After first experiences with rope tying in the context of Japanese martial arts in the early 1990s and later on some years of self-study, Markus began taking kinbaku lessons from AmoVitam in the early 2020s, complemented by attending workshops with various international instructors. As a longtime Aikido teacher, he quickly recognized familiar movement principles and body mechanics in the Taijutsu of Yagami-ryu. Curious to explore these parallels further, he went on to study directly under Ren Yagami, who accepted him as a student and subsequently appointed him as a Shidoin teacher.
Decades of martial arts experience combined with a deep intuition for internal processes shape his approach, bringing a fine-tuned bodily awareness and strong empathy for the emotional layers that allow him to seamlessly blend with both partner and rope. He views Shibari as a mindful exploration of form and flow, where “less is more” and the tied partner is an active and responsive participant in a communicative connection.
Known for a warm and humorous teaching style, Markus regularly instructs within his local group Seilbande, as well as occasionally teaching selected guest workshops. He is based in Kiel, Northern Germany.