Dorfman Karate tackles the toughest opponent
For the past 52 years, Dorfman Karate members, initially of the Malcolm Dorfman Parktown North Dojo and of the Shane Dorfman Melrose Dojo, faced the toughest opponents from all over the world with great success. In March 2020, Dorfman Karate members were confronted by the toughest adversary ever encountered – Covid-19. This new opponent resulted …
For the past 52 years, Dorfman Karate members, initially of the Malcolm Dorfman Parktown North Dojo and of the Shane Dorfman Melrose Dojo, faced the toughest opponents from all over the world with great success.
In March 2020, Dorfman Karate members were confronted by the toughest adversary ever encountered – Covid-19.
This new opponent resulted in many karate schools being drastically affected. But like any foe, the requirements to overcome are twofold – ability and correct tactics.
Initially, the two dojos were not permitted to hold regular classes and the only option was online classes. Malcolm and Shane put their heads together to come up with innovative, interesting and stimulating ideas in these classes, with the result that hardly any member terminated their membership.
Besides the online classes, grading examinations were held online, an important factor especially for motivation of the lower graded members. Black belt grading was not held in this manner because of the advanced requirements for these levels.
Later, government regulations changed, permitting regular dojo classes but with restrictions. Social distancing was the biggest problem because that meant no physical contact. Again, Malcolm and Shane planned and strategised the content of classes not only to be interesting and motivational, but also to improve the members by focusing on their technical ability without actual physical contact.
In addition to the aforementioned lower belt gradings, intense black belt gradings, concurring with Covid regulations, were also held during 2021. In these gradings, Dorfman Karate achieved a 100% pass rate once again and added five new shodan (1-dan), five new nidan (2-dan), four new sandan (3-dan), one new yondan (4-dan) and one new godan (5-dan) to their ranks.
A Dorfman Karate Championship was also held for the younger members and the high standard was clear, demonstrating that focusing on the technical aspects during the classes paid dividends. Having not had the championship the previous year, the excitement of the children was palpable, and a further much-needed motivation during these restrictive Covid times.
Unfortunately, for the Dorfman Karate members with national colours, there has been no world championship held since 2019. But the spirit, enthusiasm and hard intensive training continues to prevail for these world-class karateka.
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