While karate is mostly perceived as a skill for the male folk, three sisters from Choma are proving the narrative wrong as they are excelling in the sport.
Lubona, 10, Lushomo, 8, and Luumuno Kayaya, 5, are part of the Choma Budo Karate Academy which has 45 pupils comprising 35 boys and 10 girls. They train four times in a week. Two of the girls, Lubona and Lushomo, are among karatekas who competed at the Southern Region Karate Championship in Swakopmund, Namibia. In an interview recently, Lubona said karate has instilled discipline in them, built their confidence, made them fearless and equipped them with self-defence abilities.
Lubona said having karate as a skill is important “as it equips you to defend and help your family when under attack.” “It is a very good skill, especially for us girls, because people believe that we do not have the power and strength for martial arts, but now that girls are going for karate. They are now seen to be just as powerful as boys,” she said. Lubona, however, said they are not allowed to apply their karate skills anyhow, such as classmates who may provoke them.
The biggest highlight for the girls was when they performed before Minister of Information and Media Cornelius Mweetwa at Independence Stadium in Choma during the 2024 Youth Day commemorations. “I want to continue being a karateka and I would encourage other girls to go for it as well. It is worth it,” Lubona said. Their older sister Luyando is also a karateka but she has slowed down because she is in grade eight at a boarding school.
For Lushomo, she loves martial arts because it helps keep her physically fit. Their mother Sylvia Mwewa, a nutrition expert and business woman, says she decided to enrol the girls into the academy because like all sport, martial arts for kids presents opportunities to be challenged physically, mentally, emotionally and to overcome adversity.
“Children also learn the values of hard work, dedication, persistence, courage and resilience. Martial Arts provides a grounding environment for children, especially girls. It further provides many cognitive, social and emotional benefits that translates into other areas of life,” she said.
Mwewa said martial arts has instilled focus, self-control, listening skills and discipline in her children, while also teaching them respect, humility and honor, among others, which are very valuable characters.
BY CATHERINE BWALYA
Choma
