In the artist's words:

Sôke Michael Thomanek

Supported and encouraged by Grandmaster Ingo Brosch, he took on the role of national youth coach in the German Bu-Jutsu Association and was appointed Budo Grandmaster in 2002 as a young man due to his full-time work as a martial arts instructor and the intensity that came with it.
He developed his own concept with the aim of uniting different martial arts and, above all, making self-defense more effective in a contemporary way, which he has achieved by eliminating superfluous techniques in the various disciplines with Jido (individual way).

The Jido concept is both so simple and so effective that numerous organizations and companies such as Telekom, Kinderschutzbund, Caritas and various schools in Cologne and the surrounding area are happy to use it for self-defence and peace of mind in their everyday lives.

In 2013, Michael Thomanek was awarded the 7th master grade in Jiu-Jitsu by the Jiu-Jitsu/Tai-Jitsu Association, awarded by Grandmaster Heinrich Böhmer, for his services as a martial arts teacher and dojo leader with his own concept.

This degree was recently internationally recognized by the International Budo Do Federation IBDF, represented by Grandmaster Karl Wagner, as well as by the Martial Arts Association international MAA-I, represented by Grandmaster Bernd Höhle.

In addition to other grandmasters, Michael took intensive lessons with the renowned martial arts masters:
Evan Pantazi - (Kyusho - USA)
Andrew McGill - (Kempo - GB)
Horst Kallinowski - (Ju-Jitsu - D)
Cass Magda - (Pentjak Silat - USA)
Johnny Bernaschewitz - (Jiu-Jitsu- B)
Jan de Jong - (Jiu-Jitsu - AUS)
Prof. Jonathan Stewart - (Tang Soo Do - USA)
Dr. Hans von Rollbeck - Ki-Jutsu - D)
Hiromigi Nagano - (Joshinkai-Aikido - J)
Prof. Dr. Kaido Yamaue - (Aiki-Jitsu - Imperial House Japan)

With 40 years of martial arts experience, of which Michael Thomanek taught full-time and independently as a martial arts instructor for 20 years, he also succeeded in training more than 25 masters himself. Most of his students are still actively involved in training today, and some have since become teachers themselves, helping to shape the innovative Jido concept.