`Shito-Ryu Shukokai Teaches Women Anti-Rape Tactics

NELSON DIRENG
Correspondent | Monday May 31, 2010 00:00

 

Shito-Ryu Vice Secretary, Sam Dire said they teach women the techniques to repel rapists. He said they further expose them to self-defence tactics that are not normally taught for sparring purposes. 'We teach the women the excruciating spots of a human body, in order for them to escape in desperate situations,' he said.

Dire said this is a way of giving back to the community and ensuring its safety. He said they try by all means to ensure that they do not train people who will later use their karate know-how to harm members of the public. 'Our teachings are meant for socially responsible citizens whose main objective is to deter criminals in the community,' he said.

Meanwhile, Dire said he is happy about the ratification of his style into BOKA. The ratification happened on Saturday during the BOKA Annual General Meeting (AGM).

'This will help our style to reach its full potential,' he said. Dire said after their break away from Shukokai in 2006, they struggled to gain ground as an organisation. He said they could not easily get sponsorships from companies because they were not recognised as a registered style.

'Being ratified means we will easily get sponsors and also enjoy other BOKA benefits such as getting referees, training mats and judges to officiate at our tournaments,' he said.

BOKA president Gift Nkwe explained that Shito-Ryu Shukokai would not become a full member of BOKA until after a year. 'This timeframe is given to all new affiliates,' he said. Nkwe said this is to ensure that the affiliate abides by the BOKA constitution and does not differ with it in any way.

He said Shito-Ryu Shukokai has so far passed the first stage of ratification as they met the constitutional requirements. 'The constitution requires that for a style to be registered, they must be registered with the registrar of secretaries, be affiliated with an international organisation specifically the World Karate Federation (WKF), have an institution and have at least a minimum of three fully functioning clubs under them,' Nkwe said.

He said if the club's conduct impresses BOKA then they will be considered full members who will, like other clubs, enjoy financial benefits and the right to compete in  all BOKA tournaments.

'This will also mean that their athletes can be selected to the Botswana national squad,' he said.