If you had told us four years ago that we’d be kicking our way to international competitions, almost breaking our bones, and stepping onto the mats of the national team arenas, we probably would’ve laughed. We wondered if we would ever master throwing a proper roundhouse kick. But here we are, stronger, faster, and slightly more immune to bruises.
Our progress has been nothing short of legendary. We had one of our warriors jet off to Fujairah, UAE, ready to take on the world’s best. Other warriors flew to South Africa, representing us like true champions. And if that wasn’t enough, five of our very own earned a place on the national team—because why settle for local domination when you can take over the country?
But karate isn’t just about flexing for photos with medals (even though, let’s be honest, that part is fun) or throwing punches and looking fabulous in a gi. It’s about the sweat, the hard work, and the moments when we questioned all our life choices mid-training. It’s about the grading sessions.
We stood before our senseis, hoping they didn’t notice that one tiny mistake in our kata. It’s about the endless sparring matches where we somehow ended up on the floor (totally on purpose). Sitting silently for about an hour, I can’t forget the meditation sessions. We learned to control our breath, focus our minds and try not to fall asleep (some failed). It wasn’t about relaxation. It was about discipline, self-awareness and learning to stay calm even when a roundhouse kick is flying towards your nose.
We can’t forget to mention friendships built over shared pain (Oss today we’ll go 100 burpees, but turned to be 300 with chikara with Chikara), the inside jokes whispered between kiais, and the life lessons learned—like how resilience is key, discipline takes you further than talent, and that getting kicked in the stomach is a great reminder to block. We’d be counting ourselves knocked out if we forget to say Arigato to Shihan’s life lessons that hit harder than his punches! Endless debates about what happens if we empty our minds and tomorrow is an exam.
To the school, thank you for your support in shaping us into warriors, both in the dojo and in the chaos of IB. If we survived Sensei’s training and TOK essays, we can survive anything.
To all the karatekas: Keep kicking, keep fighting, and never stop pushing your limits! Whether you’re a seasoned fighter or someone who still forgets their left from their right (we won’t name names), remember—you’re part of this family now. And in this family, we don’t quit. We just tie our belts tighter and go again.
Oss!
