Talking to 17 year-old karate and martial arts dynamo, Harleen Kaur, you can tell immediately that the sport is interconnected with the spirit. Only emanating enthusiasm for taking the World Title this year in the WMKF world championships - taking place on the 1st May - it seems lightness and buoyancy has grown inside her for every accolade Harleen has claimed: she is the UK All Stars champion, winner of the silver in the former WMKF’s world championship, has been shortlisted for the Asian Woman of Achievements Awards 2016, and recently qualified as a Second Dan Black Belt, to *modestly* name but a few. As Harleen explained, “it is not necessarily the professional pride of the sport that attracts, but the personal development it allows. You get an incredible sense of self discipline and determination, and that helps you feel more defined as an individual.” This is why Harleen is such a passionate advocate for more women sparring: “it really builds up your confidence from day to day to day, as well as making you a fitter person,” she continued. “In a post-modern age where gender roles are equal, it’s strange you don’t see more women making more of this social opportunity.” Harleen currently trains with the Jason Murray’s Martial Arts School in Bradford, and hopes one day to open her own academy so she can lead more women, including those from the Asian community, to enjoy the benefits of the striking sport: “when I qualified to represent England” she told us, “it was confirmed that I was actually the first Asian female to do so. It would be great to have more diversity: I hope having an institute of my own will help more people to get healthy in a way that is amazing and fun!” As committed to the cause of her physical art as she is to the actual karate, Harleen not only emerges a promising fighter, but a rising star in the sports profession.
How did you first get into Karate: what was the journey?
It was about 10 years ago, now. My best friend bought me karate lessons as a special gift, and our meeting up after school together and hanging out kept me going at the start. I began to train in a combined programme of karate, kick-boxing and Jiu Jitsu, and after earning my foundational belts I eventually qualified for the First Dan Black Belt. I’ve been successfully competing in several tournaments, from inter-club to internationals. Martial Arts is a semi-contact, lighter sport and there is a lot of sportsmanship so that has been the chief attraction for me. Having said that, in the last world championship I was actually tornado-kicked in the head! It was alright though. I pushed on and was proud to have walked away with the silver.
You want more women to be involved in the sport. Please tell us a bit more?
Yes, well more women need to be involved in sports in general: especially Asian girls. I think there are social expectations that discourage them. Traditional education is always the priority, and the physical aspect of it is frowned upon: you might get told ‘if you get a bent nose, no one’s going to marry you.’ There are different ways to success though. For example, I am planning to study Sports Science at university, and the Asian community are not as open to that as say, Pharmacy or Medicine. We need to stop so heavy-handedly telling the youth what is right and wrong.
What is your favourite aspect of Martial Arts?
That you never stop learning! Whenever our Sensei (a coach and motivational leader) gives us talks, or shows us how to improve our technique, there is always something new. People often think earning your black belt is the end of the journey but, as anyone in the sport knows, it is only the beginning. Martial Arts also creates a mind space that drives you to accomplish your personal best; to unlock your potential. I used to be a very shy person but since taking up the sport I’ve found myself so much more outgoing. It really is a valuable life skill: you get out of the sport exactly what you put in. If you give it 110%, that’s how much you’ll get back. It’s when you don’t take it seriously that it won’t work for you.
Do you have a favourite move?
A basic one is the round-house kick: I always seem to fall naturally into them!
Can you please identify an aspect of Martial Arts that often gets misconstrued?
That it is dangerous and violent. I actually find it very spiritual. There is a practice where you shout as loudly as you can when you kick, to keep you going, and that is freeing. In fact that’s why I love the movie ‘Enter the Dragon’ with Bruce Lee, because as far accurate representations of the sport go, it’s a good one: it emphasises the emotional content of martial arts. If you have a problem with someone, it shows that there is a correct way to go about sorting it out. Anger is not the solution; the answer comes from a more meditated place. Also, I think people flinch at the thought of getting hurt, but a semi-contact sport is not that bad. I suggest trying it out to see how you react and what it does for you.
Who are some of your inspirations?
My coach Jason Murray, professional fighter Ronda Rousey, who is really breaking the gender walls as a lauded female role model in the sport, Bruce Lee and Mohammed Ali.
Finally,do you have a particular motto that keeps you going?
Believe and achieve: what you believe to be true will happen.
https://twitter.com/harleenpkaur
