Parents in Mitchell’s Plain are challenged by Sensei Trevor Rustin, known as Sensei T, of the Trevor’s Kyokushin School of Karate in Westridge to help the youth become model citizens by joining his dojo.
Sensei T, a 4th Dan Black belt, has been in Kyokushin karate for over 30 years and during this time he has changed the lives of many students and continues to do so daily.
“My dojo, founded in 2020, is at the Stephen Reagan Community Hall in Park Avenue, Westridge, and our motto for 2023 is “Let us give our youth the opportunity”.
“In Mitchell’s Plain, we have two constants. The challenges of gangsterism, drugs and violence on the one side and Trevor’s Kyokushin School of Karate on the other side. This is why I am putting out the challenge to parents to give our youth the opportunity to experience the benefits of our karate,” he says.
According to Rustin, karate is truly a gift that will last a lifetime.
“They will grow up and develop into model citizens who will become leaders in their own right. We cannot fail our youth one more year and allow them to choose the path of destruction through gangsterism, drug abuse, alcohol abuse and teenage pregnancies.
“Our karate will develop a shift in their lifestyle and see a clean lifestyle, healthy eating, fitness and exercise become the key choices in their lives. Our students are more focussed on their school work and pride themselves on setting an example inside and outside of the classroom. It will give them the power to withstand peer pressure and not get involved in loitering and all forms of anti-social behaviour,” he says.
Karate as a model for positive change is well documented. It is the one martial art that parents choose as the vehicle to assist with discipline and behavioural challenges.
“Children from age four join our karate school and see improvements in focus and concentration, balance, coordination, confidence levels, ability to work as a team, goal setting, respect for body, leadership skills, public speaking, situational awareness and ability to defend where necessary.
“Through the years we have seen many of our students achieve great heights at the competition level. One such student is Budlelwane Nginingini from Khayelitsha. He is 13 years old and joined our dojo at age six. He has been training for seven years and is the undefeated Western Province Full Contact Champion,” Rustin says.
In December 2022, Nginingini graded his 1st Kyu Brown belt and he is now being prepared to test for his black belt in the not-too-distant future.
Vuyokazi Nginingini, a resident of Ilitha Park, Khayelitsha, says: “My son Budlelwane started at the dojo at age six. He has benefited a lot, his concentration skills, listening skills and leadership skills have improved, but his self defence is a major skill.”
Rustin says a dojo is a place of safety and self-development, understanding and a home of love. He would highly recommend parents encourage their children to join the club to keep them off the streets. The dojo is there to build their children’s future, based on self-discipline and to be responsible citizens when they grow up.
- Contact Sensei T on 083 454 1945.
