Humans of Wing Chun:
Ioannis Athanasiadis

Family as inspiration for innovation and safety

I am a real family man. My parents live in Greece, where I myself am from, and one of my two brothers still lives near them. My other brother went abroad just like me. He lives in Barcelona and I moved to The Hague a few years ago.

Although we've become a bit scattered as a family, whenever we can, we get together in our hometown. I cherish those moments, because my family means everything to me. Every time it is a nice Greek reunion, with good food, hospitality and of course cozy evenings dancing, a passion I inherited from home. I love the social aspect and the fun that dancing brings. I found that in The Hague at a dance school where I tango once or twice a week.

Technology to help people

I started my technical studies while I was still living in Greece. I studied Electrical Engineering at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, followed by a master's degree in Computer Engineering. I moved from Greece to Switzerland to continue my studies at ETH Zurich. Eventually, I came to the Netherlands. I had been here before and immediately felt at home among the people here. Especially the people in The Hague, who are all so friendly.

Once settled, I started working at Siemens. I still enjoy doing that very much. Here, we develop simulations of sensors to make car traffic safer. Think, for example, of systems that automatically brake when you get too close to another car. We build simulations in which we can simulate traffic accidents and test the systems. This allows us to continuously improve the software.

My work often reminds me of my grandfather. The further we get with developing the sensors and software, the greater the chance that we can prevent traffic accidents involving pedestrians. Working on this gives me the feeling that I am really contributing to the lives and safety of others. That is what drives me every day.

The role model function of parents

Many people have influenced my life. My parents, of course, but also my grandfather and teachers from the past. When I think about it, it's funny to consider all the things you consciously and unconsciously pick up from your parents. 

For example, I really looked up to my father when I was younger. He worked in a chemical laboratory. In my eyes, he was a scientist. Naturally, I was very impressed by that. When he allowed me to accompany him to work one day, I decided that I would become a scientist myself. I informed everyone that I wanted to become a rocket scientist. Of course, I'm doing something completely different now, but I still think back to how I stood next to my father as a little boy. His enthusiasm in explaining his scientific ideas still fills me with joy today.

At the same time, I also inherited a lot from my mother's side. She is a fashion designer and has had her own boutique for years. I think I got my creative spirit from her. The way of thinking that ensures you always find new solutions. My mother is a real go-getter. She can keep working on something all day long. I still find that impressive.

The teachers were immediately super friendly. WuDae really has some great teachers. They know what they're talking about and thanks to them, Wing Chun continues to develop within WuDae. I am constantly impressed by how many details there are in Wing Chun that you need to learn and take into account. I always look forward to learning new details and improving my movements. If a movement or reflex isn't right, you start analysing it to improve it, because even if you think you know a movement, there is still a lot to learn. In that respect, it's similar to everyday life. You can keep learning, discovering and developing. I find it challenging to find my way in this.

Text and photos by: Robine Hillen