40 years of Karate-Dojo Nienburg eV with Fiore Tartaglia!
The Nienburg Karate Club celebrated a very special occasion from May 24th to 25th, 2025 – actually, two occasions: its 40th anniversary as an independent club and 50 years of karate in Nienburg. An impressive milestone, marked by countless hours of training, dedication, and community spirit. To properly commemorate this special anniversary, the Nienburg dojo invited one of Germany's most renowned karate instructors, Fiore Tartaglia, to conduct a seminar from May 24th to 25th, 2025. In the cafeteria, rolls, cakes, waffles, and many other treats were available to satisfy both small and large appetites. Karate was first practiced in 1974 by members of the Nienburg police force. Over the following years, karate gained increasing popularity among the general public and eventually became a division of the ASC Nienburg. The Karate Dojo Nienburg e.V. was finally founded in 1985 by approximately 50 participants at its inaugural meeting. Since then, more than 15 karateka have earned their black belts. In addition, the club has won numerous district and state championships, as well as a second-place finish at the German Championships.
The central theme of the celebrations was "The Importance of Intermediate Movements," a topic intended to illuminate a deeper understanding of often inconspicuous preparatory movements and proving to be an enriching experience for all those present. Karate aims to teach us not only the execution of techniques such as punches, blocks, or kicks, but above all, the path to the final technique. The intermediate movements—that is, all the small, often inconspicuous movements that occur within the larger techniques—are frequently crucial for effectiveness, fluidity, and emphasis. They enable a karateka to react to unforeseen situations, deflect attacks, and seamlessly prepare for the next action. A deep understanding and mastery of intermediate movements lends not only elegance to the execution but also immense practical relevance in self-defense. Tartaglia, however, repeatedly emphasized the central role of the hips in karate. His conviction: "The hips—the engine of speed" is far more than just a metaphor; It is a fundamental principle that is crucial for every karateka to develop maximum power and speed in their techniques, because pure muscle power alone would result in a slow, weak technique.
Consequently, karate is far more than just physical exercise; it is a discipline that trains the mind and encourages a deeper exploration of one's own movements, reactions, and philosophy. Under the guidance of Fiore Tartaglia, the participants of the anniversary training course were able to sharpen their perception of these subtle nuances and discover new, fundamental functions of their physical center. The atmosphere was characterized by concentration, a willingness to learn, and the joy of training together. The sweat and hard work were rewarded at the end with a fun barbecue, plenty of salads, and meat specialties. We look back on the weekend with pride, but especially with great motivation for the future, so that we can continue to inspire generations with the art of karate!
