Discipline, unity and heart: karate dojo closes a landmark year with powerful summer seminar

The ECHO of sharp kiais rolled across the dojo all weekend as nearly 100 karateka gathered for Shotokan Kokusai Karatedo South Africa’s (SKKSA) annual Summer Training Seminar and Grading Weekend — the final major event in what has been a milestone 25th anniversary year for the homegrown organisation.

From Friday evening to Sunday afternoon, students from Chatsworth, Shallcross, Phoenix, Ottawa, Newlands, Avoca, Overport, and several other Durban communities immersed themselves in seven and a half hours of intense training under the guidance of 6th Dan Chief Instructor Sensei Aneel Dowlath, the man who founded SKKSA on July 22, 2000 with just eight students and a dream of building disciplined, confident, community-minded youth.

Friday night opened with a spirited two-and-a-half-hour session, a warm-up for the stamina and focus that Saturday demanded. Two more rigorous sessions followed, morning and afternoon, each dedicated to refining core basics, sharpening kumite skills, and strengthening kata precision. By Sunday, the hall buzzed with a potent mix of excitement and nerves as students lined up for their grading exams: juniors in the morning, seniors in the afternoon. Parents watched proudly as their children bowed in, tested their limits, and stepped forward with courage.

“It doesn’t matter where our students come from, Chatsworth, Phoenix, or anywhere in Durban. When they step onto the tatami, they stand as one karate family,” said Sensei Dowlath. “Discipline, respect, and community, those are the values we live and teach.”

This year’s seminar carried an additional layer of meaning. In recognition of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women & Children, SKKSA changed its logo colour to purple across all platforms. Brown- and black-belted students wore purple belts during the seminar, while younger students fastened purple ribbons to their gi (karate suits) as a show of solidarity.

“We stand firmly against all forms of abuse,” SKKSA shared on their social media platforms. “Karate teaches courage, responsibility, and the protection of those who cannot protect themselves. We will continue to use our platform to uplift women, empower children, and promote safety and dignity.”

The gesture mirrored the organisation’s long-standing commitment to service, a commitment that reached a remarkable peak earlier this year when SKKSA’s 25th Anniversary Championship raised over R57 000 for HeartKids SA. The donation assisted families of children with congenital heart defects, offering vital support during surgeries, recovery, and in heartbreaking cases, final farewells.

Alongside its community outreach, 2025 also saw SKKSA athletes earning provincial colours, and senior classes spent the year diving deeply into Shotokan kata through a structured, technique-rich series led personally by Sensei Dowlath.

As 2026 approaches, preparations are already underway for the WUKF South Africa National Championships & Afro Asia Open in Gqeberha, where SKKSA will once again proudly represent Durban.

But for now, as young karateka posed for a group photo, sweaty, smiling, exhausted, yet triumphant. The spirit of SKKSA was unmistakable: a movement built in local communities, strengthened by discipline, held together by family, and driven by a heart for service.

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