23 years old
4th Dan
Sport scientist
Karateka for 16 years
Karate School of Champions
EVENTS:
What are your
greatest achievements?
In Scotland (2011) I placed
second place in individual kumite and our ladies team placed second in team
kumite.
For the past 7 years I
have been the senior kumite SA champion.
Where in the world
has karate taken you?
·
Hungary 2000
·
Botswana 2001
·
Turkey 2007
·
Morocco 2008
·
Serbia 2009
·
Scotland 2011
·
Vienna and Slovakia 2012
·
Japan 2013
What places in the
world were the most memorable?
Japan – definitely the best experience any karateka can gain.
What role do you
usually play during events? (Table official, referee, admin, organizing,
setting up)
Whatever needs doing, I have done anything and everything.
How do you handle parents during events?
Dealing with difficult parents is always a challenge, but the
key is to focus on the child, and what is important for their future in karate.
I will always strive to treat parents and karateka with respect. I will strive
to be strict and fair enough to not allow myself and the karateka to be
negatively influenced.
Do you go into a “mode” (competing mind-set) during
competitions?
During my first fight against a Brazilian fighter here in South
Africa, I was 3 points down and the clock was ticking. From far above the
crowd, deep within the VIP section, Sensei Lourencia bellowed “TIGER! SWITCH ON!!”
Needless to say, I switched on and
scored with a mawashi-geri and evened the score. Two “Tiger-points” later I won
the match. That was “the switch” into my “mode”.
Personally it normally does not seem as though I am in my
“mode” when competing in South Africa, but when the going gets tough, the tough
switches on… During international events however, I am “switched on” from the
first warm up.
What memorable matches come to mind in your career?
Definitely the match against the Brazilian fighter as
described above.
Fighting against Japanese karateka in Scotland was an honor,
it exceeded all my expectations.
One of my trademarks is to fist-bump my opponent before a
fight as a sign of respect. During the World University Championships in
Slovenia, I was to fight against a Brazilian fighter. Out of habit I moved in
for my camaraderie-fist-bump, but instead was met with a cheap shot in the
face. It didn't sit well with the crowd… I learned a valuable lesson and have
since been much more alert with my fist-bumps from the first step onto the mat.
KARATE IN DEPTH:
When did you become interested in karate?
My brother practiced karate from a very young age and with
the 5 year gap between us I watched as he trained until I could start. While
the other kids played outside I sat knees to cheeks on a chair against the wall
and watched. I was hooked. At age 7 I started and never stopped.
What other sports do you (or did you) do?
Primary school: Netball,
Cricket boys’ team.
High school: Netball
(waste of time), Hockey, Cricket, Softball.
Tertiary: Southern
Gauteng second team hockey, Tuks hockey.
Have you ever stopped karate for a period of time?
Not for anything other than injuries. Even then I only
stopped for the short periods of time it took to heal.
What injuries have you incurred in karate?
Broken toe – my big
toe challenged my brother’s knee, it lost.
Torn Pectoralis major
(shoulder muscle) – I tore the muscle as I spun around from the drop and kick
of the Unsu kata at the JKS Nationals in March 2013.
What sacrifices do you make for karate?
When I get into a schedule, I am serious to keep to it -
anything that falls in that time comes second.
I value family and friends very highly, and they know and
respect the importance of my karate. There is a time and place for everything
and I do make time for the people in my life, but all in good measures.
Thank you to my dad for his financial support and sacrifice
without which none of my tours would have been possible. Thank you to my mom
for her loving support and putting me in my place every now and again.
What is your practice philosophy?
Talent can only get
you so far - Hard work beats talent if talent doesn't work hard.
You cannot expect to
progress if you don’t continuously challenge yourself.
What is your overall practice schedule?
Generally I do karate training almost every day, this
includes kata, kihon and kumite training. I also do other fitness and
conditioning in between like running, boot camp training and recovery (Pilates,
foam rolling). I train every day with the occasional day off, in which case I
especially enjoy Italian, Mexican and South African foods.
What is in the future for you?
Short term:
·
I have the South African Championships to look
forward to early in 2014.
·
The K1 league may be held in South Africa in
2014, as never before.
·
The WKF World Championships are held in Germany
in 2014.
·
The JKS World Championships are being held in South
Africa in 2015.
Long term:
I would like to incorporate more scientific training and
scheduling within my club, Karate School of Champions. This is to allow
karateka more opportunity for progress and learning than just attending the classes.
Hopes and dreams:
My dream is to become
world champion in both WKF and JKS.
I hope that people
will realize how important sport science is and that training hard is not the
only factor, training correctly and efficiently is vital to a healthy approach
to your goals. I hope that people can handle politics in the sport in such a
manner that it does not become a reason to drive karateka away from the true
meaning of karate.
What are the reactions you get when people find out
that you do karate?
The usual reaction is “Oh so I shouldn't mess with you?” but
sometimes people are interested enough to ask more detail. It makes for a good conversation starter.
Describe an embarrassing moment?
The Brazilian cheap shot in the face is definitely worth
mentioning, the crowd reacted in a way I could not react while I was on the
mat. I felt embarrassed that I didn't expect it, but also encouraged by the support of the crowd.
If you could let another person take your place as
an athlete, who would it be? Why?
Bruce Lee – why not.
Who would you say is your “biggest fan?” Why?
My parents – without
their love and support I would not have been able to achieve so much and stay
grounded through it all. They taught me through faith and therefore God has the
number one spot in my life and karate (I never go onto the tatami without a
prayer).
My big brother, Ian –
I have a very close relationship with my brother, he is forever motivating,
pushing and supporting me. He has a unique way of lightening the mood when our
bodies and spirits are ultimately tested during training.
Sensei Lourencia – she played a huge role in getting me where
I am today on an emotional and spiritual level. She would (sometimes
terrifyingly) drive the fighting spirit into me before a kumite bout only to lovingly
hug me afterward. We would train hard, then do something fun and relaxing. I
remember the times we practiced kata in the living room before making
pancakes. She taught me to strive toward a balanced lifestyle.
Sensei Andre – people
have said that they see Sensei Andre in the way I act and think during events.
He ensures I train hard and continually push my limits. He promotes strategic
thinking, a crucial part of kumite. The techniques he teaches come straight
from the Japanese horses’ mouths. The training we receive is at world class
level and for that I am thankful.
What is unique about your karate?
My karate always came naturally to me from the very
beginning. I strive to not let it get to my head, I surround myself with people
that keep me grounded. Humility and enjoyment are very important principles to
me. If you don’t enjoy it, then why do it.
What is a negative thing about karate for you?
The stereotypes
surrounding the femininity of females in karate.
The limited amount of karate
training that karateka put in weekly, as well as the lack of conditioning and
strength training for karate.
As in any sport,
politics will always play a role.
What is the most challenging thing for you to do in
karate?
Training like a Jap.
Kumite fitness comes easier to me than kihon and kata
training, but I realize that the latter are the building blocks for kumite, and
it requires more attention.
What is satisfying about karate for you?
The inherent enjoyment in training and competing. Camaraderie
and the close knit relationships within the dojo. Meeting people from other
cultures and countries is very rewarding.
If you could change one rule about karate, what
would it be?
I would adjust the compulsory rules about protective gear for
senior competitors. The rules are acceptable for children, cadets and juniors,
but seniors should know the risks of a contact sport and should have the
necessary skill set to fight clean and fairly.
If you could motivate someone to start doing karate,
what would you tell them?
The first thing I suggest is to come see and try for
yourself. Every person experiences the sport differently and subjectively. You
have to try for yourself; nobody can convince you that it is either great or terrible.
Karate is a lifestyle (way of life), not an activity.
What I can say is that karate exercises both body and mind
and is a suitable sport for anyone whether it be for fun, fitness, competition
or perfecting the martial art.
Elana Kruger, April 2014
