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From an early age, Kaivan Fatakia, originally from Pune, was fascinated with Karate. So consuming was his passion that by the tender age of just 13, he was already a black belt! Kaivan knew early on that this was to be the career he would pursue. He determinedly studied Goju-Ryu Karate and with each subsequent kata (Karate sequences curated for practice) and kumite (fight), he mastered its form, discipline and strength. It was this strength that he drew from, to vanquish life-changing adversities like losing his father when he was still in his early teens or being diagnosed with Stage 2 Acute Myeloid Leukaemia, a form of blood cancer, at the age of 30.
Trained under the guidance of Vispy Kapadia, the then head of the IKGA, Kaivan moved to Mumbai and began teaching and training this art. His affinity for children combined with his dexterity as a Kata and Kumite expert, who had himself earned the reputation of a champion on the international platform, resulted in his students winning numerous local, national and international competitions, in turn winning him global accolades.
In 2015, an upset in the order of the IKGA – India contingent left the seat of leadership open. After due diligence, the IKGA heads in Japan decided to award the dynamic Sensei (Japanese for reverent master) Kaivan the prestigious position of IKGA’s representative in India, in keeping with his steadfast passion for the sport, uncompromising commitment to discipline and a personality characterised by respect and empathy towards others. He accepted this responsibility with grace. A few months later, he was diagnosed with cancer.
The severity of the treatment turned his world upside down, leaving him unable to continue his practice for over a year, where he endured chemotherapy, bone marrow transplants and various other medical procedures that left him exhausted and in acute pain. Though it was primarily the discipline and grit he had imbibed through his practice that saw him through this nightmare, emotional and financial support came pouring in from all ends – from friends, students and their parents, mentors and the do-gooders of the community. Hanshi Goshi Yamaguchi, the head of the Gojukai Karate worldwide, personally coached him to deal with the pain and Kaivan won this battle for survival like a true champion! A year later, he was medically given the ‘cancer free’ green signal and he was back on track, ready to start life over.
As the India IKGA head, Kaivan trains and guides students pan-India. He conducts belt exams and delegates responsibility. He will hold his first Annual Camp this month from the 26th to the 29th of December. The camp is a tradition and attended by students and instructors from across the country where Kaivan and his instructors will train Karate enthusiasts in Mumbai. As a show of support and respect for the indomitable spirit of Sensei Kaivan, this year’s camp will be graced by international Karate greats! VP of IKDGA, Hanshi Peter Brandon will grace the camp. Hanshi Peter Brandon from South Africa, the President of All Africa GojuKai Association; also the Head Coach of the South African Karate National Team and the Official Trainer for the South African Armed Forces will also be present. As will be internationally acclaimed Kumite coach from Iran, Shihan Hamidreza Nimehvari, who will train students and instructors in Kumite; and Shihan Ghulam Mughal from Sweden, certified in unarmed combat as well as a certified Yoga Trainer, who will train students and instructors in Kata and unarmed combat.
Says Sensei Kaivan, about the future of Karate in India, “I’m excited about the future. Karate is now included in the Olympic Games and I firmly believe in the values taught by Gojukai Karate. I hope to be the person to carry the Gojukai Karate torch for India, and lead my team into winning the Olympics and across other world championships. I wish for all enthusiasts to imbibe the true essence of discipline that would last them a lifetime.”
Some Highlights Of Sensei Kaivan’s Brilliant Achievements:
1994-1995 & 1999-2001: Gojukai National Championships, Pune
2005: Participation in World Championships, Netherlands
2007: Mumbai Mayors Cup Champion
2009: National Champion in Chennai (Gold Medal) and Selected for Asian Games 2010
2010: Participated in the World Karate Federation Championships in Serbia
2011: Akshay Kumar International Championship in Mumbai (Gold Medal) & Gojukai Asia Pacific Championship in Thailand (Bronze medal)
2012: All-India Karate Federation National Champion (Gold Medal)
2013: Ranked number 4 in Gojukai World Championships
2014: Coached Indian National Team for World Karate Federation in Croatia
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Date: 26th to 29th December, 2016
Venue: Rustomjee Cambridge International School, Virar, Mumbai
Please Note: Travel, food and stay provided by the Camp.
For details, contact Kaivan Fatakia on 9967827897 or 9930463101.
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