I had the opportunity to converse with Dr. Vinita Gaikwad, Director and Professor at Thakur Institute of Management Studies, Career Development & Research, and a karateka who has been training under the mentorship of Shihan Sachin Chavan for close to a decade along with her adult son who is on his way to become

The dojo at SVIS in Kandivali (West) welcomes the karatekas and their parents alike. As the session begins and students line up, their parents take a seat — right outside and connected to the dojo still. Sensei Nehal Chavan excuses herself whilst training to introduce me to the parents seated outside and with their

‘Nana korobi, ya oki’ Fall down seven times, stand upon the eighth The dojo is sacred; it is holy and the students pay their respects to the space as they enter. The old clubhouse in Raheja Estate, Borivali East resembles a sanctuary and has spiritual significance for the karatekas. It symbolizes the coming together