It's an inspiring lesson for sport fans around the world. While Rio de Janeiro is about to host the 2016 Olympic Games, and the world of Karate is looking forward to the decision on the inclusion of the sport in the 2020 Olympic Games, hundreds of young Karate enthusiasts in the iconic Brazilian city represent the many values of this ancient discipline.

It's an inspiring lesson for sport fans around the world. While Rio de Janeiro is about to host the 2016 Olympic Games, and the world of Karate is looking forward to the decision on the inclusion of the sport in the 2020 Olympic Games, hundreds of young Karate enthusiasts in the iconic Brazilian city represent the many values of this ancient discipline. With every tsuki and every geri, young Brazilian Karatekas share Karate’s heartwarming ideals, as well as their passion for the sport, and their Olympic hopes.

In three days young Brazilian Karatekas will have the opportunity to witness the Olympic Games in their home country; and in a few hours they will get to know if their favourite sport will be included in the programme of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

While the two memorable moments happen, Karate continues shaping personalities and characters, and values like respect, tradition and humility keep on being passed from master to student in dojos around the nation. Dojos like the one in Complexo Esportivo Miecimo Da Silva in Rio de Janeiro.

Karate in Campo Grande

In a representation of sport overcoming adversity, nearly 200 young Karatekas go every day to the dojo in the Campo Grande precinct to learn more than a sport. Boys and girls of all ages, origins and conditions gather under the attentive look of parents and relatives wearing their karate-gis and improving their physical and mental condition – and their lives- one Kata and one Kumite at a time.

The emotion can be felt in every ‘kiai’; and their fervour can be seen in each one of their ‘dachis’. Young Karatekas in Complexo Esportivo Miecimo Da Silva represent Karate’s virtues, and their masters couldn’t be any proud.

“It is very satisfying to come here and to see how much they learn. It makes me feel very proud to train them,” said Sensei Moacir Varela. Together with Sensei Ronaldo Costa, Sensei Varela has headlined the project of promoting Karate values in Campo Grande precinct for the last four years. This Karate veteran of 40 years in the sport shows an amazement for his pupils’ progress only matched with the devotion he feels for his young Karatekas. In the hard work of training youngsters of Campo Grande precinct, Sensei Varela reckons that he has a very valuable help.

“The parents are truly the great motivators here. They are the ones that push their kids to come here and train,” Sensei Varela said, as a group of parents attentively follow their offspring's progress in the sidelines of the dojo, encouragements and cameras always at hand.

“Karate Olimpico!”

The combination of youngsters’ passion, masters’ devotion and parents’ confidence is the secret of the success of Karate in Complexo Esportivo Miecimo Da Silva. “They can choose any other sport, but they chose Karate,” pointed out Sensei Varela.

And now situation can only get better, Karatekas in Campo Grande declared by cheering ‘Karate Olímpico” while performing a Tzuki. “They know what’s going to happen tomorrow, they know what’s at stake,” said Sensei Varela referring to the decision of the IOC Session on the inclusion of Karate in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

“We are prepared if that wonderful moment comes. We apply the system and the rules of Olympic Karate here and we are very much looking forward to seeing Karate in the Olympic Games. The kids are really looking forward to Wednesday,” said Sensei Varela.

Watch the video of young Karatekas in Campo Grande on WKF Facebook page clicking here.