Reporter: How did Martial Arts enter Romania?
George Raicu: To find the roots of Martial Arts in Romania, one would have to sift through many old documents and interview those directly involved in this field. What I can tell you is that in the '70s, the pioneers of Martial Art studies opened up their training halls to anyone who wanted to learn. Even some of the institutions that then were in charge of educating the youth helped promote oriental Martial Arts. The best known instructors of that era were supported by the state’s institutions. They were: Mr. Vasile Gotelet, Mr. Florentin Marinescu, Mr. Ion Benea, Mr. Stuparu, Mr. Nicolae Gothard Bialokur.

R: Many claim they were the first to practice and teach Aikido in Romania. Who was really the first to promote Aikido in Romania?
G.R.: In those times, Judo was already recognized by the government. Romania had some good instructors and a respected national team. During judo or karate training, many began to study some ju-jitsu and a little aiki-jitsu. But this was not Aikido. The first one to promote Aikido in Romania was Mr. Nicolae Gothard Bialokur. Mr. Bialocur, together with professor Cicerone Poghirc, established a Budo section within the Romanian Association for Oriental Studies.

R: Who formed the first Aikido group?
G.R.: Mr. Bialokur. He himself studied mostly karate. After training he would, with much joy, also study some Aikido. In those times the Romanian Television had a show called "Teleenciclopedia" ("TV Enciclopedia") in which culture and science documetaries filmed throughout the world were shown. In one of these shows was included a martial arts demonstration by Mr. Bialokur which included Karate, Ko-Budo and Aikido. After this show was televised Mr. Bialokur created an Aikido class within the Budo section of the Romanian Association for Oriental Studies. The first Aikido group was formed in September 1977 and the training sessions were held in the "Progresul" Club's hall.

R: Who were the members of this Aikido group?
G.R.: Those who joined this group to study Aikido were: Serban Derlogea, Camil Marius Dadarlat, George Raicu, Gabriel Boeru, Anton Stana, Lucian Dollingher, Vladimir Botnarciuc and a few others.

R: Did you have an Aikido instructor?
G.R.: In that era, because of communist rule, all means of obtaining information were under intense scrutiny and the Romanian borders were closed. Mr. Bialokur supplied us with a few books to study from: "Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere" by A. Westbrook and O. Ratti, the first two volumes of "Aikido" by Morihiro Saito and a small introductory work published by R. Habersetzer. These books were our teachers. During each training session, through arduous study, we always found something we could improve. Little by little we began to understand by synthesizing from the study of pictures, of words and through practical experience.

R: Did this Aikido group develop?
G.R.: Initially it was a small group. Sometimes members of the Karate group led by Mr. Bialokur came to train with us. In November 1978, Mr. Bialokur, supported by professor Cicerone Poghirc managed to invite Mr. Rolf Brand, 4th dan from the Federal Republic of Germany. Then we had the first Aikido seminar in Romania and the first examinations took place.

R: What rank did you obtain?
G.R.: All participants received 5 Kyu, with the exception of Mr. Bialokur and Mr. Serban Derlogea who recieved 2 Kyu and Mr. Camil Dadarlat who obtained 3 Kyu.

R.: Was this seminar exclusive?
G.R.: No. We really had done a bit of advertising. Anyone who wanted to spectate during the training was welcome to do so.

R: Did this advertising have any effects?
G.R.: Yes, it did. More students joined our Aikido group. Because the "Progresul" hall was small, we moved to the Judo hall of the Institute for Physical Education and

Sports. It was a large hall. We formed groups for the beginners and the advanced. For advanced practitioners, the study was led by Mr. Nicolae Bialokur, Mr. Camil Dadarlat and Mr. Serban Derlogea. The beginner group was led by four assistents: George Raicu, Gabriel Boeru, Anton Stana and Vladimir Botnarciuc. In August 1979 the first summer Aikido seminars were organized: one in Mangalia and one in Poiana Tapului.

R: To my understanding the Aikido movement was gaining momentum. Today there should have been a very powerful Aikido organization. What happened?
G.R.: The following years were very strict. Martial Arts clubs were unofficially banned. This is why many instructors were forced not to publicize their activities. Many Aikido students gave up the practice and Mr. Bialokur left the country. Mr. Camil Dadarlat quit. Mr. Serban Derlogea together with Mr. Dan Ionescu started a small Aikido group. At that time I had to leave to Oradea for my military service. There I met a small Karate group. Their leader was very interested to promote Aikido. I regularly went to their training hall and taught Aikido.

R: What did you do after your military service?
G.R.:I was hired in the Bucharest Tribunal. There, within the Sports' Association "Justitia", I created an Aikido section and opened an Aikido dojo in the basement of the tribunal.

R.: What happened after the events of December 1989?
G.R.: After December 1989, I became one of the founders of the Romanian Martial Arts Federation. Also, I founded the "Aikikai Romania" association. I have had discussions with Mr. Serban Derlogea and Mr. Dan Ionescu who had founded an Aikido organization of their own. As a result of our discussion, we decided to form the Romanian Aikido Union with Mr. Dan Ionescu as president, Mr. Serban Derlogea as vice-president and myself as general secretary. Immediately after this I left for Chicago, U.S.A. where I spent almost a year as uchi-deshi to Sensei Fumio Toyoda. The affiliation of the Union was left to be decided after my return from the United States. When I returned from Toyoda Sensei, I had a meeting with Mr. Dan Ionescu and Mr. Serban Derlogea. They wanted to affiliate the Union to the European Aikido Union (now called the European Aikido Confederation). I pointed out that we should turn towards the Aikikai Foundation and the European Aikido Federation. After many discussions we could not reach an understanding and decided to part ways. "Aikikai Romania" began it's way towards the Aikikai Hombu Dojo Foundation... In short, this is the story of Aikido's entrance in Romania.

R.: Thank you very much for your time.