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Ten Years Away From Home…

The Bubishi Karate Do Organization

Editor: Katherine Loukopoulos Issue # 28, Chronicle: 2001 - 2011

Email: kloukopoulos2001@yahoo.com © 2014 Katherine Loukopoulos

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2001

January

Without my furniture and with only summer clothes I left Okinawa to assume a

position as Director of Faculty and Instructional Technology for the City Colleges of

Chicago, Programs for the Military, with headquarters in Mainz-Kastel, Germany. It was

a temporary position that brought me to Europe and closer to Greece where as of

September I would be teaching at the Hellenic Army Academy.

Only three months into my employment I won the mandatory staff trivia contest

which granted me five days of paid vacation. I traveled to Ukraine to oversee an

international tournament event and to do some teaching…

August

Left from Germany and moved to Greece. As soon as I was able to find an

apartment and have my personal effects transported from Germany, I threw myself at

work in what was to be the Hellenic teaching program for the Officer Cadets.

I faced enormous challenges:

Cadets did not want to train outdoors and to participate in class, disliked getting

dirty, found the lessons difficult, and refused to do their homework.

My Greek language skills were poor and added to the communication problems.

The general dislike towards American foreign policy did not help my situation.

My fellow colleagues mocked my accent, ridiculed my efforts, and laughed at my

tenacity.

My monthly salary fluctuated between 360 and 400 Euro which was not sufficient

to pay for my apartment‟s rent. The academy did not provided Technological Support,

and for this reason all of my preparatory work was done at home. I also absorbed the

cost for printing out all of the students‟ study material.

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Second Year Cadets in formal winter uniforms.

I bartered karate and kobudo lessons in exchange for translations. Two men who

helped me with translations were Dimitrios Kornaros and Kostantinos Drakakis.

Kobudo lessons for translations, LIFE LINE Sports Club, Paleo Faliro.

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Crime prevention lectures for translations.

Kostas Drakakis being himself; everyone is a king in my home, Paleo Faliro.

Milestones January 20

th & 21

st - Referee Kata and Kumite Clinics: Geneva, Switzerland.

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April 7th

& 8th

– Joseph Gehring, Chief Instructor for one of Vienna‟s Jundokan

Goju Ryu Karate Do offered an invitation.

A little bit of Tunfa and a little bit of fun, Vienna, Austria.

May 5th

– 11th

– Valeriy Kusiy invited me to Odessa in order to teach Goju Ryu

Karate and Ryu Kyu Kobudo. There was a hugely successful tournament, awesome

karate demonstrations, and at the end, there was a promotion examination.

First from right is Goju Ryu Karate Do and Ryu Kyu representative, Valeriy

Kusiy. My personal attaché, Evgeny, is on my left. Odessa, Ukraine.

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Opening Ceremony, International Goju Ryu Karate Championships, 2001

Odessa, Ukraine

Training Seminar – Police Academy, Odessa, Ukraine

Front row, first from right, is Pasha Dolgachov who doubled as translator.

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The most important people: Children!

First from left, Pasha Dolgachov translated everything!

Last minute touches on Goju Ryu Kata Kururunfa.

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Test: Goju Ryu Karate Do, March 8th

, 2000

Dalgachov Pavel……..Nidan (Kaliningrad, Russia)

Kusiy Valeriy………...Sandan

Bavinov Alexander…..Nidan

Danilenko Vladimir….Shodan

Rud Roman………….Shodan

Butenko Mikhail…….Shodan

Smirnov Oleg……….Nikyu

Kozlov Sergey………Nikyu

Test: Ryu Kyu Kobudo, March 8th

, 2000

Dolgachov Pavel…....Shodan (Kaliningrad, Russia)

Kusiy Valeriy………..Nidan

Bavinov Alexander….Ikkyu

Butenko Mikhail……Sankyu

On June 10th

, 2000, Kusiy Valeriy was awarded Certificate of Instructor and

Yondan in Goju Ryu Karate Do. The Diploma was approved by the Ministry of Sports,

and Mr. Kusiy Valeriy became the Director for Goju Ryu Karate and Kobudo in Ukraine.

May 23rd

– 27th

– Fritz Nopel sensei invited me to his super successful Training

Camp, Kamen, Germany.

Nopel sensei urged us to study and to develop teaching skills geared for Senior Citizens.

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July 21st & 22

nd – Back to Vienna on Mario Wolfram and Joseph Gehring

invitations. Besides karate training, we also held a small party in order to celebrate the

German edition of „Effectives Training von Geschwindigkeit, Kraft und Ausdauer‟ which

Mario Wolfram translated into the German language.

German language - 2001 Greek Language - 2004

Manuela Fischer and I caught on camera without our Karate DoGi

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2002 As the school year progressed I gained the respect of the military officers and

cadets, and I was given a free hand in order to create the program. At the end of the

academic year I gave the cadets an anonymous questionnaire in order to evaluate the

program. In the Greek educational system, faculty members are not evaluated by their

students. As a result, the cadets did not respond.

At the conclusion of the first academic year I felt that the program did not

succeed. Drowning in debt created by my first year in Greece I pursued employment in

Germany, and was hired by the US Army as a Career Counselor. However, something

told me inside to keep my apartment in Athens.

Things went well in Germany. Besides working in a pleasant and professional

environment, my supervisor, Bob Scheider, was a coach for a German Lacrosse Team

and he proved sensitive to my martial arts activities.

I initiated a Goju Ryu Karate Class in Friedberg. Friedberg was also where at one

time Elvis Presley served. Due to the continuous military activities in the Middle East

many small bases around Germany either closed or remained open with minimum

activity. All of Friedberg‟s athletic activities were terminated as the soldiers left for

Middle East assignments. And this was the death of my Goju Ryu class!

To my surprise, the Hellenic Army Academy asked me to teach again for a

second year. I did not think it wise to risk my employment with the US Army and struck

a deal where every two months I would fly to Greece and give intensive training in the

form of workshops. The Hellenic Army military accepted, and Bob Schieder permitted

me to do this. There was no financial compensation from either side.

As typical day at the office… we were (and still are) very good friends.

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Milestones

May 9th

– 12th

– Fritz Nopel sensei invited me again to participate and to instruct

some Ryu Kyu Kobudo classes at his annual Training Camp in Kamen, Germany.

September 28th

& 29th

– Dusseldorf, Germany. This was the beginning of a series

of trips to Dusseldorf in order to instruct Andreas Quast in preparation for our joined

endeavor of writing an introductory book on Ryu Kyu Kobudo.

Tasaki & Fujiwara Sensei

October 25th

– 27th

– I was invited by Erhard Kellner Sensei of Goju Ryu Karate

Do, St. Polten, Austria. There were Tasaki sensei and Fujiwara sensei from Japan;

Lipinski sensei came from England.

2003

January 10th

– 12th

– Invited by Christian Schollenberger to Mosbach, Germany.

We reviewed Shushi No Kun Sho and learned Haku Sho No Kun. Schollenberger and

his significant other, Ms. Bettina, have many snakes as pets.

We had fun with the young students.

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March 21st – 23

rd – Nikos Karaiskakis and his wife Anna Hourdaki invited me

to teach 17 hours of Kobudo at their Iraklion dojo, Crete, Greece.

March 24th

& 25th

– Invited by Shotokan Savvas Mastrappas at his Athens dojo

in order to introduce Bo training. We learned Haku Sho No Kun.

No Injuries and only one broken overhead light!

April 11th

– 13th

– Dirk Kather invited me to Luebeck, Germany. His students

trained intensely. I love it when the training flows like water. It charges me!!!

In Lubek, the 500 repetitions was just a breeze…

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Lots of work and lots of fun…

April 12th

& 13th

– Traveled to Düsseldorf, Germany to correct Andreas Quast’s

work on the manuscript. I checked into a hotel, created an office space at the back of the

hotel‟s dining area, and stayed up the entire night making corrections. Andreas came in

the morning in order to pick up the corrections and to take me to his house where I

corrected the kata described in our book.

April 17th

& 18th

– Giorgos Pergialis and I rehearsed two and half hours for

Alpha Channel TV demonstrations. There was also a 3 ½ hours of instruction on Haku

Sho No Kun. In the process we broke some overhead lights, and spent the rest of the

time cleaning up glass.

Greek style Celebration! Sonia Pergialis is a fantastic cook!

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May 29th

– June 1st – Fritz Nopel sensei’s Training Camp, Kamen, Germany.

We had our first advanced weapon class where participants studied tunfa and sai. Just

from once a year training participants improved dramatically. Andreas Quast and I were

able to have „Eine Einfuhrung in Ryukyu Kobudo printed just in time. The book was

well received, and all copies were sold out.

One of the many classes…

June 7th

& 8th

– European Jiu Jitsu Championships. Hanau, Germany.

Representatives from Azerbaizan‟s Jiu Jitsu Federation.

June 20th

– 22nd

– Mosbach, Germany. Schollenberger’s students and I focused

on Shushi No Kun. We also had time to marvel at nature and to listen to the birds; the

snakes were still there.

July 9th

– 13th

– European Congress of Sports Science. Salzburg, Austria. One

of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen in my life.

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The spear is held in the same way as the Bo. The elbows are held within the body.

July 20th

– Spent a day with Birger Heime at his home in Heilbronn, Germany.

Besides training with Geiki Sai Dai Ichi and Geiki Sai Dai Ni, we talked about Okinawa,

about Shiatsu, and about other methods of healing.

August 2nd

– 3rd

– Invited by Ulrich sensei of Ochtrup, Germany. 9 ½ of Sai

training and introduction to Chatan Yara No Sai. Rainer Kockmann was an excellent

host. I learned how young students can learn strategy by simply playing the game of

„GO‟ and Kockmann gave me my first lesson.

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Chatan Yara No Sai!

We also played games!

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And some more games…

August 13th

– 17th

– Erhard Kellner sensei and his wife Marianne Kellner

sensei invited me to Wilhelmsburg, Austria, in order to instruct at their annual training

camp. We had 13 hours of intensive training and on August 16th

we participated in a

Martial Arts Gala Demonstration. Some participants and I put together a short Bo demo

with the material learned in the training camp. It was my birthday, and the Kellners

presented me with the largest bouquet of flowers.

Demonstrated what we learned. If not technique, we had guts!

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After the Budo Gala we posed with relief.

September 12th

– 14th

– Duisburg, Germany. Introduced Matsubayashi Shorin

Ryu Karate for 8 hours. I spoke about history, traditions, and instructed basic drills,

Fukyu Kata Ichi, Fukyu Kata Ni, and all the five Pinan Kata.

October 22nd

- Humberto Nuno de Oliveira, European Goju Ryu Karate

Federation advised me to join the Greek Karate Federation in order to participate in the

EGKF Events. In past years I represented Greece and since I was only one person I acted

as the official delegate, referee and athlete…

European Goju Ryu Karate Federation Championships, BRNO, Check Republic, 1988.

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October 31st - November 1

st – Back to Ulrich sensei’s dojo in Ochtrup, Germany.

Besides 3 hours of instruction on Shushi No Kun, I gave 8 ½ hours on Matsubayashi

Shorin Ryu Karate Do. Our focus was on Kata Rohai.

Rohai Kata…

December 5th

– 7th

– Invited back to Iraklio by Karaiskakis Sensei for another 15

and ½ hours of instruction on weapon kata and bunkai.

2004

February 20th

– 22nd

– Another 19 and ½ hours of training with the Karaiskakis

duo Sensei for Kobudo test preparation. Iraklion, Crete.

March 25th

– 28th

– Shotokan practitioner Rainer Bucken wanted to bring

Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu to Germany, and he invited me to lay down the foundation.

Instructed 16 and ½ hours of Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu Karate basics, Nihanchi I, II, and

III and reviewed all previously taught kata to participants from other German cities…

Fukyu Kata Ni

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The King of „GO‟ Rainer Kockmann.

April 14th

- After four years of training, the first promotion for Ryu Kyu Kobudo was

held at Nikos Karaiskakis and Anna Hourdaki dojo. Iraklion, Crete.

Karaiskakis Nikolaos Shodan

Hourdaki Anna Shodan

Alevizaki Styliani Sankyu

Amargiotakis Emmanouil Sankyu

Zaimakis Alexandros Sankyu

Karaiskakis Alexandros Sankyu

Karaiskaki Irini Sankyu

Kaniadakis Georgios Sankyu

Maris Vasilios Sankyu

Alban Mullaj Sankyu

Bahja Arjan Sankyu

Tsakalakis Stergios Sankyu

Plousos Georgios Sankyu

Stavroulantonakis Haralambos Sankyu

Pitsitakis Nikolaos Sankyu

One week later, I was back to Iraklion for another 3 hours of instruction on

Sakugawa No Kun Sho.

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Look at the size of those legs!!!

May 20th

– 23rd

– Fritz Nopel Sensei invited me to his Summer Training Camp,

Kamen, Germany. . One of the dignitaries was Fumio Demura Sensei who delighted

the students with energetic, informative, and fun classes. Demura Sensei instructed Kata

Rohai with an exciting bunkai.

Opening Ceremony. Kamen, Germany.

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First competition in Bo Kata Category.

Seven people participated in the first Bo Kata tournament. We are taking little steps.

Operation: „Shito Ryu-Greece‟ accomplished! The mastermind: First from right.

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June 4th

– 7th

– Escorted instructors Nikos Karaiskakis and Anna Hourdaki to

Matsumae Budocenter in Vienna in order to introduce them to Tsutomu Kamohara

Sensei who was the Director of Shito Ryu Shukokai Karate of the European Union, and

who lived in France. The training was excellent and the introductions went smoothly.

June 21st - July 17

th – Athletic Youth Camp, Nea Smyrni, Athens, Greece.

Manager Georgios Fragiadakis invited me to instruct 52 hours of self-defense.

A manuscript for the Hellenic Army Academy (220 pages) was completed. It

would be their Manual for the Hand-to-hand Combat course. The official translator was

Kostas Drakakis who was also a Ph. D. engineer candidate and a sincere Chinese

Martial Artist. Nikos Alexandridis, another long time Chinese stylist, donated all of the

technology. Chinese stylist Dionisis Giannakis created a modern version of our LOGO.

A typical Sunday morning at our Bubishi Dojo. Paleo Faliro, Athens.

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2005

July – Finished a one-year tour in Afghanistan. Paid off all of my debts and I

thanked God that I made it back alive with all my body parts still correctly attached.

We were constantly on alert…

Printed photos and paneled my B-Hut walls… it was my home for one year…

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No Words…

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The Ultimate Price…

August 11th

– 15th

– I missed Nopel sensei’s training camp, but I was in time for the

Kellners’ at Wilhelmsburg, Austria. We held 18 hours of intensive weapons training.

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Due to my recent return from the Middle East I felt tired and disoriented. Everything and

everyone seemed to move very slowly. What I needed mostly was sleep.

December 19th

– Surgery on both knees to remove damaged meniscus and to

clean out debris from deteriorated bones. I became very good at handling the crutches. I

believe it is due to my many years of weapons practice. Now I keep the crutches together

with my Bo and Eiku. Recovery took a very long time… While trying to recover I served

as an Athletic Psychologist to Hand Ball Team Athinaikos and traveled with the team

throughout Greece.

2006

April 2nd

– At Iraklion, I met with Antonio Oliva Seba sensei from Spain.

Together we observed a youth sports program and later enjoyed a magnificent dinner

along with students.

April 15th

– 16th – Spent a few hours together with Sweden‟s top karateka Soke

Leif Hermansson Sensei and his family when they visited Athens for some rest…

Third from left is his son Jesse who a few years later became famous with his

blog „Karate by Jesse‟…

May 13th

- The Greek Amateur Karate Organization (ELOK) held

certification recognition and testing for Dan Level. I submitted all of the required

paperwork with my karate diplomas which this time were officially translated into Greek.

ELOK did not recognize my Okinawa Karate and Kobudo Diplomas and ignored the gold

medal which I won in 1997 for Greece. ELOK systematically prevents me from legally

participating in any facet of karate life on a national level.

May 25th

– 29th

- The man who actually forced me out of bed and made me wear a

karate gi again was Fritz Nopel sensei, Director of Yuishinkan Goju Ryu Karate Do.

Considering that I could not bend my knees, could not sit in seza, could not jump or run,

the courses went well, and we also held our first Kyu Test in Kobudo.

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Names of successful candidates: Heime Birger Go Kyu

Budde Ralf Go Kyu

Ernst Florian Go Kyu

Frommel Sonja Go Kyu

Heyligers Andre Go Kyu

Klaas Philipp Go Kyu

Rainer Klonne Go Kyu

Krowiorsch Peter Yon Kyu

Kendlbacher Boris Yon Kyu

Tobias Zollner organized the testing and devoted his time and kata expertise

during the test itself. Nopel sensei approved the event, and his son-in-law, Christian

Winkler, worked out the details.

June 19th

– 25th

– Served as the official translator and Tour Guide to a US

Wrestling Team in Athens.

A special word of gratitude goes to my long time student, James Thompson who

kept the dojo doors open since 1985. James maintained the dojo while I lived on

Okinawa… it was my home in America…

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The Magic of Karate Strength!

Age was not a factor at the Bubishi Karate Dojo, Brooklyn, New York.

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These children were called „poor‟ because they lived in the ghetto. In reality, they

were smart, received good school grades, had manners, and understood art.

Bubishi Karate Dojo, Brooklyn, New York

James always kept me informed while I lived on Okinawa!

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Students were always eager to help me stretch!

The Bubishi Brooklyn dojo was filled with action and energy!

June 30th

& July 5th

- Andre Lafond Sensei insisted that I travel to Kaskinen,

Finland, and to teach even though my legs were not yet well. Interestingly, I went to

Kaskinen in my worse possible physical condition, and we trained for 18 hours!

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Students of Andre Lafond Sensei. Kaskinen, Finland.

2007

Aug 2nd

– 10th

- International Shaolin Cong Fu Ch‟an Association, Shaolin

Temple, United Kingdom. My old time friend and Jundokan Goju Ryu colleague Dr.

Cheng Lai Sheung from Hong Kong participated. Our long lasting friendship began in

Fuzhou, China, 1988.

A typical day at Cheng Lai Sheung‟s Goju Ryu dojo. Yuen Long, Hong Kong, China.

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Cheng Lai Sheung in Jundokan, Okinawa, Japan.

2007

Jan 1st - Feb 2nd - New York City, USA.

Jan 4th

- Met with Cedric Barksdale Sensei at Glenwood. He introduced me to

his students and told them that I am an old timer… and that I knew Thomas La Puppet

Sensei. That took their attention right away.

Jan 6th

- I visited Kai Leung’s Sensei dojo in Astoria. It was a beautiful and very

clean dojo. It is the place where Toyotaro Miyazaki Sensei teaches…

Jan 14th

- Had an opportunity to visit a tournament held at the York College Gym

in Jamaica, New York City. It was impressive to see all the same people I competed

against during past decades were all there…

Jan 25th

- Instructed at Joyce SantaMaria’s Smithtown Dojo and afterwards we

had many drinks. The class was outstanding. Joyce was there taking notes… “Push-ups

are antibiotics to karate training”.

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Apr 5th

- Apr 18th

- New York City - James‟ health continues to deteriorate and is

on Chemotherapy. Although he is very thin and very weak, he tries to teach some of the

classes.

Apr 10th

-12th

– Back to Joyce SantaMaria Dojo for some more teaching….

Apr 13th

- I was there for the Children’s Promotion Test at the Brooklyn Bubishi

Karate Dojo.

May 9th

–Aug 10th

- Arrived in Frankfurt Airport, and proceeded to Heidelberg

where I trained for the Darmstadt ACAP Counselor‟s Position. After a two-days training,

I undertook responsibilities for the Darmstadt Office. What both Bob Smith and Cathy

Banks failed to inform me is that the Darmstadt Base would be closing by the end of the

year. At that time if there was no vacancy, I would be out of work. Regrettably, Danny

Strong, a former colleague, committed suicide when we learned these news!

May 26th

– May 28th

- Nijmegen, Netherlands

Lecture: Survival Tips for Japan. The Lecture was followed by a wonderful meal at

the Chinese Restaurant where Theo J. Theloesen Sensei of SEFI Goju Ryu, presented

me with a Certificate of Lifetime Membership.

June 22nd

– June 25th

- WKC Championships at Treviglio, Italy

July 7th

& 8

th – Back to Nijmegen, Holland, for Theo J. Theloesen’s BBQ. I

learned a very nice SAI throwing technique. We scattered empty soda cans and threw the

SAI with the aim to pierce through the can… Theo beat me in this first time competition.

A rematch was scheduled…

Sept 14th

– Sept 18th

- Vienna, Austria

Instructed 11 hours of Sai, Bo, and Nunchaku.

Oct 7th

- Dafni, Athens

Instructed a 3-hour class on Maezato no Nunchaku. Our training took place at the

Athletic Academy‟s outdoor field.

Oct 17th

– Oct 22nd

- Marina Di Carrara, Italy

Carrarafiere Sports Hall, WTKA Championships

Nov 21st -Kuwait

Combat Support Associates, Ltd (CSA)

MWR Lead Specialist

Cash flow‟s immediate solution!

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2008

Mar 1st & 2

nd - MWR sponsored Personal Trainers Course offered International

Sports Science Association (ISSA) Seminar for Personal Trainers Certification.

Founded in 1988, ISSA is a teaching institution and certification agency for

fitness trainers, athletic trainers, and aerobics instructors. The organization is recognized

as an industry leader in fitness certification. ISSA programs are widely accepted for

continuing education units by professional organizations such as chiropractic and

physical therapy associations. With headquarters in California, ISSA is internationally

recognized with offices across the United States, South Africa, Norway, Iceland, Italy,

India, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Australia and Singapore. ISSA is approved by

the California Bureau for Private and Postsecondary Vocational Education contracted by

the Veteran‟s Administration.

CSA employees certified as Personal Trainers by ISSA, US Army, Camp Arifjan,

Kuwait.

Promoted within the company and assumed a new position as a researcher and

writer for the Department of Human Resources. In this capacity, I collected data,

interviewed staff, researched, photographed, and wrote White Papers for CSA‟s Senior

Management and Fortune 500 Parent Company AECOM.

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Next, I was promoted to Night MWR Supervisor for three Northern U.S. Army

Camps: Ali Al Salem, Virginia, and Beuhring. Nightly, I traveled in the desert among

the three camps, supervised over 120 employees, ensured all matters were handled, and

was responsible for over 3M dollars of equipment.

Five months later, I was selected as MWR Fitness and Sports Supervisor for U. S.

Army Camp Virginia. The duties included all Fitness and Sports facilities and activities,

budget, supervision of night and day shift employees, and was responsible for over 1.5M

dollars of equipment.

2010

Left to right: Saqib, Leao, Vivek, Lucinda, Boban, and Sreenivasan signed up soldiers.

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Marathon Runs took place very early in order to avoid the hot sun!

Customer Service is what WE did BEST!!!

Chandra (left) and Deenan (right) were indispensable!

The most dangerous aspect of my work was posting the biweekly employee schedules:

“Hope I got it right this time!”

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Dina & Deenan worked at the Super Bowl XLVI 5 K Run in 6-Degree Weather! Feb 7th

Pam & Megan gave out prizes and T-Shirts - Super Bowl XLVI 5 K Run – Feb 7th

By the end of the Run temperature skyrocketed to 7-Degrees

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Preacher Curl Competition, Tent Gym 1, Feb 10th

Alert Bulletin

New 2010 Kuwaiti Traffic Laws

Exceeding the Speed Limit by 10 to 20 Km = 100 KD Fine

20 to 30 Km = 150 KD + 1-3 months Prison

30 to 40 Km = 200 KD + 1-3 months Prison

Over 40 Km = 250 KD + 2-6 months Prison & Loss of License

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Perecly, Ronaldo and Greg having fun during a Basketball League Game on Feb 15th

Finally, the first Tai Chi Class at the Aerobics Tent, March 18th

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Camp Virginia Staff - Left to right: Anil, Alwine, Benedict, Rinto, Ahmed,

Saqib, Abmilas, Mahesh, Saiju, Subish, Peter, and Sabhi. Right next to the cake

squatting is Lamar.

Arjun was one of my training partners. Somehow, we always found play time…

early morning on Camp Virginia…

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2011

Having worked three and half years in Kuwait, I had learned quite a bit about

Kuwaiti Muslim culture and habits. Most activities in Kuwait were segregated which

often included wedding celebrations… Education and sport activities were segregated;

therefore, it was a perfect haven to introduce karate to Kuwaiti school girls. And that I

did.

Introduction to Karate – The First Day! Our dojo was spacious and beautiful… Mar 2nd

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The girls enjoyed training and would run to come to class… they quickly acquired

the concept of leadership. Each student was given a „leadership‟ task, and they competed

as who would finish first…

Self-confidence and strength quickly became evident. Parents decided those were

not good qualities for their daughters, and denied their daughters‟ further participation.

School teachers were also skeptical about the benefits of Karate geared for

Muslim girls… and so, the program was terminated. School teachers were all females.

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This is how the girls felt about Karate...

Nevertheless, I made sure that some girls were exposed to Japanese folk dance

when Chura Folk Dance Troupe gave a performance in Kuwait City. May 7th

June 3rd

– Returned to Greece. The severe economic crisis, TROIKA‟s economic

sanctions, salary and retirement benefit decreases, and loss of job opportunities spiraled

Greeks into despair. Economic crimes increased dramatically. It was time to write a

book on proactive approach to self-defense… for all citizens.

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PAPASOTIRIOU Publications, Greece

First Crime Prevention Seminar, October, 2011

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Lecture on Psychology of Winning. November, 2011

Lecture on Every Day Budo. January, 2012

As Crime Prevention and Psychology of Winning Seminars were picking up, I

focused on developing Kobudo…

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5 ½ hours of Haku Sho no Kun. Panaghia Goritsa, Volos, Aug 19th

.

Training outdoors was energizing! Panaghia Goritsa, Aug 19th

.

The second day outdoor training took place on the high grounds of Aghios

Stefanos Orthodox Church. It was a beautiful sunny day, and from there we could see

the ocean on one side, and the mountains on the other.

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Nov 26th

& 27th

- Formal seminar was organized by Mihalis Grigoris Sensei of

Okikukai Hellas Hombu Dojo, Volos, Greece.

12 hours training

Haku Sho no Kun

This concludes my activities away from Okinawa for the past ten years.

I look forward to Jundokan, Budokan, neighborhood old and new dojo, festivals,

demonstrations, yagi soba, sunsets, white sands, old friends, teachers, team spirit,

camaraderie, typhoon parties, and karaoke… I have stayed away too long…