Michael Schroden

Aikido instructor, 4th dan in Aikido

Born in 1975 in Gerolstein in the Eifel region, I moved to Cologne at the age of 16 and began my training at a major telecommunications company. Since then, I have held various positions there and now work as a BID manager.

I started practising karate at the age of 15. After moving to Cologne, I trained in kickboxing for several years and practised Wing Chun for a few years. In 2006, I attended a trial session with Dirk Kropp and have been training at his dojo ever since. In May 2016, I began my training to become an Aikido instructor and successfully completed it in 2021 after 5½ years and 2,210 hours on the mat.

I continue to practise in Cologne with Dirk Kropp, but I’m also gaining experience in other dojos across Europe and Japan, and I’m continuing to pursue the path of Budo with great dedication.

What fascinates me about Aikido is that, as a martial art, it offers a platform for personal development, promotes physical well-being and thus enriches my life enormously, both physically and mentally.

For me, Aikido is a way of life that is not confined to the mat.

Since July 2024, I have been teaching in Hennef at the Hennefer Turnverein sports club.