DDK Summer Camp 2026: Budo at the Hennef Sports School
From June 12 to 14, 2026, the Hennef Sports School served as a gathering place for the martial arts community: At the traditional DDK summer camp organized by the German Dan College (DDK), numerous martial artists from all over Germany gathered to further their training in intensive courses. A Dan examination was also administered on site.
A diverse program of high quality
The summer camp offered participants a wide range of training opportunities across several budo disciplines—including judo, karate, jujutsu, aikido, jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, kendo, and self-defense. The courses were designed for experienced budoka and martial artists and covered both fundamental concepts and challenging technical and practical sessions. In addition to classic technical sequences, the focus was also on modern training approaches as well as aspects of self-defense and realistic combat. The sessions impressed with their technical depth while also embodying the core values of budō: discipline, respect, and continuous personal development characterized the weekend in Hennef.
Stefan Buben, a former national and Bundesliga competitor, European silver medalist, and eight-time German judo champion, traveled from Bremen with his wife Diana Buben-Brüggemann (a former professional handball player) specifically for this event. He impressed everyone with effective self-defense techniques and then took plenty of time for photos. “That wasn’t just a workout—it was pure adrenaline,” said one of the participants. A 6th-dan karate grading held special significance on Sunday. A high-caliber examination committee traveled from all over Germany to conduct the exam; its members are themselves experienced karateka.
Exchange, Learning, and Community
In addition to the intensive training sessions, the weekend provided ample opportunity for participants to interact with one another. Budoka from various disciplines gathered at the Hennef Sports School to learn from one another and gain new perspectives. Stefan Becker, a participating Aikidoka, summed up the experience as follows: “My goal was to gain new inspiration for my own discipline and broaden my horizons in Budo—the top-notch team of instructors fully met this expectation! And what could be better than seeing old sports friends again and meeting new ones in this setting? I’m already looking forward to next year—and would love to return to Hennef!”
Hennef Sports School: The Ideal Location for Martial Arts Groups
The Hennef Sports School once again proved to be the ideal venue for events of this kind. In particular, the specialized martial arts halls—including dedicated training areas for judo, boxing, and wrestling—offer optimal conditions for demanding training courses and exams. Spacious mat areas, functional equipment, and training rooms tailored to the respective disciplines enable focused yet versatile training at a high level.
Peter Gessner, president of the DDK, a 7th-dan black belt in ju-jutsu, and organizer of the DDK summer camp, praised the conditions on site: “The mat in the judo hall is very good because it has optimal cushioning for falls and throws. The cushioning makes you feel like you’re walking on water.” It quickly becomes clear that Peter Gessner knows exactly what he’s talking about: Over the weekend, he was on the mat himself in his judogi, actively serving as an instructor and speaker. This passionate jujitsu practitioner brings 46 years of martial arts experience to the table and continues to pass it on to this day. The organization also impressed: “The flexibility of the Hennef Sports School was truly incredible. The staff always accommodated our individual planning challenges. We managed to pull everything off on the fly—that was fantastic,” said Gessner, whose personal goal in organizing the summer camp was to ensure that all participants were satisfied at all times. This is a goal that the Hennef Sports School shares wholeheartedly and actively supports by providing optimal conditions and flexibility.
The sports school is specifically designed to meet the needs of martial arts groups. The combination of professional training facilities, short distances, and on-site lodging and meals creates an environment where participants can focus entirely on their athletic development. This creates an environment—especially for multi-day programs like the DDK Summer Camp—that optimally combines intensive training, interaction, and performance assessment.
