Title Not Just a Sport But a Home
Not Just a Sport But a Home Yamikani Liwewe My name is Yamikani Liwewe, a 16 year old who is already making a mark as a determined and bright individual from Zambia. I believe in continuous growth. Alongside my academic journey, I practice Shorin-ryu Karate, which has brought upon many values and life changing experiences. I have been practicing karate, since 2018 at the age of 10 years old. Most people view Karate as a sport that only involves punching, kicking and in addition fighting. Although those are some of the qualities that come with the sport, it is way more than that. Movies show the fun and enthusiastic side, a demonstration of coordinated hands and feet, yet there is another side of it that many people never get to experience due to lack of exposure. My journey in karate has been both challenging and empowering. At the age of 10, I walked into a karate dojo for the first time, only to realize that I was the only female present. Despite that, I put on a brave face because I was eager to learn, with passion and determination, I stood my ground and stayed. Being the only girl there was not the hardest part, it was the fact that standing out in a room full of boys meant that I had to work twice as hard to prove myself. There were many moments of doubt, though training sessions, and times I felt discouraged. But perseverance and a strong spirit to prove everyone wrong kept me going. I stand here proudly today as a 1st Dan black belt, all because I learned to turn those challenges into motivation. Being the only girl did not mean I was the weakest there, it meant that I was the first to stand up, face the challenge and become the strongest. Not only did I break barriers, I also showed people that a female can be just as good as a male in this sport, maybe even way better. My mother is my inspiration. A woman that has faced many challenges, hardships that were meant to tear her down and destroy her, but yet she still stands high and even stronger now. She is a living example of woman beating all odds, for she too was the only female in her dojo as well. Her non-governmental organization GIRL KICKS FOUNDATION has opened up many opportunities to underprivileged females. This organization teaches girls the importance of karate and ways to protect themselves. It also involves allowing them to have an education which is the most important thing a girl child can have. This gives them the opportunity to be empowered in society and make the world a better place. These girls have showed me how privileged I am, they have become a part of my world and are more of my family as well. Karate, which is supposed to be a male dominated sport has created an opportunity for these girls to also get an education beyond the dojo. We have gotten to travel to many countries like Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa for international tournaments where we have won medals for our country. This exposure has really added value and sharpened our skills in martial arts and we have made many friends and connections with girls in these countries because we share the same interests and experiences. A family has been created, a nation has been represented and medals have been won. Our country gets to succeed and shine, not only with the men but females as well! So to me, karate is not just a sport but it is a home. A home built on trust and unity. A sport that provides a sense of belonging and love between teammates. This sport has created many opportunities for a lot of people, it is not only a sport but it is a home that thrives and grows bigger and bigger. In addition to these many achievements in sports, I would also like to talk about my academic achievements. In 2023, I created an innovation that would surely change lives called a plastic pyrolysis machine. Plastic pyrolysis is the process by which plastic is heated in high temperatures in order to produce crude oil. This innovation is the first of its kind made in my country. It is an innovation that can develop my country on a deeper level. Just as my mother has made an impact, I would love to do the same in my own way. ※ Views expressed in this article are the author's own |
