Forty Years of Practice

A lifetime dedicated to structural efficiency and direct instruction, training generation after generation in functional self-defense.

The Basement 1998

The most notable achievements of Master Loukas Kastrounis:

• 1992 – Founded the Reading Academy in Berkshire

• 1999 – Fighting choreography at The Mill in Sonning Theatre, Berkshire UK

• 2003 – Received The Kung Fu Hall of Fame Achievers Award

• 2009 – Actor in the film Game Over by Andrea Di Bartolo (1st postiion at Italy and Japan Film Festivals, Hollywood Film Festival Winner)

• 2012 – Founded The European Wing Chun Association with Franco Regalzi

• 2013 – Appeared in a BBC 2 TV documentary about his Wing Chun and training schools

• 2014 – Appeared in a documentary on KOSMOS TV (Greek national TV)

• 2023 – Published his long awaited martial arts book `Wing Chun in Depth: Skills for Combat, Strategies for Life`

• 2024 – Appeared on BBC Radio Berkshire about his lifetime achievements and contributions to martial arts

Short Biography:

Master Loukas was born in Athens, Greece.

His father George was a well known Maestro violinist which is how Master Loukas found his love of music and went on to study the piano at National Conservatory of Athens.

Whilst continuing with his school education at a young age, he joined a local boxing club in Peristeri, Athens.

In 1982, Master Loukas moved to England and worked in the catering industry where he discovered and joined the legendary ‘Basement’ in London, where he was taught Wing Chun under Master Nino Bernado / Grandmaster Wong Sheung Leung and Kali Eskrima under Master Nino Bernando / Guru Dan Inosanto (the infamous ‘Basement’ closed in December 2000).

In the first two years of his training, Master Loukas trained solidly on a one-to-one basis with with Si-Fu Nino Bernardo and afterwards, continued his 1-2-1 and group tuition.

Since 1992, with the authorisation of his teacher, Master Loukas Kastrounis opened his first school, ‘The Garage’ and has been teaching Wing Chun Kung Fu and Kali Eskrima JKD martial arts and in 1997, became Master Nino Bernardo’s main UK representative until 2008.

In August 1995, Master Loukas renamed his school the ‘Reading Academy Wing Chun – Kali Eskrima/JKD’. Since then, Reading Academy has become a world famous school in the UK and throughout the world.

As Master Loukas puts it, “Wing Chun is a complete system of self-defence, including boxing, trapping, kicking, grappling and throwing. The only condition for attaining all this knowledge is time – first, complete the entire system in order to understand it and understand yourself. Then use the strategies, concepts and principles that you have learned and it will become your own way. It is like handwriting.”

Since Master Loukas Kastrounis opened Reading Academy, he has featured in a number of martial arts magazines and newspaper articles in the UK and across the world. He has also been interviewed multiple times (twice by the BBC). Listen on BBC Radio Berkshire and watch on BBC TV & KOSMOS TV. In 2000, he was in the limelight when he choreographed fighting scenes for a theatre production at The Mill in Sonning, Berkshire.

In October 2003, Master Loukas was presented with the ‘Hall of Fame Achievers Award’ by Combat Magazine, in recognition of his commitment and devotion to the development of martial arts in the United Kingdom and around the world.

In 2023, Master Loukas become an author, releasing his long awaited martial arts book, ‘Wing Chun in Depth: Skills for Combat, Strategies for Life’, published globally by YMAA.

Lifetime Achievements

You are warmly invited to visit my personal website, where you can learn more about my work, explore the services I offer, and book private sessions at your convenience. The website also provides additional information, resources, and answers to frequently asked questions. I look forward to connecting with you.

2003 – Received The Combat Hall of Fame Award

BBC Radio Berkshire Interview