25 Apr 2023

Participants of a week-long karate boot camp hosted by the International Kenbu-Kai Karate Kobudo Organisation (IKKO) in Palapye last week relished the opportunity to acquire life skills away from the hustle and bustle of their daily lives.

Speaking during an interview on Friday, founder of IKKO karate academy ,Shihan Thuto Thuto said the boot camp, which ran from April 14 to 21, was open to children aged six to 18 and had attracted 17 children; 12 boys and seven girls.

Shihan Thuto, the founder of IKKO karate academy said the participants were members of his karate academy who came from different private schools in Gaborone.

He said the camp gave participants an opportunity to also sharpen their karate skills, build resilience as well as work on their ability to adapt to different environments.

He said the children had adjusted well to spending time away from the comfort of their homes and had been able to interact and make friends.

Further, he said the children learnt new karate techniques, adding that one of the highlights of the camp was when they met Sensei Dick Ketshabathupa, who is into Shotokan style and explained that the deviation was an interesting shift for the participants as the IKKO academy focused on the Shito ryu karate style.

Rathaya Tanyala, 14, said she enjoyed her time at the camp as it gave her a new perspective of life.

Junior Matane, a nine-year-old boy to whom sleeping in a tent was a first time experience, said the serenity of the camp was inviting.

Matane said he found it interesting that almost everything in the camp was done manually, which he also enjoyed.

‘’I learnt a lot of creative games here and a couple of other things. I learnt that you don’t have to use technology in everything you do. I learnt that one can live without technology,’’ said Junior.

One of the activities of the boot camp was a donation of clothes in Malaka by the participants. Ends