Karate-Zen Cloetesville held its second quarter grading for young karateka on Thursday 25 July.
Throughout the entire grading test all child karatekas performed exceptionally well in displaying their progress.
All the little warriors passed their grading tests and will progress to the next level of understanding pertaining to the art of Budo or the “warrior way”.
The chief instructor for the Winelands region, Shihan Garfield Bergstedt, oversaw all the proceedings in the company of active teacher Sensei Marlon Davidse and assistant teacher Sempai Ghio Klazen.
Both teachers did an exceptional job of guiding and motivating the children during the display of practised and revised techniques and katas.
Teachers have a formal syllabus of which the students physically perform, and during grading tests.
Before commencement of the grading, Bergstedt explained the proceedings to parents and participants. He said the reason for the new approach is to change the perception of the parents watching their children performing on the dojo floor, from just looking to have proper insight into the technicalities.
The parents appreciated the inclusion and education into the proceedings.
Bergstedt also commended all parents for the interest shown, by attending the grading and in the development and growth of their children.
The message punchline to the parents was, in Cloetesville becoming more and more violent and gangsterised, there is a need for proper and empathetic leaders who understand the community dynamics and suffering.
According to Bergstedt, they are training and developing leaders for the community, because it will be a disastrous, if the current adult generation leave this world without making this community of Cloetesville a better place for generations to come. The team invites the community, especially children, to join the classes free of charge. “This is our way or path or Do (Japanese), the Bu (warrior) and Do (way), Budo.”
- For more information or to join the programme, call Bergstedt on072 785 6448 or Davidse on 072 509 7984.
