Mindful sensei
PICO CORRIDOR — Looking like the prototypical proud parent, Jesse Lares II watched closely as his son, Jesse III, stood strong and blocked a right-handed blow from his Goju Karate master, Sensei Vassie Naidoo.
The two were practicing kata, also known as shadow boxing — an ancient Japanese exercise in which one slowly and deliberately moves through a series of basic attacks and defenses that serve as the blueprint for the particular style of karate practiced. The key is to perform each move repeatedly, with the same precision and intensity, until they become second nature. Perfection is difficult to attain, coming only to those who show complete dedication.
With that in mind, one can’t help but wonder why an accomplished sensei like Naidoo — who has a countless number of clients, including two members of the Mexican National Karate Team — would spend so much time teaching kata to a 7-year-old.
“For him, it’s not just about teaching someone to block or kick,” the elder Lares said. “He follows the traditions and really brings all of the elements together. It’s not just about learning how to fight, but how to respect yourself and those around you. When my son told me he wanted to take karate, we drove all over looking for the right place. This was the only one where I felt there was more to it than just going through the motions.”
Since his son joined Naidoo’s Goju-Ryo Karate Do, located across the street from Virginia Avenue Park, the elder Lares has noticed a significant change in his son’s behavior.
“He’s calmer now, and he really listens and pays attention more,” the elder Lares said. “He really enjoys what he’s doing.”
For Naidoo, a native of South Africa who has been practicing Goju for 40 years, 26 of those in Santa Monica and the Palisades, there is nothing more rewarding than working with children.
“You can see the light at the end of the tunnel with them,” said Naidoo, a fit 60-year-old of Indian descent who, despite a few gray hairs, doesn’t look a day over 45 — the side-effect of continuous training and meditation. “You see how their whole attitude changes. They become more mellow. They start doing the chores at home, because I insist that their moms let me know, call me anytime, if they don’t do their homework and chores at home. They have to keep up their grades, and karate can help them do that as well.”
With the loss of sports in many public schools, as well as concerns about increased incidents of youth violence, it is Naidoo’s goal to incorporate karate, and in particular the form of Goju, into the curriculum as a way to keep kids fit while simultaneously nourishing their self-esteem.
He also continues to teach for free those kids who cannot afford his classes.
“If they can’t afford it, of course, I’ll teach them,” Naidoo said as he stood below pictures of his master, Chogan Miyagi, as well as countless awards. “I don’t throw them away. They’re the kids that need it most … My goal is, at some point, to start teaching martial arts in schools, like in India and Japan. That’s why the kids, compared to most western countries, the respect is way up. There is that discipline that comes with practicing and appreciating karate.”
On a recent Saturday afternoon, Naidoo, a resident of Santa Monica’s Ocean Park neighborhood, took a break from teaching to talk with the Daily Press about his love of martial arts.
WHAT IS GOJU RYU KARATE?
“There are five traditional major styles in the world and Goju is one of the traditional styles. We belong to the roots of Goju. A lot of people are off-shoots, but our lineage can be traced to the original roots of Goju. Goju means hard and soft. In other words if someone attacks you and you block hard (with your forearm), something’s going to break, so you block soft (deflecting the blow away from the body). It also teaches you to have a soft heart, but it is very hard to get inside it.”
WHAT ARE THE ELEMENTS OF GOJU?
“We do a lot of basics to build you up to doing good kata. You must practice kata to become a good fighter. Everything in the kata means something. You have offense and defense, learn to fight with both sides. It’s very much like a dance, where every move tells some story, some emotion. Kata really comes from within. It can be very spiritual. That is why in traditional karate, you can train for the rest of your life, for every time you practice, you gain so much and learn even more. I’ve been practicing for most of my life and I still discover new things.”
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH MARTIAL ARTS?
“I used to play with a second division soccer team, Aces United, in a city called Natal. I was 19, a late bloomer, and someone introduced me to (karate), and after the first time I tried it, I fell in love with it and I’ve been practicing ever since… 40 years. I started off in South Africa, trained in Thailand, Hong Kong, Europe. I was teaching in South Africa last year and they inducted me into the hall of fame for martial arts in South Africa… When I was much younger, there was apartheid in South Africa and I was one of the pioneers in the non-white community, holding the first multi-racial tournament in a soccer stadium … We had a wonderful response. They didn’t interfere. I think they knew better, because it would have caused an uproar.”
WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR YOU LIVING UNDER APARTHEID?
“For me, it was OK. I was known in the community, contributing to the community like I do here. I had about 300 students and out of them, 200 were non-paying because they just couldn’t afford it. I did a lot of charity work, so I was OK. But most others weren’t as fortunate as me and it was very difficult to see, very difficult.”
Is the popularity for karate growing in the united states? It’s been more than 20 years since ralph macchio became “The karate kid.”
“I think compared to the rest of the world, we are way behind. I say that because the intensity of winning, we don’t have it here, because there are so many other sports that concern money. When you do martial arts, what you look for is how good it is for you, both physically, mentally spiritually and everything else, and not to make a living off of it. But if you go soccer, baseball, basketball, football, and if you’re good at it you can make a lot of money. And traditional martial arts is not that easy to do. Everything is very precise, the footwork especially, with the heel and the pushing back of the hips, keeping the hara (abdomen) tight and the focus, pulling your chin in. People don’t have the time to go through all that. People who really know, want and understand it will go through it.”
You mentioned some of them, but what are the benefits of karate?
“First off is your health, your focus, your coordination. Everything you do with the left, you’ve got to do with the right — balance. It also gives you self-esteem, self-control and self-respect. That last one is important because if you don’t respect yourself, you don’t respect anyone else, which in turn causes you not to respect karate.You learn to fight to avoid fighting. That’s the key… fighting is just one part of karate. That’s why there are so many aspects of it, from stretching, breathing, the basic exercises, your kata, all of that.”
YOU JUST RETURNED FROM JAPAN. WHAT WERE YOU DOING THERE?
“I represented the United States in the Japanese Karate Federation. I was able to study with some of the best masters of martial arts in the world. I do this every year as a way to enhance my understanding of Goju so that I can come here and host seminars. For those who cannot afford it, Japan comes to them.”
BRUCE LEE OR CHUCK NORRIS?
“That’s a tough one. I like both of them. I like Chuck Norris in the movies. His moves are more based in reality, nothing too fancy. Bruce Lee was one of the greatest as well, but we’re talking about the movies now. Chuck Norris was always very fundamental, simple, but effective moves. I like that … I usually don’t watch karate movies.”
YOU COULD MAKE YOUR OWN MOVIES? “(Laughing) Yes, I guess I could. But you have to learn how to act.”
HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN SANTA MONICA?
“Ever since I moved to the States — 26 years. When you first come here, settle in, you can never leave. It’s just a wonderful place to live. I love the beach and the parks here, so many places to enjoy. The people are probably the greatest thing. Wherever I’ve been, I’ve always wanted to be a part of the community. Of course, Lares restaurant is my favorite, and Lighthouse, the Sushi place. My other favorite is the Tandoori Oven on Pico.”
What’s it been like working here in santa monica for the last nine years?
“It’s been good. I just wish I could get a better response from the community, have kids take advantage of the program. If I was going to do anything, I would want to have this place full of kids. Kids, just like adults, need to have structure, a solid foundation, and that’s what we do here. We build that. I’m very strict with that. Either do it right or don’t do it at all … I wish I could get more response. That’s all.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 14, 2006. Read the original PDF.