Stefan Zlatev

Stefan Zlatev is born on 11th February 1972. He has started his sports career with swimming first. Later he has started practicing combat sports – sambo and judo with CSKA. For a short period of time, he has practiced boxing followed by a two-year period of football practice as a goalkeeper. In 1987, he has taken up Aikido practice with Georgi Ivanov Sensei parallel to his Shotokan karate practice during the first year. He has witnessed the establishment of BAF, as well as all the changes in the organization. He has taken part in the organization of seminars with Japanese masters with BAF. In 1993, he has taken part in a delegation led by Georgi Ivanov Sensei that has represented Bulgaria at the World Games in the Hague, Netherlands. After a short break in 2000, he has again started practicing Aikido in Imeon martial arts club, where he has remained assistant instructor until the second half of 2007. In 2004, at the General Assembly of BAF, he has been nominated for a member of the Technical Commission of the Bulgarian Aikido Federation, whose member he remains until now. Being a member of the Technical Commission, he has participated regularly in the organization of exams, seminars and demonstrations with BAF. In the end of September 2004, he has been part of the official delegation on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Aikikai Italy. In the summer of 2005, he has taken part in the World Games in Duisburg, Germany. In 2007, he has established the Aiki Budo martial arts club. In 2013, he has graduated from the National Sports Academy with the professional qualification of an Aikido Coach. In the same year, at the General Assembly of BAF, he has been nominated for a member of the Management Board. He has been awarded 1st dan by Yokota Sensei in 2001, 2nd dan by Fujimaki Sensei in 2001 and in 2007 and in 2011 – respectively 3rd and 4th dan by Takanori Kuribayashi Sensei. At the beginning of 2017, on the proposal of the BAF on the promotion of aikido in Bulgaria, Hombu Dojo raised it in the 5th Dan.