THE STORY OF OUR FIRST DOJO- 2

The area around the dojo

The locality

Our first dojo is in one the most sensitive slum areas of Kolkata, 3.6 kms away from my home if one takes the shortest route through the narrow lanes running parallel to BaghaJatin station. In the beginning I used to change two auto- rickshaws(after long waiting queues), and then walk about half a km to reach the center. None of this may seem difficult if you are sure when your auto rickshaw might arrive.

In the beginning there were just five adolescent girls. There was no tatami (floor mats). There was no one to assist for the demonstrations. I had to demonstrate, correct, re-demonstrate on cement floor.  I was super worried about any one of my students making a wrong move and getting injuries. But they were tougher than I had assumed. Their will to be able to do a Ukemi(back roll and front roll) surpassed the pain their bodies felt on the hard floor. In the peak summer heat it was difficult to keep my motivation to go to this center to teach. What kept me up and about? There were times when I was a little late because I waited too long without a mode of transport and as I approached the area I would find one of the students cycling out searching for their new teacher.  Only one of those first five stayed to learn for the next six months. The rest dropped out.

Today we have two dojos with tatamis in both. New routes and means to reach the dojo in Panchasayar have been found.  If the teacher is late the older students begin the exercises for the new ones. The teacher has been nicknamed “Kungfu madam” in the area.  We have new students turning up at every class. Some turn up without telling their parents, some carry their infant siblings. We have had class with babies crawling on the tatami, sometimes parents who barge in screaming at their children trying to get them out of the class. These students rebel, stay for few classes or more or drop out, but they leave behind the energy for a willing student. They do not expect trophies or any certification. They have a place which they can call their “own space”. And they have already changed the way everyone looks at them. 

The defunct factory inside which our dojo exists

Classes with covid precautions - only 4 

Older students guiding the younger ones before class time