Aside from this, Otto Kneitinger organized the World Championships in Munich 2001, became Vice-President of the EJU and is still honorary Vice-President of the European Judo Union.
In 2003, he founded the IPPON SHOP and became exclusive adidas distributor for Germany. A few years later, adidas handed out the distribution for more than 10 countries to the passionate Judoka from Bavaria. Further, he successfully opened and managed 2 hotels in the city of Abensberg. Rumors say, he did this to host all his Judo friends from around the world.
Otto Kneitinger never forgot his family. Already from the early IPPON SHOP stages on, his youngest son (out of 3), Stefan Kneitinger, has been a part of the company and learned from the experienced entrepreneur. Like for his father, Judo was always a part of his life. Starting with the age of 3, Stefan Kneitinger became a German Champion, was a part of the German Judo National team and the TSV Abensberg Team.
In 2017, both Kneitingers made an important decision together, to focus 100% on the own judo brand IPPON GEAR, which was founded in 2016. Since 2018, IPPON GEAR is an official IJF licensed brand and official Diamond Supplier of the EJU.
IPPON GEAR became their heart piece and both put all their passion for Judo into the modern Judo brand, developing and delivering Judo products on the highest level as well as for an affordable price. 2 years later, IPPON GEAR is available in 36 countries, equips superstars like World and Olympic Champion Lukas Krpalek, Krisztian Toth, Matthias Casse, etc. or the national teams of Hungary, Czech Republic, Austria, Denmark and Croatia.
In 2020, Otto Kneitinger will step back and retire as a CEO of IPPON SHOP and IPPON GEAR and will proudly hand out the company to his son Stefan Kneitinger.
The whole IPPON SHOP Team wishes Otto Kneitinger only the best for his next steps in life. He took care of every person and judoka that crossed his path, treated everyone with respect and can proudly claim to have had a huge impact to the development of Judo, in and outside of Germany. He has lived the judo values to the maximum all the years and will live them for many more years to come.