Karate For Kids

Physical activity for children is not only healthy, it’s fun too. Besides learning a new skill, youngsters also get to grips with working as a team and establish a sense of self-confidence.

Sensei Willem Burger of Shotokan Karate Academy International says karate offers many benefits for children. “The key benefits of the karate classes are concentration development, discipline, respect for others and the self, confidence, setting goals, leadership skills and self-defence,” he says.

“The idea is to provide pupils and very young ones with the opportunity to learn through karate about improving themselves, boosting their self-worth and confidence,” Burger says.

This contributes to overall skills development and instils discipline which is very important in the modern world.

Burger is a sixth dan karateka – which indicates that he is a practitioner of the art. Dan translates to the rank that he occupies. In martial arts, there are always systems in place that indicate the development of a participant through the process of learning. An introduction phase to various postures and techniques helps the participant to get the basics in place.

“We are serious about the children as they need to be prepared in surviving physical threats and to have a moral compass in the wider world,” Burger says.

The training also includes making things fun during the sessions for the youngest children.

“The idea is that the very young ones learn karate through a fun, interactive role playing system that we introduced.”

Pupils are also trained in being friendly towards others during their training, by waving to mothers and fellow pupils who were present.

“Every child in the ‘Kiddies’ group is made to feel part of the class, and gets to be active,” Burger says.

Yvonne Karuuombe, a parent who has enrolled her child in karate classes since last year says she has seen a difference in her daughter in terms of discipline and being attentive. “It has helped her being part of a group.” Marike Kannemeyer, has two children enrolled in karate because she feels it is the ideal activity for kids. “My two daughters are very happy and this helps them a lot with their self-confidence, in terms of interacting with other pupils,” Kannemeyer says. “I love karate. It’s very exciting and empowering, as I love the kata routines,” Mea-Sune Kannemeyer says. Her sister Anna-Lien agrees. “Karate makes me feel smart and strong.”

Karate is symbolised by three main facets of kihon, kata and kumite. Kihon is the basics, kata is the patterns of moves, and kumite is sparring.

“I also encourage the pupils to be coaches when we have new recruits, they learn to communicate more often and to take leadership roles,” Burger adds.

Emphasis is made on the stances and abilities that enable powerful movements and to strengthen the legs. These are part of the basics and patterns exercises.

Various other dojos offer karate classes in Windhoek such as Karate-Zen and Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate, amoung others.

– dwight@namibian.com.na