Observing proper form in sports, life

By Patrick Van Wersch
for MindaNews .

DAVAO City — A black belt in Shotokan karate, 48-year-old Jessica Hojas Esparrago, coach and sports leader at Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan, is one of few women coaches in Philippine karate. The self-proclaimed “mama bear coach” is determined to develop athletes with a heart, smarts, and skills. “At first they are loose clay without knowledge yet of the art. Then I add water and mold my students to become a perfect pot. I teach them the proper way to do it.”

Up until her college days, Esparrago specialized in track and field, in particular the 400 and 800 meter dash. The first fascination for karate started with seeing American martial arts artist and actress Cynthia Rothrock beat up bad guys in Hollywood films. “At the time, late ’80s and early ’90s, I didn’t see many women in martial arts. Rothrock really inspired me.”

Three branches of karate

In 1988 she enrolled at Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City and joined the first school of the Japan Karate Association – Nihon Karate Kyokai Philippines Inc. there. Of the initial 20 members only three were women. During her college years as a varsity student, Esparrago would represent the school at local and interschool karate tournaments. When she completed her bachelor’s degree in elementary education the school asked her to handle a karate class for physical education.

“I was 20 when I taught my first real class. The experience inspired me to start a varsity karate club at Xavier University. I teach my students all three branches of karate: the art, or ‘kata’, the sport, and karate as self-defense. There is no first attack in karate. That’s a message I also advocate in my outreach work with women and children.”

Part of her outreach focuses on women who have suffered abuse. Esparrago has noticed it’s not easy to encourage them to join her karate program. “Once you are abused you feel ashamed and fearful. What if the husband finds out? The women might be tested by them.” The karate coach also went into the community after tropical cyclone Sendong ripped through Cagayan de Oro. “I brought kicking pads with me and had survivors kick them while shouting at the top of their lungs. It works as a therapeutic experience. My karate students joined me to one of the evacuation centers to play with the kids.”

‘Result of my creation’

And then there’s also the Xavier Ateneo Night School Program that Esparrago is involved in. The night school, part of the Department of Education’s Alternative Learning System, aims to educate out-of-school youth and street children in Cagayan de Oro City. One of their subjects is karate. “I emphasize that the essence of karate is to build character, not to learn fighting skills. In my training, before I teach self-defense, I teach the five principles of karate: seek perfection, be faithful, endeavor, respect others, and refrain from violent behavior. After practice we all meditate together. I ask the kids to close their eyes and memorize the principles. The exercise teaches them to be humble to others who don’t know the art of karate.”

She applies the same approach to her student-athletes, some of whom she hopes will coach karate someday. “I handle some trainings for my brown belters on instructing skills and teaching the art. I developed modules for that from beginner to advanced level. (To be continued)