Balance good, karate good, everything good.
Mr. Miyagi, The Karate Kid
“Sports ideally teaches discipline and commitment. They challenge you and build character for everything you do in life.” This week’s Educator’s Corner presents GEMS Modern Academy’s very own Mr. Miyagi – Mr. Ramalingam Kaliaperumal, athletics coach.
For over 15 years Mr. Ramalingam has continued to teach passionately as a committed teacher here at GEMS Modern Academy. His reputation as a hard task master does not deter students from signing up to be under his mentorship, and even encourages them to reach their full potential.
He owes his drive and discipline to the intense karate training that he has been partaking of since the 1970s. From 1993 to the present day, he has participated in many international competitions, his first being the International Competition held in Tokyo 28 years ago. In 2016, he won two bronze medals in ‘kata’ and ‘kumite’ in the 8th World Shito-Ryu Karate-Do Championship in Mexico, and in 2018, he refereed the 15th Asian Pacific Shito-Ryu Karate-Do Federation Championship in Jakarta.
”Self-defense is very important, and karate helps students maintain their health and fitness. They can also face life head-on, without fear,“ he says.
Even if it means practicing after work until 9.00 pm, his daily practice sessions last four to five hours. Currently a black belt sixth Dan, he served as the referee for the ninth Shito-Ryu Karate-Do International Championships, held in Tokyo from 15th to 17th March, 2019. A total of fifty countries were represented at this prestigious event.
In addition to his normal teaching, Mr. Ramalingam offers self-defense classes twice a week for girls at the school. His self-defense courses have similar benefits to karate; they will enhance girls’ fitness levels and boost their self-confidence. Anyone aspiring to be the next modern-day Karate Kid can always take worldly advice from Mr. Ramalingam at any time of the day!
– Ranya Jain, 10D