By Anjaly Rajendran
We are aware that Kumily is a Tourist Destination and is home to many interesting locations including Thekkady Lake; but did you know that Kumily is also the headquarters of the Mabuni Shito Ryu karate Do International?
Yes, the Shitokai Karate Temple, located near the Government Vocational Higher Secondary School, Kumily is the current headquarters of the Do which is affiliated to the Izumi karate International, USA and is certified by the World Shito-Ryu Karated Do Federation of Japan.
The Mabuni Shito Ryu karate Do used to operate out of the Tribal Community Hall at Mannakudy until 2017 when the Shitokai Karate Temple was constructed. Interestingly, the land for the construction of the Temple was obtained on a 10 year lease and the same was built by their Karate Masters within 4 months.
The Mabuni Shito Ryu karate Do International recently conducted the Interstate black belt competition at the Shitokai Karate Temple. Recently the Mabuni Shito Ryu karate Do conducted their Colour Belt Training Test at the Shitokai Karate Temple on 15th May 2023. The Temple also regularly conducts Idukki District level colour belt tests as well as black belt tests and Training Camps.
Shihan O N Raju is the Country head of the Do for India and also in charge of all Competitions held in India while Shihan Elizabeth is the Kerala State Head of the Do.
The Mabuni Shito Ryu karate Do has many achievements since its establishment; especially during 2016 when the students of the Do won many accolades and medals.
At an international meet held in Kozhikode during 2016 a 14 year old student named Varsha of the Temple won a gold medal. 11 year old named Ajith won the 1st position in Fighting and the 2nd position in Katas at a Tournament held in Tamil Nadu during 2016. Another student named Vaani obtained the 1st position in fighting and second position in katas at Tamil Nadu in 2016. 11 year old Chandra won the National Level Girls Championship held at Cumbum, Tamil Nadu. Mruthula aged 17 won state level Kumite first position held at Anakkara and also won the second position at the All Kerala meet during the same year.
Other achievements in 2016 include 15 year old Vishnu who won first the position in state level Kumite, 8 year old Gayathri who became the national level champion in Kumite, Abhijith aged 12 who won the first position in the State level katas, Abhirami aged 7 who won the 2nd position in Kumite at the Kerala Cup Championship, Ragi aged 10 who obtained the 2nd position in Katas at the State level, 14 year old P V Shivaprasad who won the 1st position at the national level for Fighting, Jiji Mol aged 15 years won the 1st position in at the national level in katas, while 11 year old Ammu also won the 1st position in katas in her age category.
What is noteworthy about all these youngsters are that they all hail from Tribal backgrounds and have grown up to become winners.
The Foundation for the activities of the Do in Kumily was laid by Shihan O.N. Raju who was then a Sub Inspector at the Kumily Police Station. Shihan Raju joined the Kerala Police Force during 1988. He was only a brown belt at that time. However, he became the District Champion twice and went on to become a black belt in 1991. He came 2nd in the State level Kumite Tournament in 1993 and later became champion in 1995. He obtained the 3rd position in the National Championship during 1996. He is currently an Asian referee and the only one from Idukki District to become a judge of the Asian Karate Federation.
It was through the efforts of Shihan O.N. Raju that Sensei Aneesh. C, took up serious training. Aneesh was the son of a green Belt holder and became interested in the sport after watching his Father practice when he went on daily jogs with him. Aneesh initially learnt karate from Sensei Thomas. Later under the tutelage of Shihan O.N. Raju he obtained his black belt in 2007. He later went on to take the National level Test and subsequently started taking classes for Children in Kumily. Aneesh is currently a fourth grade black belt and a National Referee, who participates in Karate Competitions across India.
It was due to the effort put in by Shihan Raju and Sensei Aneesh that the the Shitokai Karate Temple was born.
Aneesh who is a Tribal youth is currently conducting training for Student Police Cadets and self defence classes for the Excise Department’s Vimuktha team. He also handles classes organized by Government for girls under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) programme and also conducts training for Dheera Scheme under the Kerala Government’s Women and Child Welfare Department.
Sensei Aneesh and Shihan Raju handle students across 7 States of India and have disciples in all 14 district of Kerala. As aresult of the hardwork put in by these two individuals children from the Kumily Tribal area have now excelled in Karate in state and National level competitions. More than 20 children from Kumily Mannan Tribal colony between the ages of 6 and seventeen who were trained in various categories have now achieved success.
We at “Kumily Calling” wish the Mabuni Shito Ryu karate Do International and the Shitokai Karate Temple all success in all their future endeavours.
