Al-Qalam 
By Nabeela Shaikh
She may be only 10-years-old but Khiyara Maria Seedat sure can pack a punch – she recently became one of the youngest South Africans to achieve a black belt in Kyokushin Kai karate.
She was awarded her Black Belt at Jogie’s Dojo in Greenwood Park, Durban, last month. It involved a two-hour written examination about the history of Kyokushin Karate, Japanese terminology, refereeing coursework and different Karate techniques in Japanese.
“The next day I had to do an intensive stamina test which involved numerous intensive physical exercises such as knuckle push-ups on concrete in a handstand position. I had to show my fighting techniques on a punching bag. I had to answer oral questions in Japanese and follow instructions in Japanese. I had to fight kumite. I was tested on my katas and I had to break three tiles,” said Khiyara. Khiyara.
The Al-Falaah College pupil in Durban, became familiar with karate when she was just a baby, and was motivated by her dad to start learning the Japanese martial art.
Her dad, Durban lawyer Ahmed Shaheen Seedat is a Fifth Dan Black Belt, with the title of Shihan, which means Karate Master. When Khiyara was only just a year and four months old, she started visiting the dojo with her father.
He said she would follow instructions from a very early age, and at the age of two, karate expert Shihan Abdul Latiff Jogie and himself, began to teach her the bow (stick) kata style of karate.
By the age of three, she was already participating in national karate competitions.
In 2015, days after her third birthday, she participated in the under 5 category at the South African Karate and Kickboxing Championship. She won both the bow kata and the kumite categories, being the youngest in South Africa to win the championship in her category.
She thereafter won the South African Karate and Kickboxing Championship for a further three years consecutively in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
By winning the South Karate and Kickboxing Championships Khiyara Maria has been awarded her KwaZulu-Natal colours and South African colours as well.
Khiyara says karate makes her feel happy, and she loves it.
“I always say that Allah gives me the strength and the wisdom to do it. I’m very happy but it’s just the beginning. There is so much I want to do. There are 10 other kinds of black belts and there are five years in between each of them. The highest is a Kancho and I want to become a Kancho. There are different kinds of karate organisations that vote for you to become a Sosai, which is a great master. And this is what I want to do one day,” said Khiyara. Khiyara.
She said her favourite form of karate is now the katana kata which is performed with a real samurai sword.
Her parents Ahmed Shaheen and Laila said they were extremely delighted and proud of her accomplishments. As someone who has been involved in karate since he was eight, her dad says there is so much to love about it.
“It keeps you focused, and keeps you disciplined. It is a very healthy sport, it helps you to become fit and helps you to get close to nature. Most of our activities and exercises are not confined to a gym. There is so much to do outdoors,” said Shaheen Seedat.
He said in today’s world, there are a lot of vices out there, including drugs, alcohol, and cell phones that have taken over children’s minds.
“Children are not as active as before. With karate, it shifts you away from these vices and it helps you to control your mind. I feel it’s important for the youth to train and learn karate because if they encounter a situation in the street, especially in today’s time when it’s very dangerous, they must know how to react,” said Seedat.
Khiyara’s mom, Laila Docrat Seedat, said as a mother, she was always afraid of Khiyara participating in karate.
“Especially being a little girl, I would always think about what if she were to get seriously hurt, what if something happened to her nose or her face? These were things I always thought about that made me fearful. But she just flourished in karate and continuously made me proud. It made me also realise that in the times that we live in, I now believe girls should be empowered to learn karate, so they are able to protect themselves,” said Laila.
For Khiyara, the world is her oyster. She says there’s so much more, she still wants to achieve.
“I would like to participate in the South African Karate and Kickboxing Championships on the 19 and 20 May 2023 in Johannesburg. Beyond 2023, I would like to instruct females at the dojo. Hopefully I will be fit enough to continue Karate for the rest of my life. I also would like to have the opportunity of participating in an International World Karate tournament and God willing, I will become a Sosai one day, which is a Tenth Dan Karate Master,” said Khiyara.
