Teaching kids the art of self-defence
STANDING in front of her 31 eager students, 29-year-old Munira Baldiwala doesn’t look anything like the karate master she is.
In fact, she is shorter than some of her students. But don’t be fooled – with a black belt in karate, she’s living proof that dynamite comes in small packages.
Instead of boasting about her achievements, the married mother of two devotes most of her time to teaching young pupils from several primary schools in and around Mthatha, the art of self-defence.
Although most of her students are from Vela Private School, where she is employed as a karate teacher on a full-time basis, her school, called Johannesburg Karate Association (JKA – which is the name of the association to which her school is affiliated) has also attracted young karate-wannabe students from Transkei Primary, Mthatha Christian School and H2 Primary.
Baldiwala said she started the school last year because she believed young children needed to be taught self-defence in today’s society.
“Children these days are victims [of many forms of crimes perpetrated against them]. They, especially young girls, have to be able to defend themselves.”
She runs two-hour classes on Fridays, and 90-minute classes on Saturdays.
Baldiwala only charges a nominal fee to those who can afford it, to cover the costs of the venue where the classes are held.
Dispelling the misconception that karate was a violent sport, Baldiwala said: I don’t teach them to hit people but karate is about defending yourself. All karate moves are very scientifically designed using scientific methods.”
Baldiwala started the sport as an 11-year-old girl in 1998, after her mother introduced it to her.
“I was a good athlete and used to do high jump and relays.
“I also tried basketball but was too short.
“However, my mother felt I was still too shy and took me to karate classes.”
The young sportswoman hasn’t looked back since, achieving her black belt 2006.
Her students, who range in age from four to 13 have taken to the sport like ducks to water
Earlier this month, her team of 20 students went on to compete in a JKA tournament in East London, bagging 14 medals in the process.
These included three gold, five silver and six bronze medals.
Vela Grade 4 pupil, Lisanele Ganashe, who only joined Baldiwala’s class in in January, bagged a bronze in the action category and a gold in kumite [fight] category.
Seven-year-old Kwathi Lawana, from Vela, only started classes in May but also bagged a medal.
Lukholo Madiba, 7, from H2 Primary was a budding soccer player until he was introduced to the karate school last year.
“I think I now love karate more than soccer and I want to be a karate teacher just like her [Baldiwala],” he said.