Sergei Shilovskikh, an international competition medalist and karate coach, shares how this ancient martial art shapes young people’s character and helps them cope with the challenges of the digital age.
According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), last year, American participation in sports and fitness reached a record high of 80%. This means that 247.1 million people in the country engaged in at least one type of sport or fitness activity — 25.4 million more than in 2019. Interest has grown particularly among young people: many teenagers are returning to real physical activities after the pandemic and the digital boom. For example, 77% of teenagers practicing martial arts say that it helps them maintain their health, and two-thirds consider it an important part of their social life. These figures are higher compared to their peers who choose other types of sports.
This is confirmed by Sergei Shilovskikh, an athlete, candidate master of sports in karate, medalist at all-Russian tournaments, Premier League participant in Bulgaria, and coach. He has been practicing karate since age five and now trains others, understanding how positively the sport influences character. According to him, karate is a true school of life. Observations show that young people who choose martial arts often become more confident and focused than those who simply go to the gym. But what’s the secret behind such impact? How exactly do karate sessions help cope with emotional overload and the constant pressure that many experience in the modern world? This is what our feature explores: what qualities karate develops and why in the era of digital work and social media, sports stops being just a hobby and becomes a real necessity.
How Martial Arts Shape Character
Sergei Shilovskikh began his athletic career in early childhood when his grandfather brought him to his first karate training at age five. Over 13 years of intensive practice, he not only achieved victories at prestigious international competitions but also experienced firsthand how powerfully karate can transform character and make a person internally stronger.
“Karate shaped me as a person; this sport taught me discipline, respect, and self-control from childhood,” says the athlete and coach.
Sergei notes that for today’s youth, karate provides what is often lacking in the digital age: the ability to concentrate, patience, skills to manage emotions, and the formation of healthy habits. In a world where attention is constantly scattered between notifications, social media, and information streams, it becomes increasingly difficult for teenagers to stay focused and see things through to completion.
For shy teenagers, this becomes a way to gain self-confidence, learn to stand up for their boundaries, and be braver in life, while for highly active children, karate helps channel energy in the right direction and learn to control their body and emotions. As Sergei emphasizes, karate always positively influences character and personal development, regardless of the goals for practicing the sport.
Karate as the Art of Body Control
One of the main misconceptions about karate is that this martial art teaches how to fight. In reality, it’s quite the opposite, as explained by Sergei Shilovskikh, a professional athlete, international competition participant, and coach with many years of experience. The true purpose of karate is to teach a person to control themselves, their emotions and body to such an extent that they would never use force to cause harm.
Sergei teaches his students precisely this. In training sessions, he emphasizes not only technique and speed but also the ability to remain calm in any situation, make decisions without aggression, and act consciously.
“Karate is not about striking first. It’s about maintaining calm and controlling yourself even in difficult moments,” Sergei emphasizes.
Unlike many other martial arts where the main focus is on physical strength, striking techniques, and damage inflicted, karate develops a balance between physical and mental abilities. Here, students learn not only to attack but also to stop in time, make decisions from a state of calm rather than anger.
Karate as a Tool for Mental Wellness
In today’s world, where stress and anxiety levels among young people reach record highs, and the constant flow of information overloads the psyche, karate becomes not just a sport but a genuine tool for mental resilience. Today, teenagers and young adults face pressure from studies, parental and societal expectations, and social media, while it remains difficult to learn how to cope with their emotions.
Sergei Shilovskikh, a professional athlete and coach, has gone through these trials himself. He remembers his first major international tournament, where he managed to take second place. For the young athlete, this was not just a success but a test of inner strength.
“You feel how the judges and spectators are watching you, how everything inside tightens with excitement before each fight. But it’s precisely in that moment you understand what karate taught you: to pull yourself together, breathe out, and step forward with complete concentration, without fear,” the athlete recounts.
Karate gives them a unique opportunity to develop concentration skills, control anxiety, and be more composed in any situation. According to him, it was precisely this experience that shaped him as a person and gave him the understanding that a person’s true strength lies in the ability to remain calm when everything inside is screaming from stress. Karate helps young people not only develop their bodies but also strengthen their character, creating a foundation for life.
How Instagram Helps the Ancient Art of Karate Stay Modern
In the era of Instagram and TikTok, when people’s attention is divided among thousands of short videos and trends, Sergei Shilovskikhfinds his unique way to tell the story of karate. His account is not just a demonstration of strikes and techniques, but a genuine lifestyle of a modern person who shows how this ancient martial art harmoniously fits into everyday life.
Sergei believes that it’s precisely through social media that young people can be inspired to engage in sports and break the stereotype of karate as something outdated or overly strict. In his posts, he not only demonstrates techniques but also explains in detail how to perform exercises correctly, which muscle groups are engaged, and how to avoid injuries. This approach makes karate more accessible and understandable even for those who have never practiced martial arts before.
“I promote health, sports, inner strength, and the willingness to go beyond your comfort zone. I want to show that anyone can live brightly, try new things, and stay fit not for the likes, but for themselves,” says Sergei.
For many young people, his Instagram becomes that very first step toward the gym or a martial arts class, as he shows that karate is not just about discipline and strikes, but also about the joy of life, confidence, freedom, and the ability to control your body and emotions in today’s world.
