Karate for the Talibes, Challenges and Triumphs

Wednesday morning I joined the karate kids for the morning class. Souleymane was teaching this day, and I assisted. Despite the cooler than anticipated weather (only 27 degrees or so), It was hot enough in my red gi that the sweat was soon pouring off. The group practicing was smaller than before. When kids are invited to join the dojo talibes and register at Sor-Karate, they usually also stop attending the morning classes with the younger kids and "newbies".  There seems to be quite a sense of pride about having been elevated to another karate level, where practice occurs side by side with the regular citizens of Saint Louis.

I thought Robbie would have been very proud to see his protege, Souleymane, leading the class. I was too, although a few missteps in teaching the first kata suggested to me he is not 100% ready to take over as sensei. When I inquired where was the sensei from the dojo, I was told not here. Here was a mystery and possibly a problem to solve.

Souleymane leading the class

Issmaila was the person who had previously led this Wednesday class. Issmaila is a grand talibe, theoretically old enough to be free of his daara, but tied to it and the marabout still. Tragically, Issmaila was sent by his marabout to build a house for him in the marabout's village. To Issmaila having to give up karate would be like a death to his passion. He lived for karate, and his passion was infectious to the younger kids. He soaked up Robbie's 

 

Issmala and Robbie in December, 2015

lessons and has fallen in love with the bo staff. Maison de la Gare had begun to cover his dojo fees when a Canadian family sponsored his membership. When he had been responsible for his own fees, prior to his Maison de la Gare connection, he would often fall faint during training, due to a combination of malnourishment and over training. With his fees paid for him, he could afford to eat a little better. When asked about Issmaila, people say "Il reviens, Insha'Allah". I also have no doubt that karate will draw him back to Saint Louis when Issmaila's duty to his marabout is done. I hope it will be soon.

Since Issmaila has been away, the senseis sent in his place have been less effective and less reliable. And, a lack of effective communication between the dojo and Maison de la Gare, and among responsible members at Maison de la Gare had led to misunderstandings about the karate program. For example, about 6 kids passed their rigorous belt testing in February. They were told by the dojo to buy new belts. But, Maison de la Gare thought this responsibility was attributable to the dojo. Time passed, the belts were not purchased, and now the boys test has expired according to WKF rules. They will need to test again. Belt testing is a gruelling and nerve wracking test of skill here. Passage is by no means a certainty. When Robbie and I were invited to attend a grading in December, of 15 who tested, 9 passed, and 3 of those were passed with reservations, with expectations of improvement for next time. And, responsibility for caring for the gis and other equipment also seemed not to be clear, and there was much room for improvement. And, a lack of clear record keeping of the attendance numbers at the centre led to frustration about understanding the fees being paid.

External factors also take their toll. A group of about 12 children who had become passionate about karate, and astonishingly good (I watched a video of a fantastic synchro kata they had learned) were prohibited by their marabout to continue in karate. All 12 of them had to stop attending class. One still secretly continues, at great risk to himself. The others are all sworn to secrecy. and so far are keeping the promise. Issa Kouyate, the president of Maison de la Gare, attempted to reason with the marabout, to no avail.

The class at Maison de la Gare grows and shrinks and then grows again. But, the numbers registered and attending the dojo continue to climb. 15 had been registered before I arrived. Now there are 22. And, sponsorships have been obtained to allow that number to grow to 27. The Morning classes at the centre are a feeder system for registration at the dojo. Three more boys presented themselves last week who want to join the dojo and practice karate. But first, they must attend classes at the centre for a few months to demonstrate commitment and get their basic skills up to speed.

New dojo talibes Boeing registered At Sor Karate

 

Souleymane and Ablaye, older talibes who are Maison de la Gare apprentice employees and also registered at the dojo and passionate about karate, have agreed to assist with the morning classes to get the kids ready, and to organize the uniforms afterward, as well as to help maintain them effectively. Mapate, the Maison de la Gare administrator, visited the dojo with me to discuss the karate fees and came to an understanding with the master, Ignate Ba. We agreed to pay for an average of 20 students at the centre, even if the number fluctuates from day to day below or above this number. Noel Coly, responsible for Karate at MDG, will track the numbers of daily attendees. Then, every few months the fees for the morning classes will be reevaluated. Master Ignate Ba assured us he would see to it that the senseis sent to the centre would be effective and reliable, even on days when only a small number of children attend. In a year or so, Maison de la Gare talibes could be advanced enough in their karate skills to take over the morning classes altogether.

Mapate was astonished to view the Maison de la Gare taibes in action at the dojo. Otherwise laid back and somewhat slow moving boys' passion for karate comes through so clearly when they practice at the dojo. Mapate could not believe he was watching the same Mamadou or Souleymane, or Djibe. The importance of karate to the character development of these kids, as well a providing a focus for the development of true passion was obvious.

Training At dojo Sor Karate, talibes and non-talibes together

Doners back in Canada continue to send coloured and white belts and white gis, and to sponsor kids to the dojo, so more begging street kids, talibes, can embrace the sport of karate and make it their own.

It seems that everyone involved in the karate program now has more clarity about their roles, and are committed to communicating effectively in the future for the purpose of the karate program. The kids deserve this opportunity to develop and grow into a true passion, and Maison de la Gare is giving it to them.