Valecia Cigar

Black Karate Tiger

Interviewed by Aurélien Henry OBAMA

Shiai Magazine: Hello sister Valecia Cigar, welcome to Shiai Magazine “The International African Martial Arts Magazine”, can you tell us what brought you in practices of martial arts and briefly about your life?

Valecia Cigar: Thank you so much for sharing your time with me.

Upon relocating to California from Texas, I attended a Shotokan Karate class with a friend where I found the strength generated by a 15 year old female impressive along with the success of powerful techniques against older and more sizable opponents, female and male. Today, at 5^th degree, I am Head Instructor of two dojos located in Fullerton and Riverside, California.

 

Shiai Magazine: Have you been to Africa before?

Valecia Cigar: My world travels, thus far, have been with the USA Karate Team. Unfortunately, my travels have not yet experienced the rich culture of Africa.

Shiai Magazine: What has martial arts brought into your life as an African American woman?

Valecia Cigar: Martial Arts have provided direction and opportunity. With three quarters of my life invested, Karate-do is a way of life for me.

Shiai Magazine: Are you aware of the existence of African fighting systems?

Valecia Cigar: Yes. I am aware of several stick fighting systems that exist in various parts of Africa, as well as the boxing systems like Dambe, systems involving both like Nuba and also the traditional wrestling systems in various areas in Africa.

Shiai Magazine: With your long experiences in martial arts have you ever encounter racism or people did not consider your skills since you were a woman?

Valecia Cigar: In my life I have met resistance and opposition. It is then, when one must always be prepared and most determined in your skills, mind and spirit to supersede those obstacles.

Shiai Magazine: Does any of your organizations you are member with are represented in Africa?

Valecia Cigar: In the past, I have had affiliation with an organization which had representation in South Africa.

Shiai Magazine: Have you watched the old Karate Kid movie and the new version with Jackie Chan? What do you think of presence of a black boy in film acted by Will Smith’s son Jaden Smith?

Valecia Cigar: Both are great movies. Jaden Smith’s presence is a great promoter of Martial Arts for adolescence and all people cross-culturally. It can help introduce Martial Arts, its Do, or Way, and the value of lessons in life learned through continued, diligent training to watchers across all socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.

Shiai Magazine: Tell us about your participation in the documentary Empty Hand the movie: Real Karate Kids? What was your role?

Valecia Cigar: My participation in the film was as Head Coach of the Japan Karate-do Federation’s National Karate Team, preparing team members for national and international competition.

Shiai Magazine: What is your opinion about Kevin Derek work as film director and 5 Karate kids in the documentary? Will we have one day an African version?

Valecia Cigar: Kevin Derek was great to work with. I have been with some of the team members for years. It is the best feeling coaching the kids and watching how their desire and drive during training translates into results in competition. I’m very proud of them all.

With such promotion of Martial Arts accelerating, it seems like an ideal time to create an African version of Empty Hand.

Shiai Magazine: Today many Africans and Africans of Diaspora are promoting African martial arts through books, DVDs, documentaries and films. Why a sudden interest in the African heritage of martial arts?

Valecia Cigar: Interest in African heritage of martial arts can foment and help solidify the cultural identity of a people practicing a particular art from a particular region. In a fragmented world, a cultural component such as this serves as a bonding agent for people.

Shiai Magazine: The highly expected upcoming African martial arts movie Lost Brother “Waka-waka man” will be filmed in Cameroon, Africa with an African martial arts actor, do you think that an African martial arts film can succeed?

Valecia Cigar: A quality film with great actors, story and action will succeed. It is an ideal time with such Martial Arts expansion.

Shiai Magazine: What advice can you give to African women or girls who want to succeed in life although situation in her community is not always easy to succeed?

Valecia Cigar: Girls and women,

Remember that you and your vision are most important. Prepare yourself and your plan. Visualize your goal. Find others like-minded in support of each other and each other’s vision. Achieve as much as you can, because life is short. When circumstances tell you that you cannot, believe you can succeed.

Shiai Magazine: Do you have any future projects you will like to talk about?

Valecia Cigar: Currently, I am preparing for the upcoming JKF National Team competition season.

Shiai Magazine: What is your opinion of this African martial arts online magazine? Do you think that this magazine needs to be supported for their efforts in promoting Black martial artists in the world?

Valecia Cigar: Shiai Magazine is a valuable resource of African martial arts, history and Black martial artists.

Shiai Magazine: Any last words?

Valecia Cigar: It has been a great pleasure speaking with you. My best to all.

Shiai Magazine: Thank you sister Valecia Cigar in accepting our interview for Shiai Magazine. We hope one day that you will visit us in our country Cameroon “Africa miniature”. God bless you sister and your entire family.