An Interview with a young Champion.

Mitchell Barber, 17 of Noosa Heads in Queensland, Australia has recently returned from a visit to India where he competed in the Indian National Cahampionships in the Senior division for the first time and came home with Gold. Mitchell has kindly granted Karate World with this interview.

Mitchell congratulations on your success in India.

What was your impression of the Indian Athletes?

My impression of the Indian competitors was great. Compared to some of the competitors at home in Australia, their attitude is very good. As I was fighting my first match I realised that they have a lot of heart and determination to win, but even if they don’t they still have smiles on their faces and I think some Australian competitors could learn a lot from their attitude.

How did the competitors feel about you competing in their National titles?

Most of the competitors and spectators were ok with me competing in their tournament, but I often got bad vibes and weird looks from the fans of the guy I was fighting in the final. I think some of the older coaches weren’t very happy about an international competitor to start with but they gradually started to accept it and enjoy themselves.

What can the Karate Budokan India do to improve their results in competition?

I think that if the Indian students had a more variety of coaches to train them it would greatly benefit their competition skills in both kata and Kumite. Also if they had a high number of international competitors to train with them so they can get used to the way the rest of the world is fighting and performing kata. They need to know what standard the rest of the world is.

How did you feel going into your first senior Kumite division?

I was quite nervous going into the first match mainly because it was my first time fighting in the men’s division. I thought I was going to get the crap beaten out of me. But when the match started I realised that I had a chance, my best memory from all of the matches was when I won the second fight 8-0 it was the first time I had ever done that.

As a Sensei at the Honbu Dojo what is your tip for the Indian instructors?

One bit of advice I would give to the senseis of India is to include more variety into their dojo’s curriculum. Such as partner work and fitness exercises. Also, the kids would also enjoy training a lot more if an extra element of fun is added, this would also help with member retention.

Finally what feelings did you take away from this trip and championship?

I feel extremely privileged to be able to travel to India again, and to be able to win in the adults division and take home a trophy is the icing on the cake. I am amazed that I was able to win a tournament in another country and I don’t think it will ever sink in.
It was one of the best experiences of my life.

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Below is Mitchells Smile of Success!

The Japanese government is set to make Martial arts compulsory learning!

The government's plan to make martial arts a compulsory subject at middle schools has a small snag. There are not enough physical education teachers that have the skills or experience to properly instruct students in these arts. In a bid to improve the abilities of teachers in charge of martial arts at public middle and high schools, the government plans to set up "martial arts promotion associations" comprising experts in martial arts education in each prefecture from next academic year, according to sources. The government also is considering allowing teachers to study instructional methods at private dojo or sports-science universities that offer martial arts courses. A proposal to make martial arts compulsory was included in an interim report on school teaching guidelines released on Oct. 30 by the Central Council for Education, an advisory body to Education, Science and Technology Minister Kisaburo Tokai. The panel suggested the measure could be implemented in the 2011 academic year at the earliest. However, Tokai has suggested this date could be brought forward to the 2009 academic year. Middle school students can select the martial art they wish to study, with the current school teaching guideline mentioning judo, kendo and sumo as examples of martial arts. Some schools teach naginata (pike sparring), kyudo archery and karate, but kendo and judo are the most widely taught. If martial arts are made compulsory, a number of students, mostly girls, are expected to opt for naginata or kyudo classes. The ministry deemed it necessary to create a learning environment where physical education teachers acquire expertise and knowledge of a wider range of martial arts. The ministry has allocated about 50 million yen in its budget request for next fiscal year for setting up the associations and training teachers at universities.Wouldn't this be a wonderful concept to implement in schools worldwide, with the life skills & values that martial arts teaches we would be ensured of a better, friendlier & safer world.

Yours in Karate do,

Shihan

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