Kigami Biraki to all in the community
Seido Karate Northcliff celebrated the new year in sentimental Japanese tradition.
Members of Seido Karate Northcliff gathered at Emmarentia Dam on January 28, painting it white as they celebrated Kigami Biraki.
Kigami Biraki is a Japanese tradition that the dojang celebrates annually as it welcomes the new year. ‘Kigami’ translates to mirror while Biraki means to open.
For this significant event, families were also in attendance. The dojo’s, sei shihan George Wong said this event is practiced by all Seido branches around the world and traditional karate schools to welcome the new year.
“We get together to train hard and to celebrate the new year by sharing our spirit, energy, and good health. It is a time to let go of problems, excess, and residue from the previous year, to ‘open the mirror’ so that we can focus and concentrate on the present and the future year ahead.”
They host events at Emmarentia Dam as it is an open space that allows them to breathe in the fresh air, take in the surroundings, and enjoy being in tune with nature.
It was important to have families involved in the celebrations, “Our friends and families are an important extension of our dojo, and we recognise and appreciate their support and assistance in various ways and in their effort to bring their children to classes,” he said.
The dojo hopes that such events further enhance and extend the sense of community instilled in their dojo and promote a better sense of goodwill among all. Wong also said Seido Karate’s three main principles of love, obedience, and respect aim to develop better, more well-rounded students who, in turn, will positively influence their families, friends, and communities.
Speaking to those in attendance on the day, Wong encouraged them never to give up as he mentioned, nana korobi (seven times fall down), ya oki (eight times get up) saying that in life we all get knocked down and fall short in many different ways, however, it is important to get up every time to continue and strive to succeed. He also mentioned the importance of koh kotzu (physical and mental strength) and kyo shin (mentally humble), as it is important to strive to be physically and mentally strong but equally important to keep humble.
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