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George Kolovos
4th Dan
It did not
take George very long to find his feet in Kyokushin-Kai and one of
the main reasons for his outstanding early success was due to his
tremendous dedication. In 1978 George received his blackbelt and was
consistently placing in the top 3 of knockdown tournaments in the
lightweight divisions. At the same time Kolovos became an instructor
at the Essendon dojo which was one of the major centres at the time.
For the next ten years he maintained a balance of instructing and
competing, a time in which he was Victorian Kyokushin Champion, three
times third placed at the Australian Championships, Kata Kyokushin
Champion and a
winner of a number of other tournaments. His success during this time
is put down to dedicated training. "I consistently trained 6
times a week, never straying from this routine".
George’s
training has taken him to Europe, Japan and New Zealand and he has
also trained with a number of Japanese instructors - six in all - who
he has brought out to Australia to take classes in his various dojos.
The late Mas Oyania the inspiring Kyokushin leader who sadly passed
away earlier this year, proved to be one of George’s main
inspirations and also provided one of George’s most memorable
moments of his career. It was at the Sydney Opera House where. George
shook the great man's hand as he was being presented with a trophy by
Oyama. "Shaking his hand was an incredible thrill, thing I will
never forget". In his opinion Mas Oyama changed the attitude of
Karate, bringing a whole new view to the art and introducing the
knockdown rule in 1960.
George, who is
now a 3rd Dan, continued competing up until 1988 at which point he
decided to move into expanding his dojo empire. He opened a dojo in
Eltham which is now a full-time school and proceeded to open a new
dojo almost every year. In the meantime the Ascot Vale and Essendon
dojos merged. He now manages 6 dojos with 13 instructors overseeing
almost 400 students, taking 90% of the classes in the Melbourne dojo
himself as well as visiting every other dojo at least 2-3 times a month.
The expansion
in dojos over the past six seasons has now subsided and the emphasis
is on improving the quality of the facilities within all all the
existing dojos. "I believe that you must give the students
quality facilities in order for them
to improve
their quality". In February George plans to unveil a new 5,500
sq.ft. martial arts gymnasium. with full-time Kyokushin as well as
shared facilities or Aikido, Kung Fu, Tai Chi and Kick boxing as well
as housing a boxing ring. Other facilities to be found in this new
facility include full universal weights, bags and spas/suanas.
Georges
ultimate aim is to have live in students at this new city facility,
who will be able to train for three years before graduating. George
has no hesitation in stating that Melbourne Kyokushin-Kai is the most
successful dojo in Australia, with three full-time dojos that last
year produced an Australian Middle weight champion, Australian Womens
champion, Australian Colts champion as well as Victorian lightweight
and middleweight champions dominating the full-contact circuit.
In training
George's main aim is to get the best that he can out ot his students.
"I try to guide them along the path that they want to follow".
Looking to the
future, George foresees traditional karate enjoying an increased
profile, saying that karate with philosophy will always be around,
especially as the emphasis on self defence increases with the
increasing violence in society as a whole.
Notes:
This text
is
an extract from a Blitz Martial Arts Magazine article which was
written by Angela Sticca a very, very long time ago! Sorry it
was the only piece I can find Sensei!
Since the article Sensei George has become a 4th Dan. In 1999 the
City dojo moved to Banana Alley Vaults 9 & 10 located at the end
of Flinders Street train station in Melbourne. |
