IT should come as no surprise that many people would quiver at the idea of joining karate sessions because they wrongly associate the sport with violence, missing the values that go with the sport, particularly for women.
By Vimbai Marufu
It is a powerful antidote as it offers many benefits to the body and mind.
It is against this background that nowadays many women are taking karate as a hobby not only for self-defence, but to boost their health, improve their muscular system and to relieve stress among other benefits.
In an interview with female journalists who train karate at Raylton Sports Club in Harare, they said they embarked on a programme called Women in Sports and Media and they participate in all types of sporting activities so as to network.
However, they decided to commit to karate as they feel it tones their muscles and keeps their bodies in shape.
“We have decided to take karate sessions because we like it. It cleanses our bodies and makes us strong and we can defend ourselves, now I can safely say I’m not afraid to walk in the dark,” said Rumbidzai Takawira a journalism student at a local college and a TV presenter
“At first I was relucant to partake in the sport, but we started with basics which were not tough. I would feel it in my bones every morning as if I had been working all night. It is a lucrative kind of workout while having fun,” she said.
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On Thursday, the young women went through a grading test which is a means of evaluating their progress.
During the tests the young karatekas were made to demonstrate how competent they were in various techniques and training sequences they had been practising using their hands and legs in order to advance to the next karate grade.
Their instructor Kumbirai Musinami said the women had shown high dedication to the sport and have worked hard to be where they are now and urged women to join the sport.
“We do not just move to the next stage, one has to meet certain standards and some of the katas we made them do are from a higher grade and they did very well, their performance was good and they are ready to move to the next level.
“I encourage people to join karate as it helps in body fitness, it sharpens the mind, increases alertness and helps people to control their anger. It is also good at combating many diseases”. said Musinami.
Rumbidzai Takawira who at the end of the grading tests advanced to the yellow belt 5th KYU said although the grading tests require a lot of endurance and stamina as there was a lot of physical activity including sparring with different partners.
Another karateka Brendah Dunduru, a journalism student at a local college also advanced to the 5th KYU, an achievement she made by displaying excellent techniquess and encouraged other women to join the sport.
“It is a good sport especially for women,” she said.
