Karate is a way of life
The Kenyon Howden Road-based karate training centre has had many youngsters rise up through the ranks, many earning coveted titles.
FUNAKOSHI Ryu Karate Woodlands Dojo has a proud legacy that spans 47 years.
The Kenyon Howden Road-based karate training centre has had many youngsters rise up through the ranks, many earning coveted titles.
Thirty years ago, Sensei Sash Bagwandeen, walked through the centre’s doors and never left. Today, along with KZN’s first qualifier of the World Karate Federation, Sensei Dusty Miller, many more children are growing up with the discipline of martial arts, thanks to the pair.
“It’s a good feeling to bump into the children we’ve taught to find that they’ve succeeded in their lives. Especially in a disciplined way, knowing that they’ve never gotten involved in gangsterism. We’ve seen some of these children really prosper and make something good of their lives, we’re really proud of that,” Bagwandeen.
He added that, unlike some sports, karate can indeed be a lifelong commitment, where the family generation can train together.
“We’re also proud of the legacy of children who grew up training with us, who later introduce their children to the sport as well. By the time someone gets to a black belt with us, I can guarantee that that person would be five steps ahead of an average person of age their group in all aspects of their lives,” he said.
Training is in the evening every Tuesday and Thursday. Saturday classes are held at the Woodlands Sports Club, however, these are exclusively by invitation. These classes accommodate karatekas who the senseis feel need help on improving their skills.
“There are 20 laws in karate – the first one is that karate begins and ends with courtesy and other 19 only clarify the first one. Everything works on the belt grading – novices start off with a white belt and from there you move to a yellow belt.”
“The yellow belt must put himself in a position where the novice behind him, respects him. The next belt colour after that is the orange belt, he must also be in a position to be respected by the green belt behind him and so it continues. That is why at the end of each class, everybody lines up from the lowest grade to the highest and we repeat the five maxims of karate,” Miller said.
The senseis agreed that martial arts is not just a physical sport. It encompasses teachings that can be used and applied in all aspects of life. For more information call 082-492-1780 or 082-495-6245.
