The Bubishi Karate Do Organization
Editor: Katherine Loukopoulos Email: kloukopoulos2001@yahoo.com
Issue # 26, June - July 2014 Š 2014 Katherine Loukopoulos
The Cover The Death of Socrates by Jacques-Louis David (1787) Socrates was born circa 470 BC, in Athens, Greece. We know of his life through the writings of his students, including Plato and Xenophon. His "Socratic method," laid the groundwork for Western systems of logic and philosophy. When the political climate of Greece turned, Socrates was sentenced to death by hemlock poisoning in 399 BC. He accepted this judgment rather than fleeing into exile. Socrates was the son of Sophroniscus, an Athenian stone mason and sculptor, and Phaenarete, a midwife. Because he wasn't from a noble family, he probably received a basic Greek education and learned his father's craft at a young age. It is believed Socrates worked as mason for many years before he devoted his life to philosophy. Contemporaries differ in their account of how Socrates supported himself as a philosopher. Both Xenophon and Aristophanes state Socrates received payment for teaching, while Plato writes Socrates explicitly denied accepting payment, citing his poverty as proof. Athenian law required all able bodied males serve as citizen soldiers, on call for duty from ages 18 until 60. According to Plato, Socrates served in the armored infantry—known as the hoplite—with shield, long spear and face mask. He participated in three military campaigns during the Peloponnesian War, at Delium, Amphipolis, and Potidaea, where he saved the life of Alcibiades, a popular Athenian general. Socrates was known for his courage in battle and fearlessness, a trait that stayed with him throughout his life. After his trial, he compared his refusal to retreat from his legal troubles to a soldier's refusal to retreat from battle when threatened with death. http://www.biography.com/people/socrates-9488126#synopsis
Editorial Our planet is a colorful place and so are the people who inhabit each corner of our world. If we took the time to observe and to learn the different people and their customs, music, art, and
philosophies… we would
do away with the word ‘xenophobic’.
We can select some attributes and add them to our own lifestyle. For example, I practiced Okinawa’s karate for most of my life; yet, I adopted the side thrust kick which I learned from Shotokan. To take this further, I would like to adopt the resilience of Okinawa people, the determination of the Japanese heart, the patience and endurance of the Indians, the efficiency of the Germans, the punctuality of the Swiss, the French passion for cooking (although the portions need to be increased), the Latin population for their passion of expressions of love, I would love to learn the secret of garlic known best by the Koreans, and ancient holistic medicines spearheaded by the Chinese. The list is long… but I can’t leave out the Greeks who are the laid back champions of iced coffee…
Our World…
It is always a pleasure to meet with Leo Lipinski Sensei! This time, we met between training engagements… at the Hotel Emmadine, Glyfada…
Krav Maga Instructor of Syllogos ‘Aminesthe’, Pavlos Gyparis, took off to Israel while his partner, Dimitris Lemonis, was already in the Far East… somewhere…we don’t exactly know… So what were these four women to do? Giota Lefaki, Vasiliki Bountouraki, Anna Tzanakaki, and Iliana Gerakou had me for a two-day of Self Defense… Aghios Dimitrios, Athens, June 17th & 19th
One of our own, Giannis Samouelian, and his partner Spiros Flourakis dazzled the public in what proved to be thus far their best performance as a Guitar Duo who delivered Bach Rameau Telemann Marella Scaratti to a spellbound audience. Plaka, Athens, June 18th
Kentokukai Scuola Iltaliana di Karate Antico, Florence, Italy, June 20th – 22nd, 2014
Roberto Gonenna Sensei, Valerio Faldi Sensei and Bruno Ballardini Sensei share the noble dream of preserving Okinawa’s authentic karate philosophies and techniques…
I was honored when I was asked to offer a two-day Seminar consisting of Shorin Ryu, Goju Ryu, and Kobudo elements… 45 participants on Saturday, and 30 participants on Sunday trained together for a total of 11 hours… no breaks!
After 6 ½ hours of training without a lunch break, we still had the courage to smile…
We missed lunch, but dinner counted as double... Valerio Faldi Sensei already knew from the night before how much I loved Italian cuisine… Bruno Ballardini Sensei and the others were soon to find out… Outstanding!
At the end of the second day, we had achieved on learning the similarities between Goju Ryu, Shorin Ryu and Uechi Ryu, Okinawa’s perception of karate as an art, taught Tomari no Passai, and Hakusho no Kun.
On the first day of our training we were honored by Italy’s National Team Coach Nadia Ferluga Sensei, Nana Dan, who displayed impeccable grace and style… I want to become like her!
Alessandro Caccia and Laura Bolleti mastered Hakusho no Kun well enough that it will be uploaded on YouTube… When? We are waiting for our own Uechi Ryu practitioner Antonis Tzounis (who is buried under doctoral school assignments)… to surface and to help us with this endeavor…First, top left, Forini Maurizio Sensei surrounded by his happy pupils…
The survivors of 11 hours of listening to my high pitch voice, and relentless detailed explanations, are Valerio Faldi Sensei, Bruno Ballardini Sensei, and Roberto Gonella Sensei. My gift commemorating the event is a panoramic picture of Florence with me imbedded on it! It read: Primo Seminario Kentokukai di Karate e Kobudo D’Okinawa. (Photo Description: Left to Right)
Dimitris Asimakis achieved Roku Kyu in Ryu Kyu Kobudo…. Dimitris’ mother, Gianna, who is a Yoga Instructor and a Matsubayashi Ryu student along with Dimitris’ friend were there to cheer him on… the photo says it all… June 29th
Well Done Dimitri!
Our Roof Top Dojo! Brahami, July 4th Dimitris Lemonis, Nikos Theodorou, and Amfisa Zaichenkina came out to assist and to cheer on Dr. Dimitris Zaharopoulos who tested successfully for Yon Kyu in Ryu Kyu Kobudo. Dressed in Karate Gi, the test, which was actually a class, started on 6 PM and went on till 9 PM.
Excellent Maezato no Nunchaku!
If there is something to be said about Lemonis’ Kobudo it is that he can pull off a mean Hakusho no Kun! All else is elementary‌
Team Effort is the Key to our Successes!
On his way to Yon Kyu Dr. Zaharopoulos got to beat on Theodorou…
…and, he held his own against the formidable Lemonis! In the background, I’m just enjoying myself…
Shows off his meticulous Bo style‌ in Shushi no Kun Sho‌
Perhaps this is the best photo of the entire promotion effort as Dr. Zaharopoulos is covering his body while changing directions and is in motion! Good Work!
Good concentration by Nikos Theodorou who kept his elbows tightly tucked in, and maintained an accurate direction of the Sai… I’m so happy!
Exercising photography duties, Lemonis is missing from this picture…
Congratulations Dr. Dimitris Zaharopoulos for a job well done! And a special ‘Thank You’ to Nikos Theodorou, Amfisa Zaichenkina, and Dimitris Lemonis who came to assist and to guarantee success!
Three warriors on vacation! Actually, we were there for Dimitris Lemonis and his beautiful wife Natasha Vassilopoulou baby daughter’s Baptism… who was given the name Katerina. In
Lemonis’ life there are: Katerina the Mother, Katerina the Mother-in-law, Katerina the Daughter, Katerina the Aunt, and… Katerina the Sensei… There is no way he’ll forget St. Catherine’s name day, and, we all expect gifts… Sifnos Island, July 10th to 13th
The Location…
The Meal…
The Participants…
While we were busy celebrating hard on the Island of Sifnos, Giorgos Elefsiniotis Sensei on the Island of Paros honed his skills with Haku Sho no Kun! Elefsiniotis Sensei is one of the most respected karate instructors alive in Greece today! A super role model to old and young alike, we are honored to know him…
News from the Greater Universe… Jerry Figgiani Sensei of Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu did it again! He’s off to California for a 2 cycle of Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu Bunkai DVDs! nd
And that is not all… in November Figgiani Sensei is back in California for a Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu Seminar! Fantastic Energy!
Shorin Ryu Karate & Kobudo Association (SKKA) World renowned Sensei Eihachi Ota, the highest ranking Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu practitioner outside of Okinawa, offered his students and to the greater public a glimpse of Okinawa’s greats. Kazuo Tajima Sensei traveled from Okinawa to be present at Ota Sensei’s Seminar and to offer a little bit of his expertise. Gardena, California, USA, July 20th
Seidokan’s Stephen Chan Sensei and his student Nikos Theodorou go back at least 30 years… destined to meet again in Zimbabwe… this upcoming August…
Nikos Theodorou under the watchful eye of his trainer, Alexia Antoniadou, is getting ready…
Courtesy: Dr. Stephen Chan Failure Teaches Success Japanese Saying