Karate Can Kick Hopelessness

Keep Karate Kicking at Maison de la Gare

By Sonia LeRoy, international volunteer and partner

Souleymane led the warm up on the hot sand under the mid-day sub-Saharan African sun at Maison de la Gare. Several dozen white-belted karateka followed his movements, copying him to the best of their ability, listening for the correct moments to kiay. When Souleymane felt the children were properly prepared, a Sensei from a local dojo, Sor-karate took over to teach the class. This could be a scene in any North American martial arts school. But these eager, attentive students are talibe, forced begging boys of Senegal.

Even more astonishing, Souleymane too is a talibe. Only two and a half years ago Souleymane was a new white belt himself, learning his first forms from the Canadian founder of this unique karate school, then thirteen year old Robbie. When Robbie and his family first arrived at Maison de la Gare with scores of karate gi's (traditional karate uniforms) and the objective of spreading Robbie's passion for Karate to the talibe, Souleymane was fascinated from the first moment. The young Canadian black belt and the teenage talibe white belt were soon inseparable. Souleymane soaked up Robbie's lessons, and it was soon apparent he had adopted Robbie's passion as his own. Souleymane was one of the first small group of talibes Robbie introduced to Sor-Karate. He registered these first karate hopefuls as members of the dojo and I guaranteed their fees, confident in Robbie's promise that he would find sponsors upon our return to Canada.

Today, Souleymane is not only a helper with the Maison de la Gare karate program, he has earned his orange belt, and he is regularly competing as part of the tournament team for the Sor-karate dojo where nearly 30 of the most dedicated Maison de la Gare karateka are now registered. He warms up the class at the centre with confidence and skill, an example to the other students. Karate has helped transform this once shy boy into a leader.

During my most recent visit to Maison de la Gare with Robbie, Souleymane helped us make a list of the morning students attending lessons regularly at the centre that he felt were ready for the dojo, and who wanted to join. Many had been hopefully waiting since our previous visit for their chance to become a "dojo talibe".

As we gathered to walk to the dojo for the evening class, it became apparent the evening meal at Maison de la Gare would not be ready in time for the kids who needed to arrive at the dojo early to be registered, which was a 20 minute walk away. I could see the concern build as stomachs growled, then the resolution settle in that this chance at becoming a member of Sor-Karate could not be missed. So, off we went with Souleymane, leading 5 hungry talibes. Souleymane and Robbie helped get the new kids oriented at the dojo, then the white belts lined up nervously for registration. I guaranteed payment of their fees, knowing generous karate families back home at our own dojo would be willing to help.

As Robbie and I joined this class, practicing karate alongside our friends, we were struck by the equality in the room. In the dojo all go barefoot and there is no indication of who owns shoes and who does not. Talibes practiced along side kids from regular families, families who could afford these fees. The only thing separating the karateka was their skill level. No wonder kids who beg to survive, set apart from society, are willing to forgo a certain meal for this. As the evening class progressed we were surprised by the number of times the Sensei halted the class for rests. When we questioned the Sensei about the frequent breaks, he explained that the talibes get dizzy because they have not eaten, and they need to rest and re-gather their strength. Robbie and I were horrified that we had not previously identified this problem. Of course, the kids, who beg daily for their food, were expending more calories during their karate practice than they consume in an entire day. The one reliable daily meal provided by Maison de la Gare had to be missed in order to attend the evening dojo practice. And, none of these children were willing to trade karate for food. To them, the lightheadedness, growling bellies, and other side effects of malnutrition feel normal, not worth remarking on. But to Robbie and I this was a solvable problem, and one we may never have realized had we not had the opportunity to train alongside our friends.

After spending several days searching for a suitable location with a sympathetic proprietor, Robbie and I made arrangements for the roughly 30 dojo talibes to have a nutritious meal at a local restaurant two afternoons a week, several hours before class on the days of heaviest karate training. In this way, the meal would not disrupt the routine at Maison de la Gare, where food is offered after the French and math classes in order to encourage education- too late for the karateka who take off for the dojo immediately after their tutoring for the day. At Maison de la Gare if a meal is given to any it must be available to all, so a meal earlier in the day at the centre just for karateka is not an option if a peaceful sense of fairness among hungry children is to prevail.

Once again, Robbie was certain we could later find enough generosity back home to pay for two weekly meals for the dojo karate talibes. We sadly remarked on the necessity to limit the meals for the 30 children to just two a week, when they practice at the dojo up to six nights a week. After all, food is a basic human right, but it is expensive. We hope that through generous donations the number of meals can be raised to at least three a week. I am excited for my next visit to Senegal, to train alongside my talibe friends once more. I, who used to take basic nutrition for granted until that fateful day training at Sor-Karate, now am very conscious that food is fuel. So too is passion. Imagine the unlimited potential of these determined, hard working, inspiring martial artists now that they are being fed by both.

Links:

• Video - History of the Maison de la Gare Karate program

Rowan, an International Student Volunteer and Arouna. a Senegalese Talibe and student, worked together on preparation of this report of karate’s arrival at Maison de la Gare and among the talibé children.

Rowan's words:

"Well here I am in Senegal for the fourth time. And with my whole family, my little brother Robbie included. In preparing to volunteer with Maison de la Gare for the first time, Robbie decided he wanted to conduct his own special project, and suggested teaching karate to the talibé children. Robbie is a karate black belt, a member of the WKC Canadian Karate Team, and practices and teaches karate with passion. At the time of his idea to offer karate to the talibe children, Robbie could not possibly have known how successfully it would turn out.

Before leaving for Senegal, Robbie organized the collection of gi (traditional karate uniforms). Using the logo "Karate Can Kick Poverty", he pasted posters in the Ottawa, Canada dojos of his karate school, Douvris Martial Arts. The karate community responded with nearly one hundred gi, packing our entire baggage allowance to the limit. After the long journey to get our family and all the karate equipment to Saint Louis, the real work began.

Arouna, the perspective of a talibé:

Robbie’s idea was to find a local karate master, a sensei, to teach at Maison de la Gare’s center in the mornings. With Maison de la Gare administrator, Noël Coly’s help, Robbie invited several local senseis to teach classes, to audition. Robbie was looking for a sensei who had the same values and showed the same gentleness with  the children as his karate master in Canada

The Douvris Student Creed

'My goal is to become the best person I can be. I will achieve this objective by disciplining my body and my mind, working to overcome obstacles that hinder my positive growth. I know this will take discipline. I am ready to make this commitment to myself in order to become the best person I can be and to share this progress with others.'

Robbie has played a very important role at Maison de la Gare in helping young talibés in Saint Louis to improve their lives. His first objective was to provide karate classes for talibé children in the center. This is not only a welcome sports activity for them, but it gives them confidence, discipline and self-defense skills. In educational terms, karate is a noble activity that encourages the development of the mind. And socially, it promotes mutual respect and fellowship among its practitioners.

After only four days working in Robbie’s classes, the children mastered the first karate stances. For many children, they had to learn the difference between left and right. But when they learned a new karate position, they never forget it. From the first day, Robbie earned great affection from the talibé children of Maison de la Gare.

Rowan:

Talibés lead a hard life, and they potentially face sexual abuse and other forms of street violence. Hopefully with new karate skills they will be better able to defend themselves and others. Talibés also grow up without parents in their lives. We often take for granted that our parents teach us to be respectful of others and ourselves. As much as I love these kids, they can be quite rude and undisciplined sometimes; with karate you don’t just learn fighting - you must learn respect. It is about disciplining your mind and body, and you can’t do one without the other.

This is a new program for Maison de la Gare but I can see so much potential for the street children who find shelter here as they discover karate. The sensei Robbie chose to lead karate classes ongoing for Maison de la Gare, Sensei Ignety Ba, is a coach for the WKF Senegalese karate team. Who knows what opportunities this could hold for the future!

Robbie identified some talibés who showed particular potential and passion to advance in karate. He enrolled them at Sensei Ba's dojo, Sor-Karate so in addition to learning karate at Maison de la Gare  during the day they could train at night and advance more quickly, sure that he could find sponsors to pay for their memberships upon returning home to Canada.

Arouna:

Robbie, this young Canadian, has amazed us with his gentleness, his exemplary behavior as a person of strong values, and the openness of his big heart to share his skills and passion with children in extremely deprived circumstances. We thank Robbie’s dojo, Douvris Martial Arts, and everyone who is behind what Robbie did here, especially his mother Sonia who moved heaven and earth so that Robbie's vision could be fulfilled and karate could become one of the sports activities of Maison de la Gare.