Boksburg sensei ecstatic about the return of karate

The karate fraternity in Ekurhuleni is gearing up for a new start after a long period of no karate due to the lockdown.

After nearly five months, many karate clubs in Ekurhuleni are anxiously working hard to get their clubs Covid-19 compliant. They are preparing to get their members back into the club and start training under the Covid-19 regulations as set by the government.

Club from Ekurhuleni Karate Federation (EKF) in particular are affiliated to the region as well as to the Gauteng Karate Federation and Karate South Africa (GKF/KSA). Under the guidelines given by KSA and/or by their respective style they belong to, and with Covid-19 compliance certification, clubs have been given the green light to open and operate their clubs between 6am and 6pm every day according to the government gazette.

An excited EKF chairperson Sensei Takis Chaniotakos (6th Dan) believes the sport will once again return to normality when all is said and done.

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“Many clubs have lost members due to the lockdown which is very understandable in many ways, that’s why I sincerely hope that as we are slowly gearing up, that all senseis start encouraging all their members to cautiously start returning back to their respective clubs and continue training.

“Times and days may be adjusted to fit in with regulations, but it will be temporary. This too shall pass,” said Chaniotakos, who also runs the Dojo Boksburg in Impala Park.

“There’s a lot of work to be done, not only to the average members training weekly, but to all our EKF competitors that had to benched during this time. “It’s like putting on a white belt back on and with baby steps starting again. It’s also going to be a while before we start looking at competing at all levels as all our halls are still closed as per regulations.

“With the karate spirit instilled in us all and with patience, we will overcome this and will succeed at what we do best.

“I wish all the karate clubs in and around Ekurhuleni as well as all the other five districts within Gauteng good luck and to never give up. Our members are dependent on us as instructors to do what’s best for their safety as well as ours, and to continue teaching and coaching the ‘way of empty hand’ to all,” explained Chaniotakos before paying tribute to women.

“I would like to commemorate the opening of all dojos in this month of August to all women that have fallen victims to crime and to gender-base violence. I encourage all martial art dojos in Ekurhuleni to go out there and lend a supporting hand to all women and to assist them with any form of self-defence for themselves and for their families.”

With contact sports permitted to train, Chaniotakos and his Boksburg Dojo members have already got the ball rolling as they held their first training session since March at a park in Atlasville on August 8. The Dojo Boksburg will officially reopen on August 29.

The Dojo will also hold its open day on August 22 between 9am and 3pm, a week prior its reopening.

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