Achievement: The Hellenic Project (2011-2014)
The Bubishi Karate Do Organization, Inc. (Not-For-Profit) NYS, USA, 1995 Editor: Katherine Loukopoulos Issue # 30 December 2014 Email: kloukopoulos2001@yahoo.com Š 2014 Katherine Loukopoulos
The Cover Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller (10 November 1759 – 9 May 1805) was a German poet, philosopher, historian, and playwright. During the last seventeen years of his life (1788–1805), Schiller struck up a productive, if complicated, friendship with already famous and influential Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. They frequently discussed issues concerning aesthetics, and Schiller encouraged Goethe to finish works he left as sketches. This relationship and these discussions led to a period now referred to as Weimar Classicism. They also worked together on Xenien, a collection of short satirical poems in which both Schiller and Goethe challenge opponents to their philosophical vision. Source: Wikipedia
Editorial I began writing a News Letter for various reasons. Greek Okinawan style practitioners live in anonymity because they are not a part of the Hellenic Amateur Karate Federation (ELOK). They receive no sponsorships, are not able to participate in tournaments, and rarely, they receive magazine coverage. Their dojo training licenses are obtained by various dubious methods in order to exist legally in an illegal system. The News Letters became a tool that, at least for the students I instructed, could document and applaud their progress. In March, 2012, the first timid steps were taken with Issue # 1 which was printed on color high quality paper and mailed to several Okinawa teachers on Okinawa. Since then, hard copies are mailed to Okinawa, and digital copies are sent to over 400 practitioners across four continents. The News Letter, free of charge, lets the world know that in Greece, in spite of no federation memberships and approvals, and without a dojo, we exist and we progress. The road was not easy but we did have support. We had the support from Okinawa in the form of letters, and the support from hundreds of karateka from various countries… today, I dedicate this issue to all of you who encouraged us and applauded our effort. We say: “Thank You.”
Milestone # 1 Nikolaos Theodorou – The first day… June 26th, 2011 – Nikos Theodorou and I were guests at our mutual friends Ifigenia and Kostantinos Drakakis christening of their baby daughter. Away from students’ eyes I was busy indulging in food and drink… needless did I know, a Zahopoulos top student namely Nikos Theodorou sat a few guests away who lurked and waited for the right moment…
Me, in the blue; Nikos is first from right at the far end.
Enlarged for view…
A right moment is never right when I am busy indulging… and the hours passed… when the party winded down and I had maxed out in food and drink, our mutual friend Kostantinos introduced me to Nikos Theodorou! I was busted! That was no good! Nevertheless, I managed my manners and we set up a mutual appointment to drink coffee and talk about karate… and that is how it all began…
Formal Introduction Born: 19/8/1965 Athens, Greece Family Status: Married with Faye Serli, and have a 22 years old daughter Evita Theodorou Studies: MSc Mechanical Engineer, MSc Nuclear Physics Occupation: Deputy General Manager at KONKAT S.A. In his own words… Started karate training (Okinawa Te Tai Karate) in 1981 at the age of 16, in Lamia (200 km north of Athens) with Master Panayiotis Koutroumbas (8th DAN) and in 1983 moved to Athens and continued karate training at Central Academy of Athens directed by Soke Bill Zachopoulos 10th DAN. I was karate champion in Greece and member of the Greek National karate team for 3 years. Participated in the USA international karate games (state of Illinois) and gave the final point to lead the Greek national team to victory (6-5). I also participated in Lamia the karate games, Greece vs. England, and in Athens the European karate championship as member of the Greek National karate team. In 1989, I started training in Tae Kwon Do (WTF) with Master Vaggelis Thanos 8th Dan, whom is a World Tae Kwon Do Federation, Greek champion. In 1995 trained in Pankratio with my first Karate teacher Panayiotis Koutroumbas (Founder of the Greek Pankratio Federation).
In 1999, I started training in Hapkido (World Hapkido Federation) with Master Vaggelis Thanos (7th Dan in World Hapkido Federation) and have attended many seminars with Grand Master Kwan Sik Myung 10th Dan (founder of World Hapkido Federation). In 2006, I trained for three years in Paqua Zhang with Sifu Tang Tung Wing (6th Duan) and attended Seminars in Paqua with Grand Master Liu Jingru and Tai Chi with Grand Master Wang Xi An. Since 2005, I had the chance to practice Seidokan Karate & Kobudo, under the guidance of Sensei Stephen Chan. Since 2011, I started kobudo training with sensei Katherine Loukopoulos Other Seminars attended:
Ninjutsu with Master Dervenis and Kostas Soumalevris (4th DAN) Students of Soke Hatsumi. Shudokan with D. Douglas 5th Dan Shudokan Springfield Illinois Karate & Kobudo with R. Shacharnoski 10th Dan Juko Kai seminar at Rockford Illinois Shotokan with Tetsuo Otake – 6th Dan JKA seminar at NTUA Dojo Ju-jitsu (with Mario Den Edel 8th DAN of JJIF seminar in Athens) Hapkido (with Kwan Sik Myung (10th Dan) World Hapkido Federation Iaido with Master Dale Kirby and E. Stilner 8th Dan Toku Kai seminar at Pana Illinois Pankratio (with Panayiotis Koutroumbas) at Lamia Tai Chi (with Grand master Wand Xi An Seminar in Athens) Tang Soo Do (with Master Lee Kwan Hwa 8th Dan TangSooDo Seminar in Athens) Kick Boxing (Greek Kickboxing Federation - Athens) Seidokan with sensei Roy Hobbs and Stephen Chan (Athens, Izmir, Northampton)
The Journey towards Black Belt in Ryu Kyu Kobudo…
Promotion Candidates Group Training – Fudokan Shotokan Dojo, Kipseli - July 14th, 2012.
Ni Kyu in Ryu Kyu Kobudo – Fudokan Shotokan Dojo, Kipseli – July 14th, 2012.
Introduction: Sakugawa no Kun Sho – Outdoors Argyroupolis Stadium – November 18th, 2012.
Attended Seminars…
First Pan Hellenic Bo Kata Tournament – Nea Makri Indoor Gymnasium – December 9th, 2012.
It was a first experience for judges and athletes alike… but in the end, the scores were appropriate… Nikos executed a nice Shushi no Kun Sho…
Historic Photo after First Pan Hellenic Bo Kata Tournament – Nea Makri, December 12th, 2012.
Pan Hellenic Hapkido Seminar led by Director Vagelis Thanos Sensei – Argyroupoli Indoor Gymnasium - April 5th, 2014.
Sometimes we enjoyed BBQs with our mutual friends and fellow martial artists‌
Sometimes we made implements… Nikos made Chishi in various sizes, and he also made Sai…
Hand made both pair of Nunchaku – December 2011
Although there were injuries, Nikos plotted along… Broke the left arm – August 6th, 2013
Broke the right hand – April 6th, 2014
Jindokai Training Seminar: Harare, Zimbabwe, August 27th to September 9th, 2014. Nikos sits front row, first from right. Chan Sensei, Jindokai’s leader, sits third from left.
The Cheer Leaders Left to Right: Kostantinos Drakakis, Amfisa Zaichenkina, me, Dr. Dimitrios Zaharopoulos, Vagelis Thanos Sensei, and the Shodan recipient Nikos Theodorou. Aghios Dimitrios - Dec 13th, 2014. Celebrations immediately followed…
Shodan in Ryu Kyu Kobudo – Dec 13th, 2014 – Director of Jindokai Hellas
Milestone # 2 Formal Introduction: Robert Göslbauer Sensei
Born: November 22nd, 1973, Austria Started with Shotokan Karate Training in 1989; received Shodan in 1996 In 2003, the sensei departed and left the dojo “Karate-Do Birkfeld” with Robert Sensei in order to continue the work. We also had our first Kobudo training in this year… In 2007, met Zsolt SZÉNÁSI Sensei from Hungary and changed to Shito-Ryu Karate and Kyusho-Jitsu. Today, I still teaching Karate in Birkfeld Austria; also, I have achieved Go Dan in ShitoRyu Karate. I teach Kyusho-jitsu for the European Kyusho Academy all over the world. I have Roku Dan in Kyusho-jitsu. Other Martial Arts experience: Jiu-jitsu, Filipino Fighting Arts, Tai Chi Chuan.
First training was at Marianne and Erhard Kellner’s Training Camp, St. Pölten, Austria, 2003. Ni Kyu was achieved three years later, St. Pölten, Austria, August 15th, 2006.
Next time when we met, we focused on Sai training in the beautiful Matsumae Budo Center, Vienna, Austria, 14 to 18 September, 2007.
Details – details – details… Robert Sensei is first from right… What makes Robert Sensei stand out is that he keeps what he learns and really works hard to maintain it… the proof of this came seven years later… Robert Göslbauer and his student Michael Schrittwieser came to Athens for some sightseeing and some training… although, I had not seen Robert for seven years, technically, it was as if it was yesterday… and that is when I realized that he must have had really trained! Our Greek students could not believe their own eyes… January 20th – 25th, 2014.
Robert and Michael with Haku Sho no Kun training in our rooftop dojo… January 21st, 2014.
And this is how Nikos and Robert met… Our rooftop dojo… January 23rd, 2014.
Next time Robert and I met was in Budapest, Hungary, during the Second European Kyusho Academy Convention which was hosted by his teacher, Zsolt SZÉNÁSI Sensei. July 30th to August 4th, 2014.
Introduction of Participants by Zsolt SZÉNÁSI Sensei (center in khaki pants)
In his own element, Robert was an excellent teacher. It was a pleasure to see…
On November 28th to 30th I was the guest of Marianne and Erhard Kellner of UKC Zen Tai Ryu KAK, St. Pölten, Austria, for 14 hours of intensive training with the Bo. On the last day, Robert came together with Michael Schrittwieser who participated, assisted, and tested.
A surprised Michael Schrittwieser achieved the Rank of Yon Kyu… November 30th, 2014.
Shodan in Ryu Kyu Kobudo – November 30th, 2014.
Milestone # 3 The last time Marianne Kellner Sensei and Erhard Kellner Sensei met was in 2006. I was honored by their invitation to teach Bo for three days. And that we did! The Participants: Andrea BUCHER, Hannah DAXBECK. Daniel FIALA, Robert GRAFL (1 day), Stefan HAIDEN, Magdalena HEIGL, Monika HIPSCH, Deborah HÖRLEIN, Karl HÖRLEIN, Nadine KRÄMER, Verena KÖFINGER, Michael KOMPEK, Eleonora KOVAC, Angelina KOVAC, Victoria OTT, Josef RENZ (1 day), Rudolf SCHADINGER, Sebastian SCHUSTER, Stefan TRUMPF, Kristin WIENINGER, Rudolf ZAMPA (1 day)
Before – Olympic Level
After – International Level When you’re good, you’re GOOD!
Marianne Sensei and Erhard Sensei have a lifetime history in sports. Prior to karate they were high dive Olympic competitors… Erhard Sensei, a psychology and physical education teacher, devoted his entire life to the study and teaching of sports, as well as, karate.
Participants were introduced to Bo training and the results were simply AMAZING! What a day! Originally scheduled to fly on November 27th was hindered by a Pan Hellenic strike. Quick for a solution, Kellner Sensei found a flight to Vienna via Malta the following day. Made it to Vienna in the nick of time and learned that my Bo was still in Malta. Never mind! Kellner Sensei drove directly to St. Pรถlten, took off my jacket and proceeded to teach the first portion of the seminar!
Do I look tired? No Way!
And then, there was more! Rudolf Zampa, Erhard Kellner Sensei and I went for some super Chinese food! And so, Rudolf and I met again after 21 years!
The last time Rudolf Zampa and I met was on Okinawa on July 3rd, 1993! Rudolf was part of the Austrian Delegation to Okinawa headed by Dr. Friedrich Gsodam who later joined the Jundokan Goju Ryu Hombu Dojo.
No one cared that it was freezing cold! The show went on‌ November 29th, 2014.
We did it! November 30th, 2014!
Kristin Wieninger advanced to Roku Kyu in Ryu Kyu Kobudo!
Michael Kompek advanced to Roku Kyu in Ryu Kyu Kobudo!
Stefan Haiden advanced to Roku Kyu in Ryu Kyu Kobudo!
It is a great feeling to share a meal after hard work‌ November 30th, 2014.
Showing off our achievements! November 30th, 2014.
Other News‌
As a guest of Georgios Elefsiniotis instructed Shushi no Kun Sho in the beautiful dojo of his student Manolis Fokianos Sensei. Regrettably, I do not have the names of the participants. Paros Island, September 21st, 2014.
Left to Right: Ioannis Kaloudis, George Agas, Ioannis Papagiannakopoulos, Pavlos Logothetis Sensei, Georgos Elefsiniotis Sensei, Georgios Orditis Sensei, and Amfisa Zaichenkina. George Orditis Sensei of SOO BAHK DO Syllogos TALOS organized a three
hours presentation of Haku Sho no Kun and Bunkai. Congratulations to all participants! November 16th, 2014.
Haku Sho no Kun in just three hours! Shinkendo Athens, Kato Petralona, December 7th, 2014. Participants: Kostantinos Giannopoulos, Nikos Merkouris, Paraskevas Chatzimanolakis, Antonis Stergioylas, Georgia Vasilioy, and G. Konstantine Laskaris Sensei. http://www.samurai24.gr/portal/martial-arts/others-martial-arts/1932-kobudo-askisi-stoshinkendo-dojo
I am grateful to George Konstantine Laskaris Sensei of Shinkendo Athens Dojo located in Kato Petralona for hosting our three hours Bo Seminar. December 7th, 2014.
Who dares nothing, need hope for nothing. Friedrich Schiller