18 May 2012-20 May, 2012 George Koliopoulos Sensei 6. Dan Aikikai will visit Norway and conduct a seminar invited by Mr. Dimitris Farmakidis in May 2012.
.. about Koliopoulos Sensei
Founder & Chief Instructor of the HAA
Born in 1952, George Koliopoulos Sensei started to practice Aikido in 1974 under Toyoda Fumio Shihan, becoming one of Toyoda Sensei’s original students. During that period Koliopoulos Sensei attended seminars with Tohei Koichi and traveled with Toyoda Sensei, assisting him with seminars and demos. In 1981, he was tested for Shodan and was also awarded Associate Instructor’s Certificate from Ki Aikido Society. In 1987, he found Hellenic Aikido Association (FukuShinKan Dojo) in Athens, Greece. He was appointed Shidoin, member of Teaching and Testing Committee and also Regional Director for East Europe for the Aikido Association International under Fumio Toyoda Shihan.
In 1999, the Hellenic Aikido Association became independent with many affiliated dojos throughout Greece. In 2000, it was accepted as an associate member of the United Kingdom Aikikai under Principal William Smith Sensei and Koliopoulos Sensei became a member of the U.K. Aikikai Teaching and Testing Committee. In 2006, the Hellenic Aikido Association was recognized by the Aikikai Hombu Dojo, Japan as an official organization in Greece and in 2008, Koliopoulos Sensei was promoted to the rank of Rokudan (6th Dan) Aikikai Hombu, by Doshu Ueshiba Moriteru.
Koliopoulos Sensei travels throughout Greece conducting seminars and gradings and he is often invited abroad by different Aikido Associations.
…few words about Farmakidis sensei
Mr. Dimitris Farmakidis is a Greek who was born and raised in Germany.He lives in Norway since 1988. He started practicing Aikido in 1997 and in 2000 he found an Aikido dojo in Hamar. In 2002 he became the main teacher of Aikido-line on Vestoppland Folkehøgskole and in 2007 he started the “Aiki-kids”, an Aikido program at Dojo in Hamar, which now has more than 30 children training in Aikido. He is the leader of Fudoshinkan Hamar and Fudoshinkan Hadeland. He travels every year in Japan for training in Aikikai Hombu and with Suganuma Sensei and Anno Sensei. In addition to inspiration drawn from Japan, he has received personal guidance from his Greek instructor George Koliopoulos Sensei (6. Dan), while his teaching style and Aikido have been influenced by Bjorn Eirik Olsen Sensei (6. Dan), Sensei Frank Ostoff (5. Dan), Sensei Jo R. Giske (4. Dan). Mr. Farmakidis visited recently Greece with 30 Aikido students.
For more information please contact Mr. Dimitris Farmakidis
