Spotlight on Stella Vassiliou Sensei 4th Dan
Can Do Martial
Arts is proud to include Stella in our family of highly qualified and
professional coaches. She has a love and passion for martial arts which is
impossible to replicate, and which just radiates from her. Our students love
training and learning with her, so we wanted to share her story with you.
‘Having
started training when I was 9 years old, it’s difficult for me to remember life
without karate in it. I fell in love with it as a child because quite frankly,
it was really cool! I wanted to be like Daniel San in the Karate Kid films, and
to be able to move like a martial artist. Right from the beginning I had a
passion for kata, and in the days before YouTube, I would spend hours learning the
kata for my next grade from a book, balancing it on the sofa behind me and
looking over my shoulder to make sure I had the correct arm and leg forward!
There was a
short period of time between leaving school and starting work in which I didn’t
train, but finding karate again in my mid-20s, when I met Ben Richardson
Sensei, felt like coming home. What I love about karate –
in addition to
the discipline, respect and the fitness aspects – is the fact that there is always
more to learn and it is always possible to improve. I also think that karate is
a beautiful art and I love being able to express myself through physical
movements that are both powerful and artistic. These factors, and a desire to
inspire my students, motivated me to keep grading and to start competing at the
highest national level. I have found both of these things to be highly
rewarding.
It is my firm
belief that karate is accessible to everyone, and that karate is for life. The
challenges may change as we grow in age and experience, but there is always
something new to strive for. It’s the art that keeps on giving and that is why
I love it.’ Stella
Stella has
reached Yondan grade (4th dan), under the JKS (Japan
Karate Shotorenmei) and was a member of the JKS England Kata Squad, but she has a rich and
full history of the arts:
Grading History:
·
Shodan (1989) and Nidan (1991)
awarded by Nick Adamou Sensei (International Shotokan Karate Association)
·
Sandan (2009) awarded by Andy
Sherry Sensei and Bob Poynton Sensei (Karate Union of Great Britain)
·
Yondan (2019) awarded by Masao
Kagawa Shihan (Japan Karate Shoto Federation)
Competition Success:
·
JKS England National Kata Squad
·
Can Do Martial Arts Kata Squad
Coach
·
Ranked #1 in the SportData
E-Tournament Female Masters A Kata Category
·
Central England Female Masters
Kata Champion 2022 and 2019
·
Elite International Open
Masters Champion 2022
·
JKS National Masters Champion
2022 and Senior Bronze Medalist 2022
·
British Karate Federation
Masters Silver Medalist 2022
Join Stella’s classes at Can Do Martial Arts Dojo
Stella coaches karate classes on Mondays and Fridays at 7pm in the
Abingdon Dojo. If you or your child would like to give it a go, we offer free karate taster classes, and there is no pressure to wear
anything other than what you are comfortable and can move easily in.
Why not come
along and see for yourself how inspirational and encouraging Stella’s coaching methods are?!