My Karate Journey: Friends, Fun, and Focus
I started learning Karate back in 4th grade as a white belt. I still remember the excitement of putting on my first uniform and stepping onto the mat. Five months later, I earned my yellow belt, and from then on, every belt test became a new adventure.
By the time I reached the orange belt, I had made some of my best friends — Namith, Manik, Dharanush, and me. We were inseparable and called ourselves “the 3 idiots” because we always laughed and joked around, even during training! As we moved up to the blue belt, some of my friends shifted to different classes, but the memories stayed with me. I also learned discipline — especially when I reached the brown belt and Sensei scolded me for talking too much.
Our Sensei, Rambo Kiran Sir, is amazing. He is a Dan 4 black belt and even an Indian player. We have around 30–40 sempais (senior students) in the association, and every class feels like a family. Sensei encourages us to participate in state, national, and international tournaments. We travel by flights and trains to compete, and even then, we have so much fun exploring new places together.
I remember one tournament when I was nervous about performing my kata in front of the judges. Just before my turn, I tripped over my own feet and almost fell flat on the mat! I was so embarrassed, but my friends Namith and Dharanush started cheering loudly, “You’ve got this!” That made me laugh, and I regained my focus. I completed my performance, and to my surprise, I even got a special mention for my energy and style. That moment taught me that mistakes happen, but courage and support from friends can turn them into achievements.
I also train at J.P. Nagar Sports Club, which has a huge space perfect for practicing kata and kumite. Sometimes, our belt tests are attended by special guests who honor us for our improvements, which makes us feel proud and motivated.
Karate for me is more than just punches and kicks — it’s about friendship, focus, fun, courage, and learning life lessons. I hope to continue this journey and represent my school and country in bigger tournaments someday!
