Interview with Michelle Perry

Why did you start Karate?

How did this first club develop?

So, Karate became addictive?

Why do you focus on teaching children and females?

What benefits do the kids get from Karate?

What about children with special needs?

What's different about a females only class?

In the females class is there anything that might phase a beginner?

Is Jin Sei Kai really different?

Why did you start Karate?

I can say that it's probably because I've always had an interest in things Oriental, and in the fascinating cultures of that region.

So, when my local sports and social club recruited a new member of staff who had trained in Karate and wanted to start a club, it was an easy decision to join. Classes started just after my working day finished, which was ideal. At first, the club comprised one instructor, one brown belt and me as the sole female beginner!

I had always enjoyed sports, although I'd not been a big gymnastics or aerobics fan. But, Karate just seemed to click. Karate seemed to be a training routine that was going somewhere, and where I could see myself learning and making tangible progress. Back to top

How did this first club develop?

Because the local community was small and friendly, it encouraged the club to grow as a family club. Kids from around soon joined up, and not long afterwards the Mums followed suit - their children were already training regularly, and it just made sense for them to stay on and join in.

They soon became addicted, too! Back to top

So, Karate became addictive?

Yes. It's an activity that requires you to use your brain - you have to stop and think. Well, at first you need to stop and think - as you progress, there's a need to trust in your instincts and to let go.

As for the addiction, once I'd started I could not stop. Not to say that I'd become obsessed. It just became part of my life, and I couldn't think of doing without Karate on a regular basis.

What I love is that there's always something to learn and to improve upon. And, for me as a teacher, the thrill of being able to pass something on. Back to top

Why do you focus on teaching children and females?

Teaching women and children was partly down to necessity, and partly because I was in the right place at the right time. I had been training for two years, I'd just got my brown belt, my personal life had had its challenges and I was literally pushed into teaching. My local club ran two weekly family sessions, but was looking to start a children only class. So, I was volunteered!

That was a long time ago, and now I teach eighteen children's classes a week, as well as my ladies classes. There's a big demand for both. Back to top

What benefits do the kids get from Karate?

Ultimately, it's good for them! Seriously, though, when taught correctly, Karate has so many benefits for children. It is great for dexterity movement and general co-ordination - particularly because we concentrate on both sides of the body, not just one side as happens in may sports activities.

It's also a great leveller. For those with too much confidence - let's say it brings them back into line. For others, it provides much needed self-confidence.

My first priority is to each one of the children I teach - I'm concerned about their well-being, both mental and physical.

Nothing happens overnight, of course - but changes become clearly apparent over the months and years. Back to top

What about children with special needs?

I teach a number of children with various difficulties, from dysphasia to Attention Deficit Disorder to Asperger's syndrome. As long as I know the difficulties a child faces, these are taken into account and I can adapt my teaching style to ensure that the kids can progress at their given rate.

Whether I'm teaching children with special needs or those without, I try to make each class fun. But I also teach with discipline, as well as showing students the benefit of self-discipline. We encourage teamwork and healthy competitiveness - and I look to those with more ability to to encourage and help those who are less able. Back to top

What's different about a females only class?

We all need an outlet - ladies and especially mums probably more than most. In Karate we are ncouraged to shout with spirit (to use a "Kiai", as the Japanese call it), which is something we are not normally supposed to do! It's so much better that we use the Karate class to offload our tension - rather than snapping at the kids!

Some women are slightly daunted by going into a mixed group. The men may seem more aggressive or competitive; and the classes are often held in the evening when it's not always possible for a mum to get away.

Many of my women students say to me they'd always wanted to do Karate, but never got round to it. Many of them needed classes geared to their routines - which is what I will do.

A females only class is more informal than other classes. We often talk about our training whilst we train. It's amazing how often the thing that worried one person turns out to have been the same worry for another person, and that other person has found a solution which they can pass on. Back to top

In the females class is there anything that might phase a beginner?

In our current ladies class, we have two students who've trained for some time and now have a brown belt, in one case, and a black belt, in the other. You might feel this could be off-putting, as they know a lot more than you, but please don't feel that way. They will quickly tell you that they remember well doing this thing wrong or that thing - and they'll explain that now they've learned how to do it better; that they've made progress.

You may be surprised to hear that statistically ladies who start Karate are less likely to give up than men. Of ladies who start, a higher percentage make it to black belt level and beyond. The only sadness is that there are fewer women overall in Karate. Back to top

Is Jin Sei Kai really different?

Jin Sei Kai Karate is not just about kicking and punching. We go much deeper. We try to show how to move our bodies better - how doing something one way could help improve general movement, and how the other way will cause injury.

We incorporate stretching, fitness training, as well as a mental workout each session. As long as you come with an open mind, you'll be surprised what Karate will show you. It will make you feel more able to cope with what life throws at you!

If you feel you need something more than just another aerobics class, why not give Karate a go. We'll teach you self-defence at the same time as improving your confidence, your fitness and your whole well-being! Back to top

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