Ashima Sharma, Keekli Reporter, 10th May, 2014, Shimla
Dinesh Thakur, President SGI inaugurated the 12th All India Seigokan India Goju-Ryu Karate – Do Championship at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex (IGSC) on 9th May, 2014. Seigokan Goju-Ryu India was founded at Delhi (India) in the year 2001, by Sensei P.S. Panwar, Sensei Dinesh Thakur and Sensei Jai Parkash Singh. Since then SGI is progressing by leaps and bounds. SGI has organized many camps and championships since then. They have invited Japanese Masters six times so far. SGI has also received a place in Limca Book of Records for awarding 135 black belts in one day, which included 50 girls and 35 boys.
Almost 450 participants took part in the event including nearly 200 girls. The competition was divided into two parts — ‘kata’ and ‘kumite’ (fights). The schools which participated in the competition were Chelsea, Tara Hall, Auckland House School, St Edwards, Hainault Public School, Sacred Hall Dhalli, Monal Public School, Saraswati Paradise Sanjauli, Saraswati Vidya Mandir, Vikasnagar, Rashtriya Vidya Mandir, Kusumpti, Roots Play and Learn School Bhattakuffar, Roots Country School, Kotkhai, Scholar’s Home School Paonta Sahib, Delhi Public School, Yamunagar, Saraswati Vidya Mandi, Yamunagar, Sher Singh Public School, Yamuangar and Krystan School Tutu.
Students from six states, Himachal, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttrakhand, Delhi and Punjab were present in the event. Ajay Thakur, official karate coach of IGSC helped in organizing the event in Shimla. Instructors from different states had come to judge the events.
Children were filled with excitement to exhibit their Karate skills. Many parents also turned up for the event to cheer for their children. By learning Karate, students learn to use their strength to protect and not destroy, to mould and not injure themselves and others and to conquer and not to instil fear.
On asking about the performance of girls in the event, P.S. Panwar, the general secretary said “During my 12 years experience, girls have performed exceptionally in such competitions and there are times when they score better than boys. There are black belt holders among girls. In Martial Arts we never discriminate on the basis of sex and children are purely judged on the basis of their performance”.
The event will conclude on 12th May, 2014. First two days events will only include the junior section. The awards for the Junior event will be announced on 11th May and for seniors on the final day.