Disciplined karateka hopes to travel the world
Having represented Assegai Primary School and her current school, Umbilo Secondary School, Ethen's flare with karate has earned her provincial colours and she looks forward to opportunities to see and travel the world through the sport.
SELF-defence and discipline are what attracts Ethen Marais most to karate.
The 17-year-old’s love affair with martial arts has been ongoing since 2014 and at the rate she is going; there is no stopping her from shining.
“I’ve been a karateka for seven years now and I took an interest in this sport because I was bullied and it made me very emotional. I used to cry for any small thing my peers would say, but I overcome that phase and became stronger by just turning a blind eye. What motivates me with karate is how it keeps me away from wrongdoings and teaches me self-defence and discipline,” she said.
Having represented Assegai Primary School and her current school, Umbilo Secondary School, Ethen’s flare with karate has earned her provincial colours and she looks forward to opportunities to see and travel the world through the sport.
She said her seven years at the sport would not have been possible without the support of her family and her sensei, Carl Webster, who encourages her to do better and never give up.
“I would love to compete with karatekas worldwide and also have the opportunity to represent my country. Although we are in lockdown, I haven’t stopped training. I practice what we have been taught such as kata and kumite and my daily exercise routine in my free time.
“My message to the youth would be that karate may be a fighting sport, but the whole concept behind it is self-discipline. It is also a sport that helps us defend ourselves and even though you might not know all the techniques, you can get better through a lot of practise and hard work,” she added.
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