Yin-Yang karateka grades to brown belt
Sensei de Jager added that the brown belt level represents the ripening of a seed during the maturing and harvesting process.
POLOKWANE – A brown belt is awarded to advanced students who are beginning to realise the fruit of their beginner studies and one whose techniques have begun to mature, according to local sensei Annatjie de Jager.
Zuan de Bruin (11) started practicing karate at the age of nine in 2021 at the Yin-Yang Karate and Self Defence Studio and on December 6, he was graded to his brown one belt.
After trying his hand at gymnastics, hockey, cricket and rugby, Zuan found his love and passion in karate.
The young karateka trains under the watchful eye of De Jager, who’s a sixth dan black belt, and the owner and head instructor of the dojo.
“To be graded to a brown belt, a practitioner will spend a minimum of three to four years, honing their skills and building their understanding of the principles of karate character, etiquette, sincerity, effort and self-control,” De Jager said.
She explained to Polokwane Observer on how quickly a student can grade largely depending on three factors – the student’s frequency of training, the intensity of the training and the student’s focus (kime) during training.
De Jager added that the brown belt level represents the ripening of a seed during the maturing and harvesting process.
“Zuan has all the qualities to be graded to a brown belt grading level. He is physically and mentally tough. I’m very proud of him to be graded to this high level at such a young age,” she concluded.
