Black-belt wants to encourage more girls to take up the sport
A CARDIFF Metropolitan student is teaming up with Butetown Pavilion to deliver a six-week karate course online.
Nimo Liban, 20, from Grangetown started learning karate when she was seven with her younger sister.
She set up Butetown Karate Fight Club in March 2019 before lockdown but now has the opportunity to run a programme online to help compensate for the lack of social contact.
“With all that’s going on, people are just mainly staying at home and not thinking about getting active. Personally, as well as karate, I have joined a virtual gym which has helped me too,” she said.
The club currently has 15 members, with the youngest being six.
Nimo is a second-year student taking Early Childhood Studies, but her degree has been moved online due to Covid-19 restrictions.
She is planning to deliver her online course from her living room via Microsoft Teams. Sessions last an hour long and are suitable for beginners.
During her younger years, Nimo and her sister participated in numerous karate competitions across Wales, and even travelled to compete in Penrith, Scotland.
“I stopped competing when I was 15, but my little sister continued so I would go with her – but I’ve basically been everywhere! I won the odd trophy here and there with some medals.”
“I got my first black belt in 2012 and then my second in 2014. I then wanted to go on my own path and focus on teaching the sport.”
Martial arts like Karate and Judo involve upfront and unarmed combat, but it has often been associated as a masculine sport. Nimo hopes to change this long-held belief by teaching young girls across Cardiff.
“There are some Muslim girls who just won’t simply do it, because there are no female teachers out there. When I used to go to competitions, I felt targeted for wearing a headscarf.”
Nimo now teaches both group and private classes for beginners which has been a terrific start for her club. The club is open for all those aged four and over.
This week is also Children’s Mental Health Week (February 1-7, 2021) with this year’s theme being Express Yourself.
During lockdown with many children having to stay at home, doing something active such as Karate can be an enjoyable activity in your living room.
If you’re interested in taking up some lessons, more information can be found at the links below:
