Benefits flow from discipline of dojo
KARATE STARS STRONG IN BODY AND MIND AHEAD OF NATIONAL TITLES TILT. JACOB GRAMS REPORTS
THE strongest muscle in the body is the mind and it’s the cornerstone of every martial art, not least karate.
Matsumoto Karate Academy has been instilling discipline as the basis for its teachings to Cairns students for 42 years, leading to skills of balance, flexibility and fast reflexes for athletes now off to the sport’s national championships in Sydney this weekend.
Sensei Kazue Matsumoto, 8th Dan, said he was confident his students would take the lessons learnt in his Manunda dojo into a successful national title tilt. He said it all started with discipline.
“For the children, they don’t know anything yet for life, so to be successful in the future, they have to establish their own personality,” Matsumoto said.
“To establish their own personality, I have to maintain a certain type of discipline.
“Balance, speed, concentration, reflexes and these sorts of things, physical benefits, are all linked to that.”
Luke Ozaki-Rogerson said while at times his sensei might have to “snap you into shape” with his disciplined approach to the art, listening had its benefits.
“I reckon my reflexes are a bit faster and I’ve got a little bit better built,” he said.
“It does help you maintain good fitness. But you don’t have to be strong to do karate.
“It’s good to be strong, but speed is better. There’s a lot of smart fighters as well.
“I wasn’t really into competitive karate, but a couple of years ago I started doing it. At state titles in April I came second, so that was all right.”
Height will be to Luke’s advantage in Sydney. At over sixfoot (183cm) tall, he will likely tower over his rivals in the cadets (under-16) kumite.
“I have pretty long reach and a bit of a height advantage,” he said.
“There’s going to be some really good competitors down there. It’s going to be pretty tough.”
Mada Lindsay, 44, has seen most of these children, and two of her own, grow up with karate and said the benefits were just the same as any other sport for developing bodies.
“Most people who don’t do karate don’t understand karate is just like any other sport,” she said.
“It teaches you everything other sports do, like soccer (and) cricket.
“It’s all about teamwork, cooperation and everything else.
“I learn from them and they learn from me. It all comes down to discipline.
“Karate for me, and I suppose it is the same for the kids, prepares you for anything.
“Of course flexibility is something good physically, a lot of basic balance. Everything other sports touch, we do the same in karate.
“But when it comes to tournaments, you can be prepared physically, but when your mind is not clear, not prepared for it, when you get there on the floor, you’ve lost.”
Lindsay will compete in the kata and kumite in the 35-45 division at the nationals, one of two adults among the nine club members attending the event.
Matsumoto Karate Academy members competing at the 2017 Australian Karate Federation National Karate Championships, August 4-6: Cocona Sakamoto, Luke Ozaki-Rogerson, Skye OzakiRogerson, Mikoto Nomora, Mada Lindsay, Daniel Kirakovski, Katelyn Row, Tatsuya Shiihara, Mika Shiihara.