Forty years have passed since graduating from Varvakeios Model School and more than thirty since the medical degree from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Attending the “2nd Postgraduate Course in the History of Biomedical Sciences”, a precursor to the current Postgraduate Study Programs long before they were established and spread, led early on to a PhD thesis at the Department for the History of Medicine, Athens Medical School.
Being a resident in KAT Hospital and daily dealing with the operative pathology of the musculoskeletal system for more than 20 years also inevitably enriched the brain’s hard drive with knowledge and experiences, while further dealing with Metabolic Bone Diseases clearly broadened the horizons and sharpened clinical thinking.
At the same time, the systematic engagement with Martial Arts, initially Okinawan Karate Do and later on Korean Taekwon-Do, in its authentic version as an art rather than a sport, obviously strengthened both body and mind. Furthermore, 15 years of practicing acupuncture and gaining insight into Eastern Medicine, all of the aforementioned knowledge finally seems to come together in a peculiar and unique amalgam of overlapping information, related to the musculoskeletal system, its anatomy, its physiology, its pathology, conservative and operative treatment options, disease prevention and well-being maintenance, especially with the valuable contribution of Eastern wisdom and the complementary use of acupuncture. This novel approach seeks a way out through the writing of books and because of the special love for them, not only writing, but also translating, editing, publishing.
This route could not be completed without the creative assistance of a family business, Lychnia SA and its staff. In fact, the logo of the publishing house ΓΛ was created along the way.
The first attempt was back in 2017, with the English best-seller “A Killing Art”, related to the history of Taekwon-Do and translated as «Φονική Τέχνη» {in Greek}. The second attempt was the previously unpublished PhD thesis, after its enrichment with images and the most recent literature, under the title “Greek Medicine in the Danubian Principalties” {in Greek}. From the same material, but after extensive additional research, came a second, independent work, titled “Iakovos Basilikos Heraklides. His action in 16th Century Europe, From the Medical School of Montpellier to the Throne of Moldavia” {in Greek}.
Then, came the series “Introduction to Real Taekwondo” {in Greek}, a long-term plan, with the guidance and collaboration of Master Dimitris Balabanos from Larissa. A total of nine volumes are planned, following the degrees of the black belt, the so-called dans, with the number of each volume illustrated on the cover in Latin numerals on a black belt. However, the recent unimaginable increase in postage by the Hellenic Post made it virtually impossible to post these volumes separately and the problem was tackled with posting all three of them, as a trilogy, in a special protective sleeve case.
A particularly far-reaching publishing project is the publication of the “Taekwon-Do Study Companion” series, following the fifteen-volume Bible of the Art, titled “Encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do”, as an educational aid and a true Study Companion for a fuller and easier understanding of the Art. The first two volumes have already been published and the remaining thirteen are being planned! In this series, the publication is literally precious, both in terms of materials used as well as the knowledge provided.
A more recent attempt in Greek is the hardbound volume “Acupuncture and Orthopedics”, with many color pages, crucial for the understanding of “anatomical acupuncture”, i.e. the stereotactic awareness on the part of the acupuncturist of the position of the tip of the needle in the 3 dimensions of space.
Technological advances essentially mandated the creation of an online store as well, with the aim of easy online searching and immediately afterwards ordering, with automatic shipping, while minimizing the inconvenience of the prospective reader. In addition, a conscious choice and a sign of respect for the readers is the rather unusual practice of including both VAT and postage in the set price of the book. Cash on delivery is consciously not supported, with technology again providing novel solutions, such as the IRIS system of payment.
For any question or additional information you need, do not hesitate to fill out our contact form. We will contact you as soon as possible, either by email or phone, to provide you with the necessary clarifications and answer all your questions.