Dr. Björn Pospiech
Movement, Depth and Clear Guidance
A martial arts grandmaster, researcher and guide.
Master & teacher
5th Dan, leading the Taekwon-Do Center Heidelberg since 2007.
Master & teacher
5th Dan, leading the Taekwon-Do Center Heidelberg since 2007.
Researcher
PhD in Medical Psychology (Heidelberg University).
Researcher
PhD in Medical Psychology (Heidelberg University).
Builder
Founder/leader in youth life-skills programs (e.g., DOPDA) and social innovation projects.
Builder
Founder/leader in youth life-skills programs (e.g., DOPDA) and social innovation projects.
Writer
Author of Die Entdeckung der Kampfkunst.
Writer
Author of Die Entdeckung der Kampfkunst.
I returned to martial arts, not to fight, but to listen. Movement became a mirror: every breath, every mistake and every honest attempt showed me where I was holding on and where I was letting go. Over time, I learned that a good teacher doesn’t impose technique; he encourages presence.
I have spent more than eighteen years guiding students of all ages in traditional practice while researching how movement, mindset, and community promote health and character. My work brings these areas together: clear training, lived philosophy and practical science. The result is simple: transformative practice without noise or spectacle, with kindness and rigour.
“A good teacher doesn’t impose form; he invites presence.”
What I believe (Do for Life)
To me, martial arts has never been just a sport or a performance.
It's a way of life.
Every step, every strike and every pause acts as a mirror, showing me who I am when I pay attention and who I am when I lose myself. Winning or losing has never been the point. What matters is the encounter with myself: my courage, my fears, my strength and my quiet centre.
When we move together, something even deeper happens.
Growth is not a solitary path. Through the rhythm of shared practice, whether in silence or laughter, we discover that becoming whole is always a relational journey.
I trust practice more than theory.
The body does not lie — it remembers. Through breath, posture and rhythm, philosophy becomes tangible. You can read about balance, but you only truly know it when your body finds stillness in movement.
And yet, I also trust science.
For my doctorate, I explored how teachers can promote health through martial arts — how practice shapes not only the body, but also the mind, the classroom and the community. For me, research is not a substitute for wisdom. It is a compass, a means of sharpening our vision and understanding what ancient traditions have always known, translating it into the language of today.
Do for Life is exactly that:
A path that connects the body and the mind, tradition and science, solitude and community. It is a way to live with clarity and authenticity — not only on the training floor, but in every aspect of life.
How I work
My work isn't about adding more noise to your life.
It's about creating spaces where clarity can emerge. Sometimes this takes the form of a retreat, at other times it is the structure of a weekly class and at others still it is the intimacy of a one-to-one conversation.
While the setting may change, the principles remain the same.
‘I don't see myself as a master standing above you, but as a fellow traveller pointing out the path and walking alongside you.’
Structure with warmth.
I provide clear guidance and a safe environment. People know where they stand, yet also feel welcome as they are. Discipline is not rigidity; it is an invitation to grow with support.
Structure with warmth.
I provide clear guidance and a safe environment. People know where they stand, yet also feel welcome as they are. Discipline is not rigidity; it is an invitation to grow with support.
Presence over Performance
I don't train people to compete, impress or prove anything. Practice is not about being better than someone else; it's about showing up fully — with your body, your breath and your presence in the moment.
Presence over Performance
I don't train people to compete, impress or prove anything. Practice is not about being better than someone else; it's about showing up fully — with your body, your breath and your presence in the moment.
Embodied Understanding
Ideas remain abstract until they are experienced. That is why I start with movement. The body can teach us things that the mind alone cannot grasp, such as resilience, rhythm and flow. Once the body has learned something, the mind follows more easily.
Embodied Understanding
Ideas remain abstract until they are experienced. That is why I start with movement. The body can teach us things that the mind alone cannot grasp, such as resilience, rhythm and flow. Once the body has learned something, the mind follows more easily.
Integration
A retreat, a workshop or a class are not meant to be isolated experiences. I want people to leave with practices, not a performance: simple, grounded and alive. These are tools that can be woven into daily life long after the seminar or retreat has ended.
Integration
A retreat, a workshop or a class are not meant to be isolated experiences. I want people to leave with practices, not a performance: simple, grounded and alive. These are tools that can be woven into daily life long after the seminar or retreat has ended.
Beyond Roles
Whether I am teaching a child in the dojang, guiding a leader through a coaching process or facilitating a group by the sea, the essence remains the same. I don't see myself as a master standing above others, but as a fellow traveller who has walked a little further. My role is to point out the path, walk parts of it together and encourage people to trust their own steps.
Beyond Roles
Whether I am teaching a child in the dojang, guiding a leader through a coaching process or facilitating a group by the sea, the essence remains the same. I don't see myself as a master standing above others, but as a fellow traveller who has walked a little further. My role is to point out the path, walk parts of it together and encourage people to trust their own steps.
Paths I’ve walked
- Martial Arts
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I am a 5th Dan black belt in traditional Taekwon-Do and have been active in the sport for 25 years. I have been the head instructor at the Taekwon-Do Centre Heidelberg since 2007. I have guided children, teenagers and adults — from absolute beginners to advanced practitioners — towards personal growth rather than competition for more than 18 years.
Example: Many of my students have described how training has helped them to gain confidence at school, remain calm during exams, and become more resilient during challenging times. - Research
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PhD in Medical Psychology, Heidelberg University.
My doctoral research examined how teachers can promote health through martial arts pedagogy. This research bridges the gap between embodied practice and scientific credibility, demonstrating how movement can support mental health.
Example: I have collaborated with schools to design classes that reduce stress and strengthen resilience for teachers and students alike. - Governance & Leadership
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Fellow, European School of Governance (EUSG).
I am engaged in international dialogues on social innovation and systemic change.
Example: My contribution often lies in connecting philosophy with practice and bringing embodiment into conversations about leadership and sustainability. - Youth Empowerment
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I am the founder of life-skills initiatives such as DOPDA (Korean for 'Helping'). I have worked with schools, NGOs and European projects for over a decade to empower young people to navigate crises, build courage and discover their potential.
Example: Through workshops on civil courage, I have seen teenagers find their voice and speak up for fairness when they once stayed silent. - Writing & Speaking
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Author of Die Entdeckung der Kampfkunst (The Discovery of Martial Arts).
This narrative blends philosophy and storytelling to bring ancient martial arts wisdom to life in the modern world.
Example: Readers often tell me that the book felt like 'a mirror' — reminding them of forgotten dreams and inviting them back onto their own path. I also share these insights in talks and workshops, where I combine stories and practical exercises to make them accessible. - Learning with Katrin: perspective, courage and care.
- Katrin’s way of questioning opens up new perspectives. Her confident, feminist clarity has broadened my outlook and taught me to see things more clearly and compassionately. She has been by my side through thick and thin, and I wouldn't have passed my 5th-dan exam or developed many of our current thoughts and practices without her.
These credentials are not titles to collect; they are paths I have walked. Each one has shaped the way I guide others today, equipping me with clarity, authenticity and lived experience.
Presence over performance.
Practice over pose.
Kindness over noise.
Humanity over ego.
