It was 1980 when I first saw a karate demonstration team perform live. I had been interested in Eastern martial arts before, but that was the moment I fell in love with the sport forever. At the time, I watched in amazement as Sándor Török and Ernő Kis held training sessions in the hall on Vágóhíd Street. The whole experience was fascinating, and I soon realized that karate is not just about people beating each other up, but rather a way of seeing and approaching the world that few people possess.
As I continued to explore the world of karate, I met Sensei István Bódi, who held monthly training sessions and helped me develop my skills. Later, I also met Shihan Kálmán Furkó, whom we traveled to Szolnok to train with in order to deepen our knowledge and draw inspiration.
There were difficulties and changes in the life of the dojo. For a short time, Sensei János Boros Nagy led our dojo, but later Sensei János Drienyovszki took over. Under his leadership, the dojo's operations were stabilized, although at that time, Kyokushin karate in Debrecen was almost entirely under his control. A new era began in 1986 when the dojo took the name Kagami, which has represented the spirit of Kyokushin karate ever since.
In 2002, when János Drienyovszki moved away from Debrecen, my friend Ernő Kis and I took over the leadership of Kagami. Since then, we have been nurturing and developing our dojo with unwavering enthusiasm and dedication. Our goal is not only to pass on the knowledge we have acquired over the years, but also to keep the values and spirit of Kyokushin alive in our community. I am proud to say that in addition to my 2nd Dan exam, I also passed my referee exam in 2005.
My goal in life has become to set young people on the same path that I am on. Within the association, I work with the youngest members and beginners. Perhaps this is because, even as an adult, I have not forgotten what it was like to be a child.
The greatest recognition I have received from the young masters was when they thanked me for their successful exams and reminded me that I had started them on the path of karate. "We started with you!" they said.
I believe it is important to show through my own example how perseverance, humility, and dedication can lead to success. I want to be a mentor who not only imparts technical knowledge but also motivates and encourages students to believe in themselves and boldly follow their dreams.
The dan exam is not the end of the road, but a new beginning. It is an opportunity to give even more value to the karate community and to show that Kyokushin karate is not just a martial art, but a way of life that puts the heart and values first, even at the top.
For me, karate is no longer just a sport, but a way of life that has taught me that humility is not weakness, but a source of inner strength. I have learned to take responsibility for myself and others, and that a true warrior is not one who never falls, but one who always gets back up, no matter how great the challenge. As Masutatsu Oyama said:
"A true warrior does not fight to win, but to become a better person."
This thought guides me every day to never give up on my path and always be the best I can be.
