Svetoslav Ivanov
"Life is longer when you risk it!"
In 1988 he defended his doctoral dissertation and received the title of Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences. He was head of the Department of Anatomy, Biomechanics and Informatics at the National Sports Academy (NSA). From 1999 to 2003 he was Rector of the NSA.
Prof. Svetoslav Ivanov has more than 100 scientific papers and has lectured as a guest lecturer in the USA, Poland, Italy, Serbia, Turkey, Greece, etc.
He holds author's certificates from the Institute of Inventions and Rationalizations for the development of video computer systems and methodologies for biomechanical analysis and modeling of motor actions.
Professor Svetoslav Ivanov is the first champion of Bulgaria in judo, he is also a champion in boxing. He holds the highest referee license of the International Judo Federation. He has been a central referee at the European, World and Olympic Games. He has been President of the Bulgarian Judo Federation, President of the Bulgarian Taekwondo Federation and Vice President of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee. He is currently the President of the Bulgarian Union for Physical Education and Sport. He is also Chairman of the Wushu (Chinese martial art) Federation. He is also called "the founder of martial arts". Currently prof. Ivanov is also professor in the National Academy for Performance and Film Art, where he teaches stage movement to students of NATFA. He is a stunt consultant and trainer. Stuntman.
“If I had to draw a parallel between stunts and politics where diplomacy rules I would say: The real stunt is one where not everything can be calculated, when you have to make decisions on the spur of the moment. Then there is risk. "The trick is to feel the measure of how much risk you can take. Otherwise, you need God to protect you."
Here are some of his insights on life and sport diplomacy:
I am already 82 years old. When I look back to my sport and teaching career I consider as my strongest characteristics (thought from sport):
a) To stand up on your feet again when you are down – mankind learns from its experience and experience comes from mistakes. Losses are the most useful, so is life.
b) Perseverance and a will to succeed – for me fast means slow but continuously. There is no a speed elevator to success – you have to use the stairs and advance slowly. Because this is the beauty of life.
c) To be proactive – Both wins and loses depend on you and your self only. In the competition you have to first compete with yourself and win over yourself. Because this is the beauty of life.
To what values I am teaching the young people I am working with, my students?
1. To be good people, wide hearted, to go to school and learn a lot.
2. The school teaches children. Sport EDUCATES them.
Here are some other things I teach my students: what you learn in math, history, physics, etc. may be forgotten, but the character you build will carry with you for life.
3. Integrity - spirit and body in one. What you say should match what you do.
4. The "adversary" in sports is your best friend because he helps you improve.
5. By force you can take, but by force you cannot give. This is fully relevant to politics and diplomacy as well. Therefore, everything depends on the motivation and desire of the coach. Methods and means – different and many, but the most effective are the individual approach, critical thinking, and creativity of each coach.
A teacher can also learn from his students.
I am a man who loves his profession, so I am a lifelong learner.
The greatest discrimination occurs when a coach's primary and almost sole goal is to achieve the highest possible athletic results with his team. Is that not relevant to politics and diplomacy again? All children who do not have the necessary excellence and achievement are discriminated against.