Martial arts for everyone: How Eugen lives inclusion in Ju-Jitsu!

Martial arts for everyone: How Eugen lives inclusion in Ju-Jitsu!

In the small community of Wiesensteig, nestled in the picturesque Swabian Alb, Eugen Keim founded a special martial arts school 25 years ago. The “Shimboku” school, whose name means “Special Friends”, has since then offered space for children and young people with and without disabilities to train together and support each other. Eugen is supported by his son Jona, who is a member of the school and has been training since he was four years old.

Eugen, who experienced many challenges in his childhood including violence from his father, brings his own experience to the training. At the age of 15 he discovered Ju-Jitsu and later became a police officer. These experiences shaped him and greatly influenced the school's philosophy. During the training, he attaches great importance to using the voice as the most important tool in self-defense instead of always resorting to physical violence. For Eugen, inclusion is a central concern that he has been pursuing for over ten years.

Unique training offers

The “Shimboku” school now has around 60 members from different age groups, starting from the age of four. A quarter of the members have special needs, which particularly enriches the diverse training. Various martial arts such as Ju-Jitsu, Judo, Bo-Jitsu and Tai Chi Chuan are covered. Jona describes working together in training with his father as initially challenging, but trust and relaxation should grow as he gets older.

The training facility is located in the Sickenbühlhalle in Gruibingen and has been in use since January 2019. Eugen is also supported by assistant trainers who represent a wide range of age groups and characters, creating a lively and varied training environment. Jona and Eugen observe a clear trend: “It seems as if many people today have less patience and time for children with special needs.”

Eugen's inclusion work began many years ago with a girl with Down syndrome who was the first student in his combination of martial arts and inclusion. From this point on, many more children integrated into the school. Eugen is not only committed to physical strengthening, but also to emotional cohesion and the promotion of self-confidence and resilience, which has a decisive influence on the atmosphere at school.

The importance of Eugen Kaim and his “Shimboku” school is undeniable. Not only does it provide a platform for physical activity, but it also promotes understanding and acceptance of diversity in society. Those interested can find further information about the school on the official Shimboku website.

At a time when consideration and patience are seemingly on the decline, Eugen and Jona's work remains a shining example of the positive change that can be achieved through martial arts and inclusion. Additional supporters provide members with support and underline the idea that every person deserves a place in society, regardless of their abilities.

For Eugen, the challenge remains to reach more children with special needs and give them the opportunity to become part of the community. He is confident that the Shimboku school's positive influence in the region will continue to grow.