Karate is a sporting discipline that has endured over time and has its origins in Asia. In San Juan, there are multiple clubs that teach this sport and one of them is the Dojo San Juan. Based in the Road Workers Union club in San Juan, approximately 15 boys learn this martial art through different movements, which serves as a method of self-defense, but also promotes concentration that can be applied for the school year. His sensei, Juan Manuel Giménez, spoke with HUARPE DIARY and explained the benefits of it, as well as the wide range of students they have in their dojo.
In training there are 15 minutes of warm-up and 45 minutes of work. Photo: Gonzalo Medina.
Currently there are approximately 15 boys who attend the classes that serve for self-defense. “I am the representative of the Miyasato school in San Juan, one of the oldest. We transmit traditional karate, that is, non-competitive,” said Giménez. In turn, he explained that this martial art is oriented toward personal and psychomotor development and the incorporation and insertion of people with different characteristics. “As an ultimate goal, if it were to serve as a personal defense tool, such as against robberies or any situation that attacks physical and personal condition.
The classes combine coordination exercises and then begin the routines. Photo: Gonzalo Medina.
The San Juan Dojo is known for opening its doors to both children and adults who want to practice the discipline, without discriminating against anyone. Among its students are people over 70 years old who are still active, as well as children who have hyperactivity problems. In this case, the sensei explained that this martial art helps them channel their energies and promotes concentration in all areas, such as school. “Karate helps children socialize and also helps them put shyness aside in some cases,” he mentioned.
The boys train and have fun with their teammates. Photo: Gonzalo Medina.
“It is an activity highly recommended by educational psychologists for children with hyperactivity, attention problems or shyness. Through karate and the concentration that it implies, not only in the execution of the exercises but in the attention that we have to pay to the instructor, we work on the energy as we call it and we manage it so that it helps us to pay attention and in this way, manage tasks and communicate better with the environment. If they have a very high energy level and they do not know how to handle it, they usually have conflicts at home or at school, then karate helps us channel energy to obtain personal benefit,” added Giménez.
The classes, in addition to teaching, serve as a form of defense for any situation that endangers the children. Photo: Gonzalo Medina.
Among other benefits it presents is in helping the school performance of children who practice this discipline. “It is recommended that children start at 5 or 6 years old, along with primary schooling because it responds to psychomotor development and socialization development,” he said.
Happy, content and motivated is the spirit that drives the Dojo San Juan. Photo: Gonzalo Medina.
“Karate has an equalizing essence, since it is a very inclusive activity. Here we are all equal and in our dojo we have English-speaking kids, who speak only English and understand perfectly,” said Giménez. This occurs because in karate classes, the exercises are performed with instructions from the sensei that are in Japanese, so they also learn some words of the language to understand the superior’s orders. On the other hand, children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) also attend, which helps them with psychomotor development and socialization skills.
The boys are dressed in karate clothing, differentiated by the belts. Photo: Gonzalo Medina.
Finally, the sensei added that karate is a lifestyle. “This is a martial art precisely because it is art, it is an expression of the human being that generates a feeling in oneself and in the person outside. It is not a fashion, but rather we incorporate it as a lifestyle, the way we think and move in the world.”
The belts represent their level of skill and experience, with white being the lowest and black being the highest. Photo: Gonzalo Medina.
Fashions
In recent times, many kids wanted to learn karate because a trend was imposed with the appearance of the Cobra Kai series. “Fashions for contact sports also appear and at that moment some kids leave, but then they come back because the contribution that karate gives to children is very great. It is not the best known, the most famous, but it is the one that produces the greatest benefits for the child,” concluded Giménez.
The kids learn various types of skills, perfecting them class by class. Photo: Gonzalo Medina.
Classes and contact
Classes for the youngest children are on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 to 8 p.m., while for youth, from 11 years old and adults, classes are from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the Sitravip club, on Toranzo 352 north, a few meters before 25 de Mayo street, Capital. “We look forward to seeing all of you who want to enjoy this martial art,” the teacher concluded.
Fact
Professor Giménez has a teaching exercise for all the young people who come to the dojo and it is about promoting happiness and motivation in his students. Every time the sensei asks how the boys feel, they must answer “happy, content and motivated.” They explained that they apply this phrase to his life outside of karate and it gives him very good results so as not to leave aside these pillars.
