Shobukan Grafenwoehr and The Dojo are small, non-commercial martial arts clubs dedicated to the study of the Japanese martial arts, specifically, weapons and jujutsu systems.
We study the Kokoro Ryu system of budo (weapons, jujutsu and kempo) and often host guest instructors from other systems ranging from Aikido to Shinto Muso Ryu and Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu.
Our chief teacher is Richard Gordon. He began training in jujutsu in 1946 and spent the next several decades studying Japanese budo with a few forays into other arts and cultural systems. His martial resume includes time spent in several dojo in Japan, Okinawa and Hawaii. As a career Marine, serving during the Occupation of Japan, as well as the Korean and Vietnam wars, he had opportunities to study systems ranging from old jujutsu sytles to modern aikido (both Ki Society and Yoshinkan).
Adolph Kolping ( December 8, 1813 in Kerpen near Cologne; † December 4, 1865 in Cologne) was a German Catholic Priest.
Kolping grew up as the son of a shepherd. At the age of 18 he went to Cologne as a shoemaker’s assistant. He was shocked by the living conditions of most people living there and this, as well as the teachings of the Skladanek brothers, caused him to decide to become a priest. At 23 he attended a Gymnasium (German grammar school) and afterwards studied theology in Munich, Bonn and Cologne.
On April 13, 1845 he was consecrated as priest in Cologne’s “Minoriten” church. First he worked in Elberfeld, now part of Wuppertal, as chaplain and teacher of religion. In 1847 he became second president of the Catholic Association of Journeymen (founded the preceding year by Johann Gregor Breuer), which gave young journeymen religious and social support.
In 1849 he returned to Cologne as the vicar of the cathedral and established Cologne’s Association of Journeymen. He united the existing journeymen-associations as the "Rheinischer Gesellenbund" ("Federation of Journeymen of the Rhine Region") in 1850. This fusion was the origin of today’s international "Kolpingwerk." Until his death he labored to spread and federation of journeymen associations. In the year of his death (1865) there were already more than 400 journeymen associations worldwide.
In 1854 Kolping founded the weekly newspaper "Rheinische Volksblätter" ("Rhine Region People’s Paper"), which quickly became one of the most successful press organs of his time. In 1862 he became principal of Cologne’s "Minoriten" church.
On December 4, 1865 Kolping died. He was buried in Cologne’s "Minoriten" church.
On October 27, 1991 he was beatified by Pope John Paul II.
In Germany nowadays, the Kolpingwerk founded by him has more than 275,000 members in 2,730 local Kolping-families. That makes it the biggest social federation in Germany. The Kolpingwerk seated in Cologne has approximately 500,000 members worldwide and is organized in 6,000 Kolping-families.
Hiking is a form of walking, undertaken with the specific purpose of exploring and enjoying the scenery. It usually takes place on trails in rural or wilderness areas.
The word 'hiking' is understood in all English-speaking countries, but there are differences in usage. In some places, off-trail hiking is called 'cross-country hiking', 'bushwalking', or 'bushbashing'. In the United Kingdom, hiking is a slightly old-fashioned word, with a flavor more of heartiness and exercise than of enjoying the outdoors; the activity described here would be called 'hillwalking' or simply 'walking'. Australians use the term 'bushwalking' for both on- and off-trail hiking. New Zealanders use 'tramping' (particularly for overnight and longer trips), 'walking' or 'bushwalking'. Hiking in the mountainous regions of India and Nepal is sometimes called 'trekking'. Overnight hiking is called 'backpacking' in some parts of the world. Hiking a long-distance trail from end to end is referred to as 'thru-hiking' in some places.
