THE popular belief that it takes more than patience to be a teacher comes to mind when you watch 33-year-old Noel Nkuranyabahizi guiding kids and adults through elementary Karate techniques.

Akin to his tolerant nature, his dream of becoming a professional Karate instructor is taking shape. Nkuranyabahizi, a Dan 3 (third degree black belt), started practicing Karate at the age of 16, as a senior one student at Groupe Scolaire de Kansi, in Huye District. At the time, martial arts sport was not as popular as it is today.

Inspired by the heroics of national champions of the time, in 1997, he aspired to become a champion.

Since he lived close to the former National University of Rwanda (NUR), now University of Rwanda, Huye campus, he took advantage of the campus Dojo [training facility] to train during holidays.

He completed his A’ level at Groupe Scolaire Gihundwe, in Rusizi district and by the time he finished S.6, he was already a black belt holder.

"After S.6, I missed out on a government scholarship but I was admitted at the current National University of Rwanda, Huye campus because of my Karate skills, in 2006. I studied social work and graduated in 2010,” Nkuranyabahizi said.

After graduation, he got a job at the Remera correctional facility in 2011. Two years after, he took on a new career path that he loved and believed was his calling.

He noted: "I can’t say that I am already a full professional coach but that’s where I am headed. I train three kids’ clubs and other clubs for adults. My intention is to do things that I like and connected to my education. In a way, social work involves caring for and managing people.”

Nkuranyabahizi’s first stint at coaching was during his university days. Back then, he trained students at the Ecole Francaise in Huye for a fee.

"It was fun and rewarding, financially. I was a student but earning. I also coached at Groupe Scolaire Officielle de Butare (GSOB),”

Currently he offers coaching services at Lionceaux as well as at Lions Karate-do, kids and adults clubs at Amahoro National stadium, and at the École Belge School, in Kigali. Along with other NUR graduates, Eric Remera and Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, Nkuranyabahizi wants to start three new kids’ clubs.

"The bigger picture is to nurture the next generation of Rwanda’s Karate champions and, to showcase the high standards of discipline in Karate as a sport. Some people think Karate is about violent behavior but that’s actually wrong. Kids become more disciplined, fit and healthy.”

Nkuranyabahizi was already among the few best Kata competitors to be counted on when called to the national Karate team, in 2006.

But it was not until 2007 that his star started rising. He started winning trophies during national Kata (display of a set sequence of karate moves in a pre-arranged fight against imaginary opponents) competitions.

In 2008, the NUR team, for which he was part, was the best in the region.

In September 2011, he participated in his first continental tournament, the 2011 All-Africa Games, in Mozambique though the team did not win medals.

"Much of what we gained in skills was due to our then new national team coach Ruslan Adamov who had just been recruited. He has enormously improved the national team’s technical standing,” Nkuranyabahizi praises the Russian martial arts expert.

Nkuranyabahizi has represented Rwanda in various competitions including last August’s 15th Senior African Karate Championship held in Senegal, which saw the country move up 10 places to 83rd in World Karate Federation (WKF) ranking.

Highest moment

The soft spoken Nkuranyabahizi most often reminisces about a moment, in 2010, when – while still a university student – he was crowned regional Kata champion after defeating local and other opponents from the DR Congo and Burundi.

He recalls, "I won gold [medal] after competing not only against fellow Rwandans, but also against Congolese and Burundians.”

Ever grateful

For most of the skills he has attained in Karate, he attributes it to Tharcisse Sinzi’s mentorship. Sinzi, a 5th Dan black belt, is one of the country’s few veteran Karate instructors, and he has groomed many of Rwanda’s current Karatekas. "He is the coach who actually nurtured me. In addition, he helped me get a scholarship to join university.”