Karate an art that develops patience - Karate Gold Medallist

by Lakmal Welabada

Amali was overwhelmed when she saw the applauding emotion-filled crowd both sides of the road waving their hands standing on. The crowd queued up for her from Ambagahapura junction, Rajagiriya to Aggona junction where she lived.

The face of the 5 feet and 2 inches tall 'Karate woman' would not be seen, because the garlands on her were almost covering the whole upper. But she managed to show them the Gold Medal she had won, for them to see. Amali Iresha Perera was returning home from Colombo after her triumph at the recent South Asian Games (SAG).

The 21-year-old who won the gold by playing for the under 48 Kg category. The Silver went to Bangladesh and the Bronze to Nepal.

"In Japanese, 'Karate' means 'empty hand'; 'Kara' - empty and 'Te' - hand," smiled Amali who has been learning Karate since she was a 7-years-old. "My father is my coach," she says turning to her father, renowned Karate Master T. N. K. Perera.

Being a daughter of a Karate Master helped her to learn the sport early and easily. But the same fact turned to her disadvantage. "My father was the National Pool Manager of Karate for SAG. So everybody said that I was selected because of his influence.

I was hurt and pressurised. Suddenly, I became unsure of my ability, and doubted whether I was fit enough for the game with international competitors. But when I saw my video tape with the locals, I regained my confidence. I realised that there was no injustice in the selection. "It was a hard earned victory", she explains. Her determination succeeded. She won the medal!

"I had doubts with the game because unlike in our country, Karate a popular game in Nepal. But I found the Bangladeshi's more competent than the Nepalese," she reminisces.

Amali studied at M. D. H. Jayawardane Vidyalaya, Thalangama North upto her O/Ls and then entered President's College, Kotte for A/Ls. At present she is following the Physical Training Diploma course at the Nilwala Jathika Adyapana Vidyapita (Nilwala National Educational Institute) at Akuressa, Matara.

"Getting leave from the Vidyapita to go for my practices has been difficult. My next target is the Asian Games - 2006 to be held in Qatar in December. But I need to go for rehearsals. I hope the authorities will look at this matter wisely," she hopes.

Of course, why not? Amali should get every inch of support. There maybe loads of procedures, rules and regulations. All of them were imposed by one set of people to another set. So why can't they be a little flexible for a special case like Amali's. On the other hand, she is an asset as she can bring another Gold medal to Sri Lanka. Hope our decision makers have some sense after all!

"Karate is a sport of the mind. It's sort of a meditation which needs relaxation and concentration of a hundred percent. If you loose 'that' you loose the game," says the Black Belt holder. Amali and her only elder brother Kanishka Mahesh Perera are both with second Dan - Black Belt.

Question : What do you mean by 'Dan'?

It's sort of a standard of the Black Belt and it goes up to 10th Dan. My father has achieved the Fifth Dan, and my brother is in Japan mastering the sport under Sense (teacher) Soshi Isamy Kamagatha.

Aiya and I got the Second Dan in 2003 when Sense paid a visit in Sri Lanka. We are members of the Seigokai Karate Sri Lanka Branch. It is a Japanese founded international association.

Question : Being a girl in a rare sport like Karate haven't you ever faced any kind of inconvenience especially among boys?

Hah! Hah! Karate is just a sport for me. Also I have studied in mixed schools, and have a large number of friends both as schoolmates and in the Karate field. I am straight forward and emotionally strong. But I try my level best to be friendly and helpful to everybody.

Hurting and looking down on others is not among my hobbies. So I have never ever had a chance to show my real 'Karate' skills to anybody as everybody who comes to me are friendly and supportive. I have not used my 'game' in self defence either. We are not supposed to vent our anger by wielding the skill we have mastered.

Question : Why do the Karate players tie a belt around the waist?

It demarcates the body of the opponent. We can attack his/her face, chest, tummy and waist. And it's a disqualification to injure the opponent in a game. We have to fight with mild attacks, by touch.

The opponent should be able to avoid the attack by moving away. We score marks only if we touch him. For example an attack on the waist ('Chudan geri') scores two marks, and an attack on the cheek with your leg ('Jodan geri) gets three marks.

More marks are given to leg attacks because circumstances to be injured is less. Any 'Kumite' (competition) won't last more than three minutes. For females' - two minutes and males' - three minutes. One has to score eight marks more to win.

Although she is a tough player on the floor, this dark impish youngster is still a little 'tom boy' with her parents. Collecting stamps is her hobby. Amali had followed a foot ball course at the National Institute of Sports Science, Colombo in 2004. "I hardly had any time to attend to any other sport as I have been devoted to Karate. Other than that I can cook well," she claims with a broad smile.

Amali says the best age for a child to begin to learn Karate is 8 - 9 years. "It provides you with a great discipline. And through my experience I can assure you one thing.

Whether it's a boy or a girl who learns Karate he or she rarely goes astray as the sport moulds one's behaviour. But you have to choose a qualified teacher. It's not a game that trains you to 'fight', but a skill the develops your 'patience'," she concludes.