Aikido event a big success in Cyprus

THE Cyprus Aikido Federation and the Martial Arts Academy have again raised the bar on fighting arts instruction on the island with the successful conclusion of the 7th International Aikido and Martial Arts Exhibition it hosted this month.

Under the expert stewardship of National Coach Sensei Agis Agisilaou, Cyprus’ premier Aikido event has firmly placed the island on the map as a regional centre for fighting and self defence arts including Aikido, Tai Chi and Martial Arts.

It was standing room only throughout the three-day event as eager Aikido and martial arts fans converged on Limassol’s Arsinoe Hotel to see competitions and training in the various disciplines

Special emphasis was given to Aikido, a martial art whose popularity in Cyprus is growing rapidly among men and women of all ages, thanks to the efforts of Agisilaou. The event concluded with public Aikido and various martial arts demonstrations.

The event brought together martial artists from many countries including the UK, Russia and the Czech Republic who conducted seminars and training sessions, including a special Aikido session for women and beginners.

The event was geared to all Aikido and martial arts enthusiasts, irrespective of gender and age since Aikido and Tai Chi are ‘inclusive’ arts that don’t require great physical strength to practice.

The event also earned plaudits from officials and politicians, including Ouranios Ioannides of the Cyprus Olympic Committee who praised the Cyprus Aikido Federation and Agisilaou and his Aikido team for their hard work in promoting martial arts, especially Aikido on the island.

Aikido is a powerful Japanese martial art that is defensive in nature. It is a non-competitive, non-aggressive, non-violent art that focuses on self-defence, personal growth and conflict resolution skills. Aikido can be practised by anyone, regardless of age, sex, physical build or fitness levels which makes it an ideal sports activity for the whole family.

For more information, contact the Cyprus Aikido Federation on 7000-7474 / 99625974, via e-mail at [email protected], or visit the Federation’s website at: www.cyprusaikidofederation.org.

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