Eliza – a female legend, helping other women to find themselves through ancient Japanese martial arts – Ninjutsu.
The journalist Sofia Tereshchenko interviewed exclusively the one and only Greek female ninja. Eliza.
Foreword (by Eliza)
“The ninjas were neither murderers nor spies. Zen monks began as missionaries.”
S: In your opinion, how important is the revival of schools exclusively for girls, with the aim of teaching art, self-defense, make-up, style, political science, etc? How relevant is it at this stage?
E: My view is that if a guardian has the insight to judge a child’s inclination and talents, he or she may be able to direct it to males, females, or mixed. Of course, this depends on an education system, which will enable this. For example, imagine the result of educating a girl into a modern “Amazon” in high-tech systems, combined with general education rather than specialization, taking on leading roles rather than subordinate roles. Also, it would be wiser for each person, after the age of 13, regardless of gender, to choose the path of their education on their own.
S: Tell us a little bit about the self-defense school that you have, exclusively for women. How did you start and how did you achieve such an amazing career?
E: From a very young age, I became interested in martial arts, for which cinema was the trigger. My parents had the ability to recognize it and, in addition to other education, they offered me private lessons at home. Of course, my education did not stop there, but later it was enriched with the teachings of domestic and foreign teachers. My travels abroad filled me with experiences and I was fortunate to meet top teachers in many different martial arts styles. The fact is that my teachers made me teach younger students, so teaching became my second nature. Along with my other pursuits, I also created mixed martial arts schools. I made the decision to go to school exclusively for women’s self-defense, when many negative events took place in my life, helping me to reconsider my thinking and teaching, while at the same time the rapid increase in crime and violence against women strengthened my understanding of the urgency of the need to create such a school. The result was the creation of a women’s self-defense school, embraced with love by women, who, either experiencing similar situations or realizing the reality around us, want to protect themselves and at the same time to be initiated and specialized in culture and technique that was designed centuries ago exclusively for them. My success lies in the fact that I have the perspective of both the student and not only the teacher but also the woman who has experienced many different forms of violence, gaining the opportunity to offer appropriate support in such cases.
S: You are the only teacher in Greece who teaches self-defense to women through the unique technique – ninjutsu. Have you ever thought that in fact you are not only a teacher of martial arts but also an academic? How would you feel if you were awarded the academic title of martial arts as a teacher?
E: The idea to create this school was born out of my will to help women who have been abused. My reward is my results and the love, respect, and appreciation I enjoy from my students. The lesson at school does not only concern self-defense techniques but is also enriched with knowledge on well-being and spiritual cultivation, disciplining our ego and discovering our being. For me, martial arts is not just an exercise, like martial arts, but a spiritual and physical exercise, fighting our own selves, with the aim of improving the well-being and superiority of the soul or a way of life.
S: In one of your interviews, you said that you have been attacked by a man in the past. What do you think, why is male aggression (psychological or physical) still isn’t considered as a mental illness? While every manifestation of female expression (emotions, feelings) is a subject of ridicule and is immediately identified as “hysterical”? Is it because we still live in a “men’s world”?
E: The answer to all this is education. The change in mindset, consciousness, and mentality will occur after planning, strategy, and systematic training. However, we must first become part of this change ourselves, so that the demand for its implementation is more a result of the natural flow of things and less of a need. History teaches that change comes through perpetual motion, while Japanese culture speaks of the balance of cosmic forces through a circular flow. Therefore, when groups affected by a regime are mobilized in an organized and mass manner to create a flow trend, only then does the change occur.
S: Do you agree that female is a weaker sex?
E: Of course not! Unfortunately, education and mentality, tolerance, and living conditions have subjugated the woman, making her weak in general with her own acceptance. Fortunately, not only us, but there are other dynamic women, who with their lifestyle and attitude, “rebel” in this social mold that they impose on them. Silence is not always golden, but it is participation and consent to the mistake!
S: Tell us about your experience in modeling please?
E: A wonderful world appears before you, like the four basic elements of nature. When the lights go out, the 5th item appears. If you look at it from the point of view of martial arts, the experiences you can gain become your lessons. If you look at it from an economic point of view, a serious professional can succeed. Personally, it worked for me as a vehicle to meet teachers abroad, as capital to build schools, and as one great teacher said “Kunoichi must be very beautiful!”.
S: What advice would you give to those who are starting to work in the modeling business?
E: First they need to have an experienced professional manager and not a promoter. Second, they should have real natural beauty and not arrogance. Third, to have a certain level of education and communication, for example to know foreign languages. Fourth, exercise and eat right. Fifth, to have the ability to project themselves to the fullest, that is, to know how to behave, dress, makeup, and brush your hair according to the place, time, and occasion. Sixth, to be confident and not to be afraid of anyone. Life is short! Seventh, to use science and technology in moderation and without exaggeration, where necessary. And finally, to have the talent – charisma, that is an “air”, otherwise to change a profession.
S: Tell us how does a person should eat properly right in order to always look perfect at any age?
E: A human when is born is perfect! The struggle according to Buddhist philosophy is to return to the original nature. The more natural our diet, the more raw and uncooked it is, and the less animal it is, the healthier it is. Man is made up of 70% water and lives by breathing. Therefore, hydration and oxygenation of our body are vital. Stress, anxiety, and a sedentary lifestyle are now scientifically proven to be a disease. Turn your work into workmanship, your workmanship into a hobby and your hobby into a fun. If we see, in our lives, the glass to be half full, then with proper nutrition, hydration, physical exercise, and positive thinking, we will always look young.
S: Tell us a little bit more about your path to ninjutsu. Because behind this martial art lies a whole philosophy and a way of life. What is ninjutsu in Eliza’s eyes, in the eyes of a ninja woman?
E: A difficult question, because it has many answers! Etymologically, it is the art of being patient and surviving. The ninja ideogram depicts a sword above a heart. I believe that ninjutsu is the highest art of survival on a physical, spiritual, and mental level. Through much different knowledge we acquire the ability to overcome our “earthly” existence, in order to transcend and enlighten us. Human has weaknesses that need to be addressed and talents that need to be cultivated. Ninjutsu is one of the ways to perfect a man. It teaches uninterrupted battle with ourselves, dealing with our fears and compassion and love for people and nature.
S: The Japanese are largely idealists. What do you think we Europeans could adopt from their cultural way of life?
E: Studying the philosophy of the warrior’s path (Bushido) teaches everything that is missing and can enrich the Western mentality in a more holistic way.
S: How do you feel about such sore personalities (especially with regard to the female sex) such as Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, etc?
E: I believe that in our time there is a disturbance of the balance of power, combined with spiritual poverty or even the absence of people with spiritual awakening, resulting in people, situations, and social systems that come and bring the extremes. Equilibrium will occur when humanity understands the teachings and implications of these situations and wants, through the opposite end, to restore harmony. The imposition of power brings chaos and none of those who rule us have truly experienced the problem. As Buddha says “Big stomachs do not know of hunger!” Dignity has been replaced by wealth, and meritocracy has been lost in the various guilds and centers of entanglement. We must not give a way to leaders who are fraudulent businessmen and professional politicians. People as political beings according to Aristotle must participate in political events and not abstain. We need a political renaissance with people who will bring new ideas and visions, to shed light on chaos, like Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and others.
S: You are a strong and smart woman who possesses not only a technique of rare martial art, but also a seeking mind. Have you ever been approached by any special services (such as FSB and others) in order to allure and recruit? What would you answer them?
E: The most capable ninjas died and we never learned about them.
S: Do you think we should have more female politicians and women presidents in the world? And why?
E: I believe in the balance of power as it does in nature. I think in the men’s DNA the aggressive command is more prevailed, while in women the defensive one. History teaches us that most wars were made by men. And let’s not forget that a woman is genetically programmed to create life, and not destroy it. In terms of meritocracy, it would be legitimate to have a balance.
S: What would you say to misogynists, sexists, and chauvinists? What would be your message to them?
E: The battle between good and evil is eternal. No matter how hard we try to kill the evil, it will continue to exist. The ninja method is to first get to know the opponent and then fight him. I believe that all these people have been deprived of true love and proper education. Their isolation and marginalization reinforce the negative points of their character. We need to delve deeper into this social problem and discover its roots so that we can deal with it with modern scientific methods and a lot of compassion and love. However, at the same time, modern reality requires our preparation for war. We may want peace, not bothering anyone, and wait for others to do the same, but in reality, this is not the case… Sick minds lurk in the corners and this makes more urgent the need for all women to have basic self-defense knowledge. To those who are obsessed with these perceptions, I would suggest that they escape their selfish illusions and reintegrate into society as useful places because they will be lost in the vortex of their arrogance.
S: Eliza, how many years do you teach, under which teacher and if someone wants to become your student, where can she find you?
E: I have been involved in martial arts for over 40 years and in the art of ninjutsu since the mid-1980s, which I have been teaching professionally for the last 30 years or so. After the death of my Greek teacher, Dimitris Papaioannou, I was lucky enough to be taken over by a man with a very big heart, the Italian Dai – Shihan Enzo Rossi, based in Milan, who is the only Westerner who has received the honor from the Emperor of Japan. The Bujinkan Italian family embraced me and my students, offering love, valuable knowledge, and guidance. This man is an ideal example for me to imitate and I hope one day to achieve similar distinctions. I have been teaching exclusively women since 2010, holding the title of Kunoichi Elise Elle Shidoshi – Ho Yondan (4 Dan) Bujinkan Ninjutsu, while my school is located in the Melekos Health Club (Leontos 4, Argyroupoli). Women who would like to experience a kunoichi (ninja women), can get information from the website www.kunoichi.gr, also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/elise.elle.kunoichi.dojo and by phone +0306930998844.
S: Your wish to all the women and girls of the world for the year 2020
E: I wish a release from the basic instinct, deep meditation, and conquest of all chakras, with the ultimate goal of overcoming fear and conquering self-confidence.
Epilogue (from Eliza)
Soke Masaaki Hatsumi is a living ninja legend who managed to unite 9 different ninjutsu family technology schools in one and named it Bujinkan. This spiritual leader, who is the bright guide of all those who belong to the Bujinkan family and for whose sake ninjutsu became known in the world, asked me at some point, in order to accept me as his student if I have love in me… Sofia, I would like to thank you and the website that hosts this interview for the opportunity to convey the knowledge and messages of both the philosophy of Bushido and my teachers and especially of Soke Masaaki Hatsumi, for whom I have great respect and love and thanks to which many Women today, under my guidance, are discovering a new way of life.
(y.2019)