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23 January 2020
tame TIMES meets Faith Fellowship Christian Family Southern Warriors Shotokan Karate Dojo offers a new fully equipped Dojo in Brackenhurst
Dr’s Gerald and Gwen Cooper started Faith Fellowship Christian Family Church International in Ennerdale with the God-given vision to bring people into the family of Jesus Christ, develop them to Christian maturity and equip them for their ministry in the church in order to magnify God’s name. They are in leadership with Dr Theo Wolmarans and his wife Beverley, Christian Family Church International Johannesburg is one of the largest churches of its kind in Southern Africa. Their culture at CFC can be summed up in our 4 key values... CONNECT, DISCOVER, BELONG, GROW.
We don’t like to see anyone having to go through life alone or without purpose and therefore we focus on providing the opportunity for everyone to be connected, to discover their purpose, to know they belong to a family and to help them to grow in their relationship with God and with others. At CFC, our doors are wide open to people from all backgrounds, regardless of where they are on their spiritual journey. What people usually notice first about us is the life-giving nature of our ministry. Our goal is to infuse life and God’s love into people and families through engaging, powerful worship services that offer biblical truth in relevant and practical ways.
Catching up with Tevin Blignaut tame Times had the privilege to meet with Tevin Blignaut, a motivational speaker from Roodepoort with a vision to promote hope for young and old in South Africa. We spoke to Tevin to understand his ambition behind coaching and inspiration to help equip his target audience.
1. What is the motivation behind your initiative? The vision of @ Tevinthespeaker is to discuss the concept of purpose and the Kingdom message, all around the world, so that people understand it and live it. My mission is world peace through the idea of heaven on earth. Now, this may seem far fetched but the honest truth is that this vision and mission is so close, that all we have to do is reach out and grab it. In-fact, the mission is made by possible by the fulfilment of the vision. The concepts of peace, love, joy and righteousness will be the result of this message. And that is the motivation behind the brand of @ Tevinthespeaker. 2. Who is your target audience?
The target audience is anyone who is willing to listen - because the message is for everyone. But the primary focus is on my generation and generations that are to come. 3. How do you plan your daily, weekly and monthly themes such as key lessons, success inspiration and dream coaching I have developed a plan of action model that is centered around the book release of that year. As you may know, the book I have written and will be released at the end of February, is centered on purpose. So, my theme for 2020 is purpose. Next year, 2021, the theme will be introducing the Kingdom concept – which is the book I will be writing this year.
tame TIMES met Sensei Paul Da Silva from the Southern Warriors Shotokan Karate Dojo & Fitness Centre in Brackenhurst at the Bracken Villa Shopping Centre, corner of Vermooten and Atmore Streets, Brackenhurst. Sensei Paul said that he has been participating in karate for almost 30 years and believes that the fundamental karate principles are a healthy and holistic way to conduct one’s life. His wife, Alexandra da Silva, a very wellknown and extremely popular fitness instructor at Virgin Active and Viva Gyms will be conducting a select number of fitness related classes. Alexandra’s classes are designed to motivate fitness and core strength in individuals. As a longtime resident of Alberton, Da Silva said that he was inspired to open a fully equipped dojo and fitness centre in Brackenhurst with a view to better equip people to learn karate in Alberton and the surrounding areas. As the dojo is fully serviced, the karateka are able to correct technique, perfect their relevant katas, practice their kumite and improve on their fitness levels, all under one roof. Sensei Paul further stressed that although karate in itself means different things to different people, in his personal view, it is a way in which he conducts his personal way of life. “My passion is to teach karate, and to share the way of the empty hand. Karate is for everyone, regardless of their age or physical ability. It’s not a religion but is a type of lifestyle whereby one lives with certain rules which we call the dojo kun. Karate also brings families together. It’s an old art form benefitting people as individuals as well as in groups. It has the added benefit of promoting families to train together in an environment in which they can learn, grow and still have fun,” added Sensei Paul. Sensei Paul told tame TIMES that karate has inspired him to be a better person, to live a better life and to help others. He said that karate is a traditional art form, and that the dojo doors are open to anyone who is willing and wanting to learn the art. The Southern Warriors Shotokan Karate Dojo & Fitness Centre is affiliated to the United Shotokan-Ryu (USR) an
independent Shotokan Karate Union founded in South Africa. Our federation is one of the few organisations, who teach and grade disabled children and adults and allow them to obtain their black belts in karate. The Union has been formed based on a modern ideology which will strive to meet and serve the diverse needs of our members and instructors. As part of USR’s objectives, world class instructors will be brought to South Africa, and specifically to the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Gauteng on an annual basis. Priority will be given to international instructors who transmit Shotokan Karate-do as a form of Japanese Budo rather than as a sport. Sensei Paul explained that his teaching style and methods are motivated by educating children and adults not to fight, but instead, to defend themselves, and to retreat from certain situations. He believes that students should be taught to only attack an opponent if they are being attacked first, thereby taking on a more defensive mind set, and not an antagonist or attack mind set. At his dojo, Sensei Paul said that the students are able to make friends, learn self-defence, conquer ADHD, integrate the two brain halves, boost self-esteem, improve concentration, improve spatial orientation, improve gross motor skills, improve hand-eye coordination, learn self-respect and respect for others, improve self-discipline, participate individually, as well as in a team, but most importantly have fun”. The Southern Warriors Shotokan Karate Dojo & Fitness Centre offers the following: Shotokan Karate Classes Self defence Classes Group Fitness Classes Karate Equipment Sales Karate has the potential to unite families, whether through training in classes together, supporting one another at tournaments and championships, or just by following the principles of karate. Sensei Paul ended our interview by sharing the karate principles (dojo kun): Seek perfection of character Be faithful Endeavour Respect others Refrain from violent behavior For more information, feel free to contact Sensei Paul da Silva on 083 226 6474 or Alex da Silva on 079 936 8285
