Pandaram promoting ‘pure karate’
Pandaram and a few other instructors around the country have established a new, non-profit federation.
Stalwart karate instructor Dennis Pandaram, who runs the Dennis Pandaram Martial Arts Academy in Dalview, is as passionate as it gets about traditional, old-school karate.
In fact, Pandaram is so passionate about the traditional side of the sport that he and a few other instructors around the country have established a new, non-profit federation called Traditional Karate Africa (TKA), an affiliate to Karate South Africa (KSA).
His and his fellow instructors’ aim is to take their Shotokan style of karate to underprivileged areas throughout South Africa in order to uncover karate talent in townships and rural areas while up-skilling and growing instructors in those areas at the same time.
“TKA teaches authentic Japanese karate and aims to make the sport affordable, especially for the underprivileged people in South Africa,” he said.
“We try to stick to the traditional way of practising karate, which was developed for self-defence, where we train karatekas to take out their opponents with one killer blow.”
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Pandaram, who heads up the East Rand side of TKA, said that the sport has become so expensive over the years that it is almost inaccessible for the poorer person.
“People in the townships, and most people actually, cannot afford to pay R2 500 for a black belt certificate, it’s impossible.
“They cannot even afford to pay club fees.
“We are trying to make karate affordable by reaching out to poor communities by giving them the type of authentic Japanese karate they need.
“We have incredible karate talent, and talent in all sports for that matter, in those communities, but money is always the big issue.
“Through the TKA federation we are offering a free service to the underprivileged community.
“We hope to identify talent while developing and growing instructors who can open clubs in their areas.
“The long-term goal of TKA is to develop into a 2000-plus member federation with big national tournaments where KSA can pick Protea karatekas.”
For more information on TKA and karate in general, contact Pandaram on 081 553 7188.
Also read: Karatekas win medals
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