From training on a rugby field to 5th Dan

Karate is a martial art that not only equips you with self-defence skills but also teaches and requires discipline, patience and concentration.

These are some of the characteristics that have been mastered by the instructor of Tenshinkan Glen Marais Karate Club, Shihan-Dai Adam Boshoff.

Boshoff started karate 26 years ago and has been committed to the sport from day one.

“I have always been fascinated by martial arts. I watched a lot of kung fu movies as a child and looked up to people like Bruce Lee,” said Boshoff.

“My family and I moved from Hartbeespoort to Kempton Park when I was eight years old which was when I started with karate at Laerskool Mooifontein with Kyoshi Attie Coetzer, who is now a deputy chief instructor at Tenshinkan Karate South Africa.

“I remember there was no fancy dojo. We used to train on the rugby field but it was an amazing experience. I also trained with Hanshi Hans Haupt during my high school years and only started teaching karate when I was 15.”

Boshoff started with the first belt, a white belt, and patiently went through the ranks over the years to a black belt. He reached fifth Dan status in 2016.

“I competed and won at the world championships in South Africa two years ago and the world chief instructor, Kancho Mamoru Miwa, was among those present at the championships. Prior to the championships, I was a third Dan and thought I was going to progress to fourth Dan after the win but to everyone’s surprise, I was graded from third to fifth Dan on the same day. I couldn’t believe it when Miwa honoured me with the fifth Dan.”

His wife Gerelize told Express that she was also shocked.  “Adam and I were not the only people surprised at the announcement because there was silence for a while after the announcement as everybody else was also in shock. For me, this has never been done before and it was a great honour for all of us.

“This was also a reflection of how committed he is to the sport. I honestly can’t imagine him doing anything else besides karate.”

Although the local sensei has been teaching karate for 14 years, he founded the club 10 years ago.

“I love and enjoy teaching karate. What I love the most about teaching is that I see the positive change the sport has on my karatekas. Among other things, it teaches them discipline, confidence, endurance and focus.”

“It is all good and well to create fighting machines and champions but it is also important to instill great values to see your students grow and become better individuals in the future.”

Boshoff teaches children from as young as three, depending on their concentration span. He offers classes for pre-primary students every Friday from 11am to 11.30am with his other classes being every Tuesday and Wednesday from 6pm to 7pm.

The Glen Marais resident is among the 20 invited to fight in Japan during the June/July holidays next year.

“This is a huge honour and a big competition with over 1 000 black belts in my category expected to compete. I intend giving it my all and hope to bring home a few medals,” he said.

“I believe I still have a lot to learn and intend on going through the ranks and hopefully get the honorary 10th Dan. It might not be easy but I am willing to withstand it all. My advice to other karatekas who are making their ways through the ranks is to never give up in life. People will push you down and you might fail but the trick is not to allow people and failures to rule you.

“Never allow anyone to tell you that you can’t achieve. If you are not persistent, have no passion and drive, you will not win. Lastly, keep going, have discipline and keep knocking until someone opens.”