Malvern karate coach takes a hands-on approach
In its 33 years thousands of karatekas passed through the organisation’s rank.
MALVERN’S Kyoshi, Eric Govender has dedicated 47 years of his life to karate and continues to inspire his students.
The 58-year-old fitness fanatic was introduced to the sport by his cousin Links Pillay, who took a young and apprehensive Eric to attend lessons at Ruku’s Judo and Karate Club based in Bayview, Chatsworth.
“I must confess that it was the ability to break bricks and tiles that first attracted me to the sport and I only found out about the discipline aspect later on,” said Eric.
Around the mid-seventies the Bruce Lee movie, Enter the Dragon became a worldwide hit and helped popularise the martial art form of karate.
“Although follow up movies, Duel of Fist and Thunder Kick fuelled my desire to master the sport, it was the tutorship of Subbiah (Raku) Naidoo and Robbie Reddy that gave me the urge to keep at it,” he said.
Eric said it was Reddy who was a great believer in discipline, who was more involved with teaching judo while Subbiah handled much of the karate training.
Kyoshi Govender earned his black in in 1980 and after the split up of the union of Indian Karate Enthusiasts, Kyoshi launched the International Federation of Funakoshi Shotokan Karate OF SA( IFFSKSA) in 1983.
Believing in the doctrine; the ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory or defeat but in the perfection of one’s character is what made Eric’s organisation grow from strength to strength.
In its 33 years thousands of karatekas passed through the organisation’s rank. It presently boasts a membership of more than 3000 students of the martial art and has many branches around the country as well as internationally.
Eric believes that one of the reasons for his organisations success is his ‘hands on’ approach.
“Karate demands that one maintain fitness and whenever I take a class, I am an active participant with my students at my Dojo’s in Northdene and Queensburgh.
“More than being able to defend oneself, the beauty of karate is the discipline it Teaches. Once imbibed with the principles of the sport, a karateka does not go out looking for a fight. It teaches one to respect others,” said Eric who currently holds a seventh Dan in the Shotokan discipline of Sport.
For further information on the organisation, the Championship and the Dojo in your area, you can contact Kyoshi Eric Govender on 0837770727 or Jay Moodley on 0824637816.
