The Bubishi Karate Do Organization
Editor: Katherine Loukopoulos Email: kloukopoulos2001@yahoo.com
Issue # 6 August 2012
August is a month dedicated to rest, relaxation, and enjoyment. Greeks leave the cities and return to their native villages located in remote mountains and isolated beaches. During August, the Greeks swim, sun bathe, and dedicate lengthy hours of eating, drinking, and talking with family, relatives, and friends. The big cities become ghost towns and a heaven for those who cannot afford a vacation because August is the only month where there is no traffic. 10,000,000 tourists have no idea that the Greeks are actually gone! The Bubishi Karate students dedicate August as the Month of Rejuvenation. It is a time to do calisthenics, to run, to review all the material in their respective arts, and to improve one’s mental and physical health. It is a time to fill up our batteries, to review our +s and –s, make improvements, and give KUDOS to ourselves!
The Gossip
Okinawa’s, Kami un Ten Yien Sho Okinawa, October 26th, 1993
Our own, Mihalis Panagiotopoulos Ano Patisia, July 15th, 2012
Panagiotopoulos – Mihalis, our own weapons maker, is running left for one week, and he kept it a secret. However, Anfisa waited for him… with more Tunfa training! Mastrappas – Savvas Sensei keeps no secrets. He roams around Germany, Cyprus, and Greece… but then, he does this all year long! Damianidis – Polite and quiet, Aggelos became Ninja and disappeared… in a village called Salanti which no one knows… Zaharopoulos – During Rejuvenation Month, Dimitris polished his Zenkutsu Dachi, Shiko Dachi, and Neko Ashi Dachi! Ferrari – Adrianos is safely tucked away in Lavrio… and Ioannina… Moforis – Sarantos is entirely under the Radar! Anyone saw him in August? Zaichenkina – Anfisa is shaping Mihalis into an Hamahiga no Tunfa specialist! A Black belt both in Shotokan and Goju Ryu Karate Do, Anfisa is squeezing Mihalis to perfection! Kefalas – Tasos disappeared in Rodos Island, and no one heard from him. Surely he created new styles of Nunchaku and Tunfa only to show them off when he returns to class. Lemonis – Dimitris doesn’t say much; he and his beautiful wife Natasha keep sliding in and out of Sifnos Island. Oh yes! Dimitris trains, eats, drinks, socializes, and as of September, he and his good friend Pavlos Gyparis, are opening their new dojo doors to eager participants. Theodorou - For three weeks Nikos escaped Athens, but did not escape Katherine who made sure he got a list of things to do such as four new Chichi, repair a Nunchaku and fine tune technical details concerning elbows, knees, ankles, and heels. Kornaros – Dimitris is hot during August Rejuvenation Training! With three air conditions in his training area, Katherine insists that he keeps the windows open, and the air conditions shut! Kikilis – There is no vacation for Giorgos who is busy decorating his brand new TKD Dojang in Platia Davari, Paleo Faliro. We wish him much success! Giannopoulou - Letta heard the word “Rejuvenation” and wanted to participate. She obtained an all around upper body weight training program, and supplied with two kilogram weights Letta left for beautiful Crete. September will find Letta with “killer” arms! Loukopoulou - Moved recently into a beautiful apartment, Katherine enjoyed mornings of writing, days of cleaning and decorating, afternoons of training, and evenings of friendship with good wine… what a life!
Their Syllogos name is “Aminesthe”. In English this can mean “Defense” or Defend Thy Self”!
A collection of Bo, Nunchaku and Tunfa is already in the new Dojo!
On August 24th, Nikos Theodorou invited Dimitrios Lemonis to his home dojo in Argyroupoli, and practiced Shushi no Kun Sho, Maezato no Nunchaku, and Hamahiga no Tunfa.
Where are Yiannis Hrisovergis, Haris Douros, Hristos Papadopoulos, and Dimitrios Damigos?
A Painful Goodby to a Dutch Samurai! Theo Theloesen (November 3, 1946 – August 13, 2012) On August 13th, Theo Theloesen left our world in order to take his rightful place among the stars.
A career teacher of Mathematics and Physical Education, Theo immersed himself in the research and study of Goju Ryu Karate Do and Kobudo. In his youth, Theo was a sailor and traveled the world; later he enjoyed the night life and earned his living as DJ...
WTKA, Viareggio, Italy, 2006 (Left to Right: Theo 3rd; Katherine 5th)
Theo taught theory, history, and strategy to Goju Ryu Karate students. Belgium, 2007
Mr. Morio Higaonna (right) is drawing BUN BU RYU DOH during an interview with Theo Theloesen for TAIKO, the Dutch National Karate Magazine. The interview took place during the Millenium Budo Seminar on October 2000 in Antwerpen, Belgium.
Theo loved to demonstrate!
Sitting first from right, Shaolin Kenpo Mongolian Prince, Dschero Khan Chen Tao Tze, was Theo’s teacher and mentor.
Not too far from Theo’s house, this park doubled as one more Dojo. Students came by to say “hello”, practice Goju Ryu, some Kobudo, and stay around for the BBQ.
Same park, same teacher, younger crowd…
He built his own house…
Repaired friends’ cars…
It was their way of life to travel to Karate Seminars and Tournament Events throughout Europe in their self sufficient minivan which doubled as a 5-Star Hotel. Theo’s ingenuity provided space for all camping equipment, cooking and eating utensils, and equipment to keep the minivan running‌
Theo and I met at the World Traditional Karate Association (WTKA) in September of 2006, in Viareggio, Italy. It was the beginning of a truly enjoyably hard working martial arts relationship. At that time, I worked and lived in Germany; the German railroad system made possible to visit often Theo’s home in Nijmegen, Netherlands. Over frequent email communications, long telephone conversations, and meetings, Theo came to know about the obstacles presented by the Hellenic Amateur Karate Committee (ELOK). Even though I did not have students of my own, I wanted to enter Greece in the World Karate Confederation (WKC).
Theo honored me by making me a Life Member in his Classical Martial Arts Academy SE – FI. Although lived on separate countries, we worked jointly on many projects. Some of these projects were cut short by his untimely departure.
Our joint work became the solution for registering The Bubishi Karate Do Organization into the World Karate Confederation (WKC) as representative of the Hellenic Republic.
Left to Right: WKC Founding President Dr. Fritz Wendland, Region Director of North America Joe Merza, and Katherine at the WKC 6th Karate World Championships, 2007
True to SE FI tradition, all efforts and successes are celebrated. On the left side it was Theo’s personal training dojo, and on the right side it was his personal working space filled with various projects in the making, tools and stored items.
Sayonara to a Legend Joe Lewis: (March 7th, 1944 – August 31st, 2012) Joe Lewis was born in Knightdale of North Carolina. In 1962, he joined the US Marine Corps and ended up in Asia. While serving on Okinawa, Joe Lewis earned his Black Belt in Shorin Ryu. Some of his teachers were Eizo Shimabukuro, John Korab, Chinsaku Kinjo, and Seiyu Oyata. In Vietnam, he met with Rocky Marciano. Lewis trained with Bruce Lee and came into contact with Hong Kong cinema historian Bey Logan. Although Lewis was selected to film with Bruce Lee in ‘Way of the Dragon’, Chuck Norris actually got the part.
Joe Lewis at his best! Photo from Google
Photo from Google
The Shorin Ryu Family Mourns a Great Loss! Hanshi Sokuichi Gibu (December 7th, 1941 - August 29th, 2012)
Photo Courtesy: John Spence Archives “The Shobayashi-kan has just learned of the death of Gibu, Sokuichi, Hanshi, Ju Dan, headmaster of the Butokukan. Gibu, Hanshi, died suddenly just a few hours ago on Okinawa. Gibu, Sensei, was a student of Nakazato, Shuguro, Hanshi, and he was the first of his students to achieve Hachi Dan. He was the first Vice President of the Shorinryu Shorinkan Karate Renmei, and he had a distinguished karate career.� Submitted by Sensei Bill Hayes August 29th, 2012
The Okinawa Karate Do Song was written by the Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu Founder Nagamine Shoshin Sensei. It is played at the beginning and during intermissions in most karate events hosted on Okinawa.
Okinawa Flower!