THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It was a new experience for the city dwellers as they watched in awe the Karate manoeuvres performed by black-belt students of Shihan K V Manoharan, the chief instructor of Okinawa Uechi Ryu Karate and Kobudo. What the students had in store was a standing ovation at the end of an hour-long performance which demonstrated the martial culture of Japan. The demonstration of Karate techniques and breaking drills were organised in the city the other day as part of ‘Discover Japan Festival 2012’, a three-day-long cultural festival and industrial expo organised by Japanese Cultural and Information Centre (JCIC) in association with Alumni Society of AOTS Trivandrum Sub centre, and Terumo Penpol Ltd. Trivandrum .The demonstration started with meditation and later gave way to high octane performances. A group of five students including Manoharan’s son Rohit and daughter Haritha gave a scintillating performance on stage which encompassed the power and precision of traditional Uechi Ryu Karate. The star item of the event was the performance of Haritha the youngest child of Manoharan and a black-belt holder. The girl was laid over a bed of sharp nails. A small concrete block was placed on her stomach and Manoharan broke it into pieces using a sledge hammer. Manoharan later told that such sort of manoeuvres can be performed properly only by harnessing the mind and body. “Uechi Ryu is a traditional art, which helps to condition the mind and the body. The style is rooted in Okinawa and was influenced by Chinese martial arts too. The art held lethal power and it enhanced flexibility. Every movement in Uechi Ryu varies from sports Karate,” he explained.
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