Federation must work to a national plan to develop Karate - Shihan Jayasiri Padmalal

Anuradha Abeysekera

Karate has become a very popular self defensive martial art and a sport in Sri Lanka since its introduction to the country during 70's. Daily News interviewed a personality who has been working hard to popularize karate in Sri Lanka and uplift its standard as a sport.

Shihan Jayasiri Padmalal Perera is a no stranger to the local karate fraternity and is the president of Sri Lanka Wado-Kai Association, He is one of the few local masters to achieve fifth Dan and has over 40 years experience in the field of karate as a contestant, instructor, national coach, technical and selecting committee chairman.

Starting his karate career at the age of 19, Jayasiri learnt his first lessons under the guidance of local masters. He has been to Japan over 20 times for further education and had the opportunity to train under world renowned Wado-Kai style master Kango Sugiura.

While conducting private classes in various parts of the country, Jayasiri pioneered establishing Sri Lanka Karate Do Association and served as its national coach for nearly 30 years. He has participated in many international tournaments as the coach including World Championships, Asian and South Asian championships. He initiated introduction of karate to the local school fraternity along with then sports administrator Sunil Gunawardane and still serves as a coach in some leading Colombo schools.

Jayasiri has retired from karate administration after serving as the selection committee chairman for three years, but still willing to contribute for the betterment of karate. He was very enthusiastic speaking on karate and came up with proposals to develop the sport in Sri Lanka.

What is Wado-Kai and how karate was established as a sport in Sri Lanka ?

Wado -Kai is one of the four main styles karate being practiced as a sport all over the world. The other main styles are Shito-ryu, Goju-ryu and Shatokan. There were no styles in karate at the beginning. Later when the sport travels to many parts of the globe, these styles were formed. During the II world war armed combats were banned and many martial arts were suppressed. When karate was reintroduced after the world war these new styles were born. After introducing international rules and standards, karate was popularized as a sport by the world governing body World Karate-Do Federation (WKF) through out the world and over 250 nations are affiliated to it including Sri Lanka.

Even though karate has been practiced by random individuals in Sri Lanka for many years, the first national association was established in 1975 with the formation of Ceylon karate Association. After realizing the importance of developing karate as a sport, we formed the Sri Lanka Karate Do Association in 1985 bringing the sport under one umbrella and started the annual national championship. At present the local governing body has nearly 200 affiliated members in it. Formation of the Schools' Karate Do Association took place soon after the sport was introduced to schools in 1990. There after karate was rapidly popularized in far nook and corners of the island and thousands of young girls and boys are being introduced to the sport every year.

Where do Sri Lanka positioned in the international karate scene and why we are not even among the Asian karate strongholds ?

We are doing quite well in the South Asian region. In some weight categories we are on top, performing better than India and Nepal. When it comes to talent we are on par with any other country. But it is the commitment under the correct guidance always make the difference.

Even though many youngsters take up to karate at the right age, very few continue it as a sporting career due to lack of recognition. So they give priority to studies or some other career oriented activity when they meet cross roads. So they tend to keep karate as an optional activity for health's sake. More clearer picture appears if you compare karate and cricket at grass root level. An average school cricketer will easily get a job than a student who has achieved national level in karate. As a result it is hard to find someone remains fully committed to karate at grass root level.

The story gets worse at the club, national or international levels. As a poor man's sport, most who are engaged in karate represent middle class or lower middle class and have lot of family commitments to attend. They find extremely difficult for stick to a practice schedule, diet plan and a sporting life style. Even the national level karatecas are participating in tournaments with great difficulties. Unlike for a national cricketer, ruggerite, football and basketball player or an athlete, employers are reluctant and lethargic in facilitating national level karatecas.

Lack of sponsorships is another main hindrance for the development of karate. Finding sponsors for national tournaments have been a tough task. Even for the international tournaments participants have to beg for sponsorships or must spend their own money. This scenario has discouraged national players taking part in international tournaments causing lack of much needed foreign exposure to them.

Irregularities in karate administration, both in school and national governing bodies have been counterproductive in finding true talents as lot of favourations involved in selection and tournament conducting process. These are the main reasons for Sri Lanka to still lagging behind in Asian karate scene.

How can Sports Ministry help to develop Karate ?

As the top administrator of national sports associations Ministry's role is vital in uplifting any sport in the country. Ministry can help to find a national sponsor for karate and help to win recognition for the sport in society by coordinating few job opportunities annually for national level achievers in karate.

Sports Minister must make sure the officials he appoints to the national selecting committee are qualified and have the sport in their blood to serve it. Also ministry must get the help of veterans, casting aside politics and let them serve for the sport. Officials must given independency to do their jobs, specially in administrative, technical and selecting aspects, but ministry always has to keep a close eye in supervision.

Your opinion on the standard of local karate instructors ?

Even though there are many instructors, only few can consider as good and qualified. In good old days National Federation only accepted highly qualified instructors, who have obtained international trainings. But later Federation had to compromise those high standard in order to popularize the sport through out the country and it affected badly on the quality of sport. At present there are 'not up to standard' instructors in the Federation and also the Federation has been neglected the valuable services of god old instructors to great extent.

We are conducting random training programmes for instructors with the support of internationally qualified personalities. Sports Ministry always supported us by providing the Sports Science Unit and other logistics. With the Sports Ministry's continues support we have to initiate a mechanism to supervise instructors' standard and conduct such trainings annually in a much organized manner.

Your suggestions to uplift karate sport in Sri Lanka ?

There are nearly 200 affiliated associations national governing body, Sri Lanka Karate Do Federation. But many affiliated bodies give priority to their personal goals than a national plan. It has been a major obstacle to develop karate in Sri Lanka. National Federation must draft a national plan to develop the sport and get the support of affiliated bodies and Sports Ministry to work it out. The officials of the National Federation have to dedicate themselves to their national task than promoting their associations. It is high time to stop inter- association conflicts at the National Federation and work for the betterment of sport.

Finding a national sponsor and sponsorships for local tournaments are also crucial factors in developing karate.

We have to strengthen the grass root level with due attention. There are many irregularities at the school level karate. We have informed the School Federation on these issues over and over but they are yet to be corrected. For instance, as a contact sport competitions must be conducted in weight categories rather than age categories and grading categories. And there must be sufficient intervals in between school competitions. We have to bring the school level to those minimum international standards very soon.

Karate umpiring has to promote as an independent aspect of the sport where instructors are not involved with. In Sri Lanka we do not have a clear separation in karate Instructors and umpires. So instructors are acting as umpires at the competition level and It has led to favourations where the true talents were blocked some where down the line and never getting a chance to emerge in the big scene. This has been counterproductive for karate development over the years.