Blairgowrie judo founder fosters discipline through movement
What started as just a hesitant try out has developed into an actual career for Dimakatso Rakaki, who recently opened a judo club in Blairgowrie aimed at building mutual benefit, discipline, and respect in the community.
In a quiet corner of Blairgowrie, the sharp sounds of bodies hitting mats and orders from a coach fill a recently opened judo club, but for Dimakatso Rakaki, judo is far more than just a sport.
It is a result of years of experience, a love for what she does, and the belief that judo can help shape individuals within the community. Rakaki is the co-founder of Kokoro Judo, a new dojo that is located on Susman Avenue in Blairgowrie. The dojo officially opened on April 18.
However, Rakaki’s journey into judo did not begin with the same zeal she has today.
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In 2016, Rakaki worked for a non-governmental organisation, which partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Pretoria. Because she worked with refugees and asylum seekers, she met a community member who encouraged her to join judo, even though she was initially interested in karate.
Currently a brown belt, Rakaki has been in judo for eight years, transitioning from student to now a coach and co-founder. “It was weird when I started, because I expected a lot of punches and kicks, but zero.”
She explained that the difference between judo and karate is that in judo they do more self-defence than attacking, noting that even though their robes are similar, judo robes are slightly heavier as they use them to throw each other.
In judo, which originates from Japan, one must learn how to fall properly before being taught how to fight because they do a lot of throws. Part of this is to enforce discipline. It teaches individuals to handle themselves.
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The decision to bring about the dojo rose from a gap Rakaki and her team identified in the area. They noticed that it featured an array of martial arts disciplines, except judo.
Like many initiatives, funding and equipment were challenges they faced before they opened.
“We had a couple of challenges. Capital was a big issue, and, when we opened, we struggled to find a way of putting our mats together. A gentleman from Roodepoort who also does judo donated mats to us. So far, we have not had any big challenges.”
Rakaki encourages the community to come give judo a chance, as Kukoro Judo has sessions for all ages. She added that judo really helps grow confidence in a person, that self-defence is crucial nowadays, and judo assists with that.
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