Ilias CALIMINTZOS
Born in Greece, he starts
to practise in Paris in 1976 with the WILLY and IVAN PHAM LOÏ
brothers.
During several years, he takes part in the national competitions
in 3 categories of weight : middle weight, cruiser-weight and
heavy. He is placed on the podium each time. In 1979, he discovers
the Karate at the late Pierre Heintz school, then practices the
Tae Kwon Do. Between 1979 and 1982, he studies during more than
one hour and half per day the YING QI GONG (drive of hard breath,
which consist in some test of breakage, fold iron bars with the
throat, etc...). He studies Chinese civilization and language
and in 1981 is among the little from abroad to be authorized to
step on the Chinese ground.
He then starts to practise YI QUAN in HANG ZHOU,with a pupil of
Master
YAO ZONG XUN.
In this period he also learns boxing from the CHA family, very
known in the Moslem minority, as well as the sword, the lance,
the stick, the halberd, the double swords, the dagger and the
boxing of the eagle.
He returns to France where during 2 years he is involved each
day during more than 3 hours to only one of the exercises of YI
QUAN : ZHAN ZHUANG GONG.
At the
same time he is involved with the " wise old man " Roger
BENSAÏD with English boxing, practises JU JITSU, Thai, French
and American boxing. He then sets out again in China where, with
much of patience, disappointments and perseverance he is able
to be accepted by Master
YAO ZONG XUN. Like meeting of test, YAO imposed him 2 hours
and 45 minutes of ZHAN ZHUANG. Noting his obstinacy, he welcomes
him among his pupils.
Ilias Calimintzos is the only Westerner to be initiated by Master
Yao Zong Xun.
During his stay in Peking, he studies the TONG BEI Boxing, it
is the " imitative boxing of the swinging arms of the gorilla
" and the " boxing of the drunk man ". During his
travels in China, he also studies other styles of wushu (Boxing
of the Five Animals of the South, Small Flower of North Boxing).
Back in France, he works as a European pioneer of Yi Quan and
as an official representative of Master Yao Zong Xun.
In 1985 he represents the seniors of the technical team of France
of Wushu at the 1st international tournament on invitation from
XIAN, in the province of SHANXI. He made there demonstrations
of techniques of stick of Shaolin as well as the boxing of the
eagle.
Ilias Calimintzos leave the same year the competition with 5 medals
obtained at the France championship of KUNG FU WUSHU (3 of gold and
2 of bronze in combat and in technique with or without weapon,
unequalled record until now) and gain as member of France team
the first Cup of Europe of Kung-Fu Wushu organized in Paris. After
the death of YAO ZONG XUN he turns over to PEKIN where he is involved
with wire of Master YAO and CUI RUI BIN. In 1990, he produces
a first video
cassette about the bases of
YI QUAN. In 1993 he creates within the French Federation of Karate
and Affinitary Martial Arts a YI QUAN department .He is now technical director of Yi Quan in the French
Federation of Wushu.