History

Prof. Julius Fleck

Professor Julius Fleck (1894 to 1967), a Hungarian by birth, developed Judo-Do in 1949 as a further development of traditional Judo. After seventeen years of practical work and numerous Judo fights, he came to the conclusion that Judo had its weak points and did not take into consideration many possibilities. Julius Fleck asked himself again and again why the Japanese used non-hanging and drawing movements for throws as they were an excellent prerequisite for breaking the balance and primarily to accentuate the body as a logical entity. In addition, he noticed that occidental Judo always was and is only – albeit a good – copy of Japanese Judo. We learn Judo, the Japanese, however, feel Judo. After careful consideration, Julius Fleck decided to fill the gap and to carry his own ideas into the field of Judo, to extend traditional Judo, and to adapt Judo to our (western) needs and to our mentality, the idea being not to fight against each other, but with each other.

Wally Strauß

Julius Fleck died in 1967, and left his spiritual heritage to Professor Wally Strauss (10th Dan), an Austrian by birth, who lived in Ringwood in the Australian Federal State of Victoria. As the legitimate successor, Wally Strauss (1908 to 1988) modified Judo-Do to Ido, the perpetual movement. Thus, Ido turned into a tool for training the body and mind. Ido symbolises unlimited movement and IDOKAN is the house of unlimited movement. The inner path (the mental power) and the school of perfect movement have top priority. In practice, Ido intends to combine actions, either in Judo or in the form of Karate or one of the other martial arts. In Japanese, this is expressed by Renzoku-Waza, i.e. linking the actions of Renraku-Waza (combined actions) and Kaeshi-Waza (counter attacks). In summary, Ido is the modern form of Judo-Do, adaptable to all Budô disciplines, provided the Budô-ka understands the deep sense of perpetual movement.

Note: There are other lines of succession through the former co-operators of Professor Fleck: such as from Adolf Bauer to Franz Strauss, 10th Dan; it is due to him that the original Judo-Do system has been preserved.

Hubert Baron Klinger von Klingerstorff

Hubert Baron Klinger von Klingerstorff, 10th Dan, (*18th January 1920 to 18th March 1998) was a pupil of Mikinosuke Kawaishi (France) and Erich Rahn (Germany). Moreover, he was also pupil and co-operator of Professor Julius Fleck. He was a real artist on the mat as well as a fascinating teacher. In addition, he belongs to the pioneers of Jiu-Jitsu, Judo-Do and Judo in Europe. In the 1950s, the author of many books on martial arts wrote the only book on Judo-Do titled “Judo and Judo-Do – The Haute Ecole of Fighting” (original German title “Judo und Judo-Do – Die hohe Schule des Kampfes”). A translation of this book into French has even made its entry to the Kodokan Archive in Tokyo. As the honorary president of Idokan Europe International e.V., he was not only a friend and close confidant of Director Hans Schöllauf, he was also attached to his Budô until the end of his days. We have to thank these two personalities and their perpetual idealism that Ido has spread throughout Europe.

Hans Schöllauf

After the demise of Wally Strauss, Director Hans Schöllauf from Vienna (10th Dan Shihan) continued the spiritual inheritance of Ido. According to Shihan Schöllauf, the highest achievement of Ido is the development of the internal power (vital energy – Ki) and the increase of mental energy, which leads to a mature person who has overcome his ego and practices a real appreciating coexistence. This requires primarily exercises in natural breathing, energy – Ki exercises and meditation when sitting, standing, walking and in movement (Kumite and Kata). Hans Schöllauf died in Vienna in July, 2011.

Rudi Gabert

In August 2003, Director Hans Schöllauf asked Rudi Gabert (9th Dan Ido) to step in as his successor and to further develop Ido in theory and practice as well as to spread the style nationally and internationally as its ambassador. As an “itinerant instructor”, his activities are not subject to any federation rules, and thus he will hand down his abilities and knowledge in the sense of the old masters. Rudi Gabert officially became successor on July 28th, 2011.