BALLARAT Kyokushin sensei Steve Hardy has been inspired by a speech from South African president Jacob Zuma on karate’s positive social effects.
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Hardy was present for Zuma’s speech, delivered at the Kyokushin World Cup earlier this month, and plans to run free Kyokushin workshops for youth over the school holidays.
In his speech, Zuma described karate as a sport capable of bridging “both the international and cultural divide” and an “important instrument of peace and social cohesion”.
Hardy believes the martial art has a profound impact on youngsters, and plans to become a vocal advocate in the bid for social equality.
“It helps all our kids become tolerant and bridges the gaps between racism,” Hardy said. “Just have a look at the Russian and Ukraine fighters at the World Cup – they got on famously. We’d like to put a program in place that helps disadvantaged youth.
“I don’t think Ballarat’s a place that promotes racism, but I don’t think that Ballarat’s all that multicultural.”
The aftermath of the World Cup has also seen Hardy speak out against the sport of cage fighting.
“It doesn’t necessarily give the kids the right attitude,” he said. “There’s a difference between a full contact art form with strict set of rules and a sport that’s used for entertainment.”
Hardy will also meet with Lucas Carey, the Ballarat City Council Manager of Sports and Recreation, to discuss methods of becoming more proactive in teaching cultural respect through sport.
The free Kyokushin training sessions will run from 11am to 1pm on September 30 to October 3 at Ballarat Eastwood Leisure Complex.