The most important persons in the Romanian Aikido

For my fellow Romanians that are newer in the field of Aikido, I would like to mention here some of our conationals who have contributed during the years to the introduction and development of Aikido in Romania.
I chose them according to the following criteria: they were either pioneers that introduced Aikido, or they were (or presently are) leaders of important Aikido organizations, through which Aikido has been massively diffused to the practitioners.
I was limited by my own knowledge, therefore I apologize to those who have been omitted, even though they might be of the same caliber with those listed below.

In a somehow chronological order:

Nicolae Gothard Bialokur
(63 years old, Lausanne – Switzerland)
One of the pioneers of martial arts in Romania.
Formed the first Aikido study group 30 years ago, in 1977, in Bucharest.
Published a book on Aikido.
Presently lives in Switzerland and continues practicing Budo.

Serban Derlogea
(70 years old, Bucharest)
Started to study Aikido in 1977, under Nicolae Gothard Bialokur.
Together with Dan C. Ionescu and George Raicu, he is one of the Aikido promoters in Romania before and after 1989. (1989 is the year of the comunism collapse.)
Published two books on Aikido.
Presently continues to teach Aikido and Taijiquan at a dojo belonging to the Bucharest University.
He is ranked 5 Dan Aikido.
Website: www.derlogea.ro

George Raicu
(46 years old, Bucharest)
Started to study Aikido in 1977, under Nicolae Gothard Bialokur.
Distinguished himself as an Aikido promotor in Romania after 1989.
He is the president of the organization “Aikikai Romania”.
He is ranked 5 Dan Aikido Aikikai by shihan M. Fujita.
Website: www.aikikairomania.ro

Dan Corneliu Ionescu
(65 years old, Bucharest)
Started to study Aikido in 1979, under Nicolae Gothard Bialokur.
He is one of the Aikido promoters in Romania before 1989 and especially after 1989.
Published two books on Aikido.
He is the president of the “Romanian Aikido Federation” and the president of the “European Aikido Confederation”.
He is ranked 8 Dan Aikido.
Website: www.aikido.ro

Dorin Marchis
(39 years old, Cluj-Napoca)
An old time student of shihan Masatake Fujita and George Raicu.
Studies Aikido since the early ’90s.
He is the president of the “Romanian Aikido Aikikai Foundation”.
He is ranked 4 Dan Aikido Aikikai by shihan M. Fujita.
Website: www.aikikai.ro


I would also mention Ioan Grigorescu, Viorel Dan, Iulian Perpelici, Adrian Bunea, who have a long time activity through which they have contributed both didactically and organizationally to the improvement of Aikido in Romania.


If I have mistaken any data, please forgive and correct me.