Friends of tradition: Nicolas Kennedy, Alsatia’s first commissioner, practices in the drum room.
Image: Lucas Bäuml
Student fraternities have a bad reputation. They are accused of being right-wing extremists, misogynistic and elitist. The Strasbourg gymnastics association Alsatia in Frankfurt wants to refute such allegations and is open. A home visit.
WIf he wants to discover the scar on Fabian Doktor’s forehead, he has to take a close look. The small scar comes from one of the games he fought at the Alsatia gymnastics club in Strasbourg. He has crossed swords with other liaisons ten times, far more times than the regulations required. Doctor was twice injured in the exchange of blows. “I tried it a little bit,” he admits.
The martial arts that are practiced by the active members of the Frankfurt-based gymnastics club are also far less obvious than, for example, boxers. Gone are the days when members of fighting student fraternities proudly showed their furrowed faces. When an Alsate comes to the mensur – fierce fighting is always only against members of other associations – at least one doctor is always present. The protective regulations have also been tightened to such an extent that serious injuries are becoming increasingly rare. If two drummers face each other in a fight that lasts 15 to 30 minutes with breaks, the blades of the bats are constantly disinfected.