Meditation in motion
Martial arts have a reputation for violence, but an upcoming international competition aims, among other things, to dispel the misconception
The position is assumed ready to attack, legs fly high in the air and within the next second you may be lying flat on the floor. This is what martial arts is all about, or is it? It really depends on just what type of martial arts you’re talking about. Images of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan punching and kicking, performing intricate elbow strikes down bustling city streets inevitably spring to mind. But it’s not all like the excessive and rather violent fighting scenes that characterise martial arts films.
Tai Chi is a Chinese martial art that is primarily practiced for its health benefits, especially as a way of dealing with tension or stress. A far cry from the excessive and swift movements that often come to mind when martial arts are mentioned, Tai Chi is characterised by soft, slow and flowing moves that emphasise force rather than brute strength. With a focus on complete relaxation, it’s essentially a form of meditation often referred to as ‘meditation in motion’.
And then there’s Aikido, particularly popular with women simply because it doesn’t require great muscular strength and is very useful as a means of self-defence.
Traditional Aikido was developed by Master Morihei Ueshiba in 1930s Japan and can be translated as ‘the way of harmonious spirit’. It effectively integrates physical and spiritual powers, emphasising redirection of the attacker’s energy as opposed to meeting force with force. This discipline of Aikido is relatively new to Cyprus and was first introduced on the island by Agis Agisilaou, chief instructor of the Martial Arts Academy in Limassol. “This is such a unique form of defence because you can put someone down without even hurting them in the slightest,” says Agis. For this reason, Aikido is used by the police force in Japan and around the world to immobilise those under arrest without injury.
The Martial Arts Academy is now organising the 3rd International Martial Arts Competition set to take place at the Arsinoe Beach Hotel in Limassol from May 2 until May 4. Agis has been the brains behind the two previous competitions, which have introduced scores of men, women and children to sports that not only build fitness, but also boost self-confidence and self-discipline. “It’s about keeping fit,” explained Agis, “and having the power to defend yourself. If someone takes a knife out at you, what’s the best and fastest way to react?”
Interestingly, more and more people on the island are now keen to take up various martial arts, with the standards recently achieved elevating our country to levels that are comparable with Martial Arts schools overseas. Having trained in countries across the world, Agis’ accomplishments include Cyprus Top Athlete in 2002-2003 and Aikido Top Athlete in 2005. Explaining the misconceptions that some people have about martial arts, he was keen to correct the image of violence associated with it. “We want to relay the message that martial arts is not offensive,” said Agis. “That it’s all about violence is a pure misconception. The spirit is not to fight 100 people, but to be able to have the power to resist 100 fights. This power is first found in the brain and then the body, and so we place emphasis on spirit and mental strength.”
Fast becoming the island’s premiere martial arts event, dozens of athletes from Greece, Japan, Russia, Poland, Romania and China will be flying in to participate in the upcoming competition. Demonstrations by top martial arts instructors will take place on May 4. Free to the general public, it’s bound to be quite a show. All this will be complemented by seminars on Aikido, Tai Chi, Ju Jitsu and Karate Do, as well as self-defence classes for women and adults. Open even to beginners, classes will be taught by distinguished international instructors, Vaclav Liska and Volodiy Vova. Liska is chief instructor and examiner of the Commission of Japanese Martial Arts and has over 40 years experience in the field. It seems that martial arts has begun to be taken more seriously on the island, and with so many athletes jetting in to share their talent, it’s time to take a good look at what the discipline is really all about.
Third International Martial Arts Event
Organised by the Martial Arts Academy, with a large number of athletes from over 14 countries. With seminars and demonstrations in self-defence, Karate-Do, Aikido, Ju Jitsu and Tai Chi.
May 2-3: Seminars and championship. Registration necessary. 5.30pm-9pm.
May 4: Demonstration by masters and athletes, followed by Award Ceremony
Arsinoe Beach Hotel, Limassol. Free and open to the general public. 7.30pm-9pm. Tel: 7000-7474/ 99-625974. www.martialartsacademy-cyprus.com
