Karate kid

Daksha Jain and her experiences as a martial arts instructor

Staff Writer

Daksha Jain’s martial arts journey has given her the opportunity to be a student, teacher, and, occasionally, a swordsman. To her, it’s more than a part-time job—it’s an opportunity to give back. “After a certain level, I felt like I wanted to learn something more, not just the curriculum. I wanted to learn how to teach and how to be a better role model,” said Jain (12).

As a seasoned karate instructor at West Coast World Martial Arts (WCWMA) in Newark, Daksha especially inspires her Dragons, the youngest students. Teaching them is both rewarding and challenging. “It’s really great to witness their accomplishments, but it’s also pretty exhausting,” she said.

Over time, she’s had to build patience and manage her emotions, especially when it comes to the Dragons in lower belt ranks. “It’s easy to think that teaching is easy, like you’re just going to do what you do and people will catch on, but that’s rarely the case. You really have to adapt yourself to your students.”

She even inspires her co-workers and those in higher belt ranks. “Daksha brings a very welcoming vibe to everyone, especially the younger kids she teaches,” said Catherine Ha (12), a co-worker of Jain’s. “My coworkers and I have learned from her that sometimes we have to have more fun and patience with the younger students, unlike the older ones. It’s a different dynamic,” she said.

Jain alongside her instructor and mentor KJN Dave after her third-degree black belt test (Photo Credit: Daksha Jain (12)).

She might make it look easy, but Jain’s martial arts talent and knack for teaching did not develop overnight. She is a third-degree black belt, the third rank of the black belt system. “I was her partner for her third-degree black belt test. Her hard work towards that belt rank really stood out to me,” said Ha. “For that test, she had to make her own creative open form with a weapon, and her choice was a sword. Using a weapon was very new to her, but it was really impressive how she improved a lot as she continued practicing.”

Her diligence also stands out when she works with the Dragons. “They’re very rowdy and sometimes hard to manage. When they’re scared to do certain things, she calms them down and motivates them at the same time,” said Ha. Being an instructor has taught her to pace herself and be more present. “Teaching is a process. Everyone learns at different paces and in different ways,” said Jain.

Her patience has, at times, transformed into a perseverance that translates to her academic and personal life. “Even though she struggles in some classes and with some teachers, she’ll still put in the effort to do her best so the result will reflect that. She always keeps trying,” said Sonika Anand (12), her best friend. This not only motivates her Dragons, but also those she surrounds herself with. “She really inspires everyone in our circle to stay on-track.” Jain’s discipline and passion for martial arts has touched those in every area of her life. To her Dragons, friends, and co-workers alike, she’s a role model. “I try to encourage them by showing that hard work pays off, regardless of whether or not you already have the talent. To me, my students themselves are a community.”