I had missed the last few sessions, so I made up my mind that today I would definitely attend. As I wore my karate uniform, it brought back a flood of memories – the countless hours I spent as a little girl in karate classes, learning discipline, focus, and resilience. But today, I stood on the other side. Not as the student, but as someone guiding, teaching, and shaping these young girls.
The reason I even began karate in the first place goes back to a moment from my childhood. I once saw a girl being bullied and I felt completely helpless – I didn’t know how to step in or protect her. That feeling stayed with me, and I promised myself I would never feel that powerless again. Karate became my way of finding strength, and over time, it turned into my passion to ensure that no girl has to go through what I felt that day.
After today’s session, I shared my story with the girls. I wanted them to know that self-defense isn’t just about punches, kicks, or blocks – it’s about standing tall, about knowing you have the power to protect yourself and others.
And yes, today’s training was exhausting! We practiced a tough combination of punches, blocks, and kicks all rolled into one. But the energy in the room, the determination in their eyes, and the way they pushed themselves through the drills made every drop of sweat worth it.
Walking out today, I didn’t just see tired faces – I saw stronger ones. Faces that looked confined and happy. And yes, we chatted a lot after the class, about everything from favorite foods to studies and ended up clicking tons of pictures together.