The Dojo from Within
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 a pilot. She sits down with me after an hour of training and with her gear still on her one would think that she might be exhausted but she could not be farther away from it. Her energy stores are not depleted; she emits enthusiasm as she shares with me her experiences from over the years.
Dr. Vinita has always had an affinity for sports and found heart in the teachings of the Shihan. She claims that the Shihan’s teachings are ‘enriched with life lessons.’ He does not speak in abstract terms but relates real life experiences with the art form. This is how he ensures his lessons are accessible to all — by speaking in a language that all of his students do; the language of life. By sharing experiences from his school days, his time as a college student appearing for his engineering exams, the responsibilities of a parent to the daily life struggles of an adult in his 40s — the Shihan speaks to all, cares for all and is empathetic towards all.
To uplift each and every one is his philosophy and he tries his best to do so by hearing everyone out. The dojo is a safe space for all those who wish to come in, karate is hence, the medium — a connection, the common ground for all of its practitioners while the Shihan is its custodian. It is this link that makes it so reliable to fall back on. Carefully constructed over the years with rigorous training and devotion to the art form, the Shihan now shares what he holds and he does it ever so generously.
I had assumed that it was the karateka’s son who had encouraged her to join the dojo but she was quick to correct me that it was the other way around! Dr. Vinita had known about Shihan Sachin Chavan and the dojo at SVIS since her son was little and enrolled herself first, bringing in her son later. Many years later, she is still in awe of the dojo and plans to train under his mentorship forevermore. Her son, too, plans to complete his education and resume in the near future. “I feel a lot more confident now. Karate keeps me going,” she says with the brightest of smiles. She adds that the time spent in the dojo helps her at her workplace as well; she is more patient, not easy to rattle and fair in her approach towards people. Problems in the workplace do not throw her off but rather she is able to stay calm, keep her cool and address issues with a lot more clarity and care.
Closer to the end, she says, “Every single dojo has taught me something new. Practicing karate is fulfilling and it is the Shihan who does it justice.” It leaves no room for doubt. Having found her strength, she is one with the source.
