Karate at Wipoortjie Rec Centre

31-year-old Lesego Ratala has recently started teaching young children karate.

He currently operates at the Witpoortjie Recreational Centre.

His gym, the Ken To Fude No Karate Ryu which operates under Solly Said’s Karate, Kickboxing and Gym banner offers programmes at schools around the West Rand.

The aim is to have the Gauteng Department of Education to allow karate as a sporting code within the schools.

“My interest in karate started in 1994 when I walked into a dojo where people were training and I have never looked back ever since. The way the people were practicing kicks excited me,” said Lesego.

He stopped karate during his high school years, only to start again during his university days in 2004.

Lesego started teaching at a dojo in Fordsburg last year and has opened dojo’s in Fourways and Florida.

So far, the dojo in Witpoortjie has been attracting more than 20 youngsters with some coming from Princess Squatter Camp to learn from Lesego.

“When it comes to the young pupils, the method you use to teach is important as to them, karate is about enjoyment. With teenagers at 16-years of age, you start being more strict and teach them the traditional forms of the martial art,” he said.

An internal tournament will be hosted by the dojo where the majority of the pupils will be competing for the first time.

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