Why Martial Heart?
Because the name is catchy? I jest – it has always been important to me to use what I know, and have, to make a difference. As I’ve slowly built up my own karate network, I somehow ended up being the person that knows what to do with stuff that people don’t want. What started as the occasional unwanted gi every now and then turned into a small flood of karate suits throughout the year.

And then I thought about how Joburg alone has dozens of big, successful dojos that generate hundreds of second-hand suits a year, and that no one is getting those suits to where they could get a second chance, and especially where they are needed. Why not make it easier for those dojos to give to those in need?

Inspired by my husband’s philanthropy in karate, and the instructors I have met, I decided that the least I can do is prevent unwanted karate suits from going to waste. And so here we are, one of South Africa’s few martial arts charities.

This is just the start of Martial Heart – over time, I hope to make a difference to South African karate at the grassroots level, including combatting period poverty amongst menstruators in karate and encouraging the development of women instructors. I am just a karate bum learning the ropes, and I have no doubt I will learn much and make mistakes and bump my head and inevitably step on someone’s metaphorical toes, but I hope you see the value in Martial Heart. I look forward to hearing from you, and how you want to make a difference through karate.

Martial Heart is a registered NPC (MARTIAL HEART (2021/109450/08)

PS: Other martial arts are welcome too xxx

Meet the Directors

Director and founder: Zoë Jagger-Hinis

Full-time karate instructor and dojo administrator, wife to Ché Jagger, panda mom, writer, runner, youtube creator and founder of Martial Heart.

Zoë started learning Goju Ryu in 2006 at Rhodes University, at the late age of 19 ,and has her 3rd dan in Goju Ryu (OGKK, 2021).

Director: Claire Stewart

Claire started karate when she was 8 years old with Ché Jagger, and has been part of Goju Ryu Karate Centre ever since. She is completing her B.Eng at Wits University, and has her 2nd dan in Goju Ryu.

Director: Stanford Mbatha

While not a martial artist, Stan has always believed in the power of karate (and all sport) to change lives and uplift communities. He has worked in marketing for years, and he brings insight, creativity and passion to the Martial Heart project.