The karate federation has received confirmation that Shihan Kawaso Masao, a famous Japanese karate master (sensei), will visit the country in July. This might give a welcome boost to the sport, which has never really taken off ever since the creation of the federation in 1995 – yet it was only officially recognized in September last year.

Karate is more about self-control and discipline than about fighting. (courtesy photo)

According to Guy Rurangayire, the technical director of the federation, this state of disarray had even led to the resignation of a Russian coach for the national team.

“He complained that nobody really cared about what he was doing or asked if he needed anything; he even said it was impossible to tell who the president of the federation was,” Rurangayire explains.

This led to some officials and karate practitioners to sit together and constitute a new committee to revitalize the sport. Yet according to Rurangayire, the former committee continues to obstruct them. “These people still don’t want to give up, they still want to be in charge yet they were taking the sport nowhere,” he says.

It didn’t prevent the new committee from contacting Shihan Kawaso Masao, the technical director of the International Traditional Karate Federation and a karate grand master, asking him to come and give technical assistance to the federation and to confirm the belts of the local fighters. “Some of them have black belts which are not recognized internationally, others even forge them,” Rurangayire explains, adding that the Japanese sensei will arrive on July 18 for an 8-day visit.

Karatekas, as practitioners of the sport are known, are classified according to a complicated system which ranges from the lowest white belt to the black belt, also called dan. In the latter, there is a further ranking from 1 to 10. Shihan Kawaso Masao, for instance, has a dan 8, whereas the highest Rwandan is John Sayinzoga who has a dan 5.

Guy Rurangayire, himself a dan 2, is optimistic that the Japanese master will be able to bring new life to karate, which he says is a sport that fits Rwandan culture. “Karate is not all about kicking and fighting, it teaches you to be humble and patient, to have self-control and discipline,” he explains.

And members of his club, the Kigali Karate Club, agree. “Karate removes laziness and it taught me to respect others,” says Alphonse Habimana, who has a brown belt. Yet to him the aspect of self-defense is also important. “It can help you protect yourself and others when you are being attacked, or to calm down a problematic situation,” he argues.

Jean Paul Sibomana, a 22-year old black-belt holder, explains that he learned about the sport through friends when he was young. However, he met resistance from his parents, who thought karate was too violent. But Sibomana persisted and climbed up in the rankings, which eventually led to his parents giving up their opposition.

“One day they saw me on television, and suddenly they were proud. Karate had turned me into a celebrity.”

Related articles
•    Boxing still needs to find its punch—and sponsorship
•    Making the world better with karate