias Spinner; Jurgen Vath; Manfred Walther; Andre Weller; Pascal Wernhard; Julian Zauner and Torsten Zettelmeier.

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