Keeping karate in the family
GIVEN that she comes from a karateoriented family, Sensei Mishelle Govender, 44, was possibly always destined to excel in the discipline. Govender started her journey into karate at the age of 4 after being introduced to the art by her father, Sensei Dennis Kumarasamy (a fifth degree black belt).
“He’s taught me to be a strong and disciplined individual. He has always motivated and pushed me in the right direction to achieve my goals,” she said.
Govender, who grew up in Phoenix, achieved her first gold medal in karate at age 5 and attained her black belt at the age of 10. She started teaching the martial art soon afterwards
In 1988, aged 12, Govender achieved her 1st dan black belt at the Redfern Community Hall in Phoenix under the supervision of Japanese instructors Kyoshi Koga and Kyoshi Muira.
In 1994, aged 18, she achieved her junior and senior KwaZulu-Natal provincial colours. She also placed third in the South African Championships which were held in Bloemfontein, while also winning the overall student of the year award in Shotokan Karate.
In 2007 Govender competed in the 9th Funakoshi Shotokan Karate Association World Championships in England. That year, she was also presented with the senior Sports Woman of the Year award by the International Federation of Funakoshi Shotokan South Africa (IFFSKSA).
Currently a 3rd dan black belt, she has been practising karate for 40 years and teaching for 27 years. She currently teaches at the Redfern Community Hall in Phoenix, the Westville Virgin Active gym and at the Chiltern Sports club in Westville.
She has been part of IFFSKSA since 2002 under the leadership of Hanshi Eric Govender.
“Hanshi Eric is a great teacher and is an inspiration to me and to all those under his leadership,” she said.
Govender’s future aims in karate are to continue motivating young children and women to practise the art of karate-do.
“I definitely think more women should practise karate since they are the primary caretakers of children and elders around the world. Women take the lead in helping their families to adjust to new realities and challenges,” she said.
“I got bust lips, bruises and blue eyes but that did not stop me as a woman from continuing my karate career. I’m passionate about karate and I love teaching my students.
“It’s been an amazing and awesome road for me. I’m a teacher as well as a student, for every day is a learning experience,” added Govender,who resides in Westville.
Govender is married to Brian, a Sensei who she met in 2000 at a karate tournament. Brian has been practising the art for the past 32 years and teaching for 21 years. He is currently a 5th degree black belt.
They have two daughters, Leah, 17, a karate 1st dan black belt, who also boasts KwaZulu-Natal provincial colours, and Annabelle, 8, who is a karate blue belt.