Strong Voices

After years of disciplined training and with the support of an inclusive dojo, Downright Dragons Jevon and Dan have earned their karate black belts.

On a cold, wet Sunday morning a group of women hurry out of the rain into a cosy Wellington café. Jackets and scarves are flung over chairs and there’s lots of laughter as they wait for their coffee.

These women are all parents to young people with an intellectual disability who are part of the Downright Dragons – an inclusive karate programme at Wellington’s Seido Dojo.

While karate class is on, the mums go for coffee.

“They don’t want us there,” grins Anneke who is mum to 31-year-old Jevan Walls.

Debbie, who is mum to 32-year-old Dan Howard, agrees. “Apparently I laugh too loudly,” she says, laughing loudly.

Jevan and Dan have been part of the Downright Dragons since the group first began 16 years ago. The programme was created by Maria Borshevsky, a passionate advocate for inclusion, who wanted a space where young people with intellectual disabilities could be themselves and be accepted.

In November last year, there was huge celebration at the dojo when both Jevan and Dan earned their black belts. In karate, a black belt is a symbol of skill, respect and dedication. And it’s not easy to earn – it takes years of hard work and training.

Instructor Ang Brown has been with the Downright Dragons for nearly 16 years and has watched Jevan and Dan progress. “They train hard,” she says. “Their grading was just as intense as anyone else’s. But we knew what they were capable of.”

Jevan and Dan trained for two years at the highest level to prepare for their black belt grading. This included regular classes, gym workouts and homework exercises. The two had the complete support of the dojo behind them, with Jevan even receiving the gift of a gym membership from a dojo member.

“At Seido Dojo, kindness and inclusiveness are at the heart of everything,” says Ang.

And this was evident on grading day when the whole dojo came to cheer on Dan and Jevan – even multiple out-of-town guests from as far away as Whangārei and Christchurch travelled especially for the big day.

Jevan and Dan warmed up for nearly an hour and then performed their karate syllabus with strength and focus. They did cardio, weight work and self-defence routines. Jevan, who had done judo before, showed off his rolling and defence skills with his mum Anneke, a former national judo champion.

At the end of the grading, each student gave a speech. Dan read a touching letter to his dad, who had passed away. “It was very emotional,” Ang recalls. “My husband was crying. I think pretty much the whole room was in tears.”

“I was just a 15-year-old crazy kid when I started karate,” says Dan. “I have all the belts now and this black one!”

“I love coming to karate to see my friends and coaches,” says Jevan. “Ang and Ann are very good coaches. I’m thrilled that I gained my black belt.”

Sundays for the Downright Dragons continue with Dan and Jevan now helping out in the dojo, assisting the instructors to support the newer students as well as encouraging those who are following in their footsteps. Another Downright Dragon, Tessa is training to grade for her black belt later this year.

“The support from the dojo is incredible,” Ang says of the Downright Dragons programme. “The Dragons are very much part of the Seido Dojo. We’re all so proud.”

And so are the mums – who, after they’ve finished their coffees, head back to the dojo to catch the end of the class.

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Image caption: Dan and Jevan now proud black belts.