with Chief Instructor J.J. (Jisch) Scheuren (at the right)
J.J. (Jisch) SCHEUREN was born the 8th of April, 1955 in Luxembourg, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg and is currently ranked Rokudan Aikikai (6th degree black belt) in Aikido.
After a successful career as a swimmer and waterpolo player Mr. Scheuren started martial arts (karate-do) in 1981 with Sensei Kiroku Fukutome at the Swiss Institute of Technology in Zurich. Sensei Fukutome was a direct student of Egami Sensei. In 1982 Mr. Scheuren started his aikido practice with the same Sensei.
In January of 1983 he returns to Luxembourg to become a Professor, where he is currently teaching at the University of Luxembourg.
He then joined the Aikido Club Luxembourg then under the direction of Erny Glesener 3rd dan aikikai, who developed Aikido in Luxembourg since 1975.
After Mr. Glesener resigned in spring 1983, Mr. Scheuren started a long search for the real Aikido.
He met N. Tamura Shihan and S. Sugano Shihan, who came regularly to Luxembourg, as well as Y. Yamada and M. Kanai Shihan during their first seminar in Luxembourg. He became a regular participant in the seminars in France especially La Colle sur Loup summer camp, Belgium and Germany. His search brought him in 1985 to the Aikido Zen Institute in Berlin with Sensei Gerd Walter 7th Dan, who was at that time strongly influenced by Yamaguchi Sensei. During 5 years he practiced both Aikido and Zazen on a daily basis.
At the same time he started to teach both children and adult
classes at the INS and was the secretary of the club.
In 1987 he passes the sports teachers exam of the luxemburgish Ministry of Sports (formation de base ENEPS), met his wife Dilette Krattenmaker, a lifetime member of New York Aikikai, currently ranked Godan Aikikai (5th Dan) at the La Colle sur Loup summer camp. At the same time he was awarded Shodan (1rst dan).
On January 29th 1988 they married and now have three kids Ariane, Paulina and Annelise.
His influence from Y. Yamada Sensei grew and he took the ukemi from him during his european seminars. He visited NY Aikikai quite a lot during that time.
In 1989 he was awarded Nidan (2nd Dan)
On October 6th he started with some friends the dojo Aikido Kopstal-Bridel becoming the largest dojo in Luxembourg.
In 1990 they organized the first seminar with Tamura Sensei and Yamada Sensei.
At the same time he started to invite teachers living in France i.e.
Stéphane BENEDETTI, who helped him understand the common things in the aikido from Tamura Sensei and Yamada Sensei and
Malcolm Tiki SHEWAN, who is of a great influence both to him and his dojo.
He also took classes from following Japanese Senseis: Doshu
Kishomaru Ueshiba, Doshu Moriteu Ueshiba, S. Yamaguchi, M. Noro,
H. Kobayashi, K. Asai, M. Suganuma, S. Endo, Fujita, Kanetsuka,
Ikeda, Yasuno, Yokota, Osawa and various European and American
teachers (i.e. Donavan Waite, long time ushi deshi NY Aikikai.
On June 11th 1992 he was appointed Moniteur FLAM (certified
Instructor)
In 1992 he was awarded Sandan (3rd Dan) by Tamura Sensei
From 1995 on he visited regularly the San Francisco Aikikai, taught a couple classes and got a better insight to Kanai style Aikido.
In 1997 he visited the Hawaiian Aikikai and in September he receives national Aikido Yondan (4th Dan).
In 1998 he participated for the first time in the US East Coast Super Camp, where he also met for the first time Chiba Sensei. He also had the chance to take classes from senior instructors of the USAF Claude Berthiaume, Bob Zimmermann, Peter Bernath, David Halprin.
In 1999 he participated in summer camps with Chiba Sensei in Méjanne le Clap, Tamura Sensei and Yamada Sensei and Malcolm Tiki Shewan in La Colle sur Loup, Yamada Sensei in Bernau, Germany.
On April 15th 2000 he successfully passes the test for 4th Dan Aikikai with Tamura Sensei, becoming the first and only Luxembourger to do so.
On March 14th 2001 he is appointed Person in Charge for Aikikai Luxembourg and Shidoin.
On June 14th 2001 he receives the "Médaille du Mérite Sportif en Argent" from the Grand Duc Henri of Luxembourg.
In the summer 2001 he spends one month in NY and participated in the US East Coast Summer Camp with Yamada Sensei, Kanai Sensei, Chiba Sensei and H. Osawa Sensei.
On September 27th 2001 he became a member of the Elite Sports
Commission of the National Olympic Committee COSL.
On November 1rst 2002 he successfully passes the test for 5th Dan FLAM with Malcolm Tiki Shewan.
On January 8th 2006 he was promoted to Godan Aikikai by Tamura
Sensei.
On March 2008 he was elected to the Conseil Consultatif of the COSL
as a Vice-President.
On May 21rst 2011 he recieves the "Médaille du Mérite Sportif en
Vermeil" from the Grand Duc Henri of Luxembourg
