Life is kung fu | George Skoumas | TEDxHongKongED

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. George Skoumas has been described as a multi talent personality, which certainly shines through in his talk, where he covers topics from his love for Kung Fu to trial and error learning, as well as how in life our biggest opponents are really ourselves.

George Skoumas Papanikolaou
Engineer, Multimedia Artist, Kung Fu Aficionado and Unified Theorist

George Skoumas Papanikolaou was born in the Greek city of Ioannina; his father is a physics and chemistry teacher, his mother a German teacher. He became interested in arts and multimedia at a young age, and so began his first contact with computers.

At age 15, the family moved to city Arta. During his school years, George started experimenting with photography and shooting short length funny videos with his web camera. He also became interested in music and began learning how to play the classical guitar (he is a self-taught guitar player), and he uses some of his music in his own videos. George finished school and started his university years at the TEI University of Hpeirus, where he studied Information Technology and Communications. While studying, George worked as a programmer and web designer in Athens.

By this point George had already travelled extensively all over Europe, gaining many different experiences and impressions. In 2009 he travelled around Denmark for 6 months as part of the Erasmus Student Exchange Program. On his return, he worked as a waiter and also as an assistant Wedding photographer and videographer. In his spare time, George filmed short length films and funny videos which he published on the internet. In 2010 he bought his first DSLR camera and soon his videos became better in image quality, photography and script.

George's interest in photography saw him learn much about the practice; composition, lighting, shooting portraiture and landscapes. In 2011 he began shooting his first short length movie called The Designer, which took one year to complete. The reviews of the no-budget action movie, shot with only one camera and no professional actors, with music written by Nikos Salonitis, where very positive. The film was awarded in the Accolade Film Awards in California.

Alongside shooting The Designer, George started shooting an independent internet comedy series called Stichono which gained mentions on big Greek channels. In 2012 he became a partner of Comedy Lab, the biggest comedy central in Greece, and his videos spread into various television channels. He continued with another comedy series called Teleremarket and various comedy videos.

George also had the honor to be invited to be the web designer for the "I am Greek and I Want to Go Home" movement by Ares Kalogeropoulos.

In 2013 George gave his first public speech at TEDx AUEB at the University of Economics in Athens.

At the same time he started his own Photography, Multimedia and Web Design Company in Greece which witnessed great success.

That same year he traveled to Hong Kong, China, where he became close friends with globally accredited Wing Chun Researcher and practitioner, Sifu Sergio.

George runs the following websites, where he shares his knowledge and love for multimedia, fresh ideas, and his hopes and vision for a better world working first internally, and then externally:


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[sifuadamwilliss]

Thank you for bringing this great insight to others, George!

[satnamo]

Congfu is 99% practice+1% theory.

What is Congfu Theory ?

Congfu is about de practice because practice is congfu:

No master fall from das sky!