In each radio spot we enter into the Kasi (Township) Sensei’s dojo, where he teaches his students martial arts moves that he conceived from watching the BBC earth content on TV. All lessons taught in the Sensei’s dojo are designed to help students solve everyday situations, such as getting your change back in a full taxi from the guy in the front wearing headphones, avoiding an obvious random beat down from strangers, or get ripe peaches from your stingy neighbour.

NOKA YA LERIBISI (The Owl’s Hip)

Opening Announcer: Today the Kasi (Township) Sensei is teaching the Dojo The Owl’s Hip.

SFX: Woing!

Kasi Sensei: My Ninjas!

The Dojo Roars in response

Kasi Sensei: Let’s say, you are standing at the street corner... enjoying a packet of chips…having a nice time…then a bunch of guys pass by.

They kick your cold drink… then laugh at you…this is where The Owl’s Hip is needed.

Kasi Sensei: You all know what an owl is right?

Thabo: Yes, they have one at Jeff’s house.

Kasi Sensei: Just like an owl, you take your hands… put them in your pockets, you look this way, then look that way and then… the guys look at you and ask, ‘what do you think you can do to us, small boys?’ This is where you look them straight into their eyes.. and say, “Who. . . Who. . . whoo . . whoo. . . mee?” Then fly away. Don’t forget the best form of defence is to avoid fights when a beating is likely.

Kasi Sensei: Come on now ninjas, I want to hear those “Whoo’s whoo’s!

The Dojo continues hooting like Owls

The Dojo: Whoo, whoo, whoo….

End Announcer: You come in not knowing much, you leave knowing so much more. BBC Earth, Channel 184, only on DSTV Premium.

Martial arts movies are big in South Africa. They play a significant part in the country's film culture, especially in the townships (also known as “Kasi” in colloquial terms), where actors such as Bruce Lee, Jet-li, and Jackie Chan are highly revered.

South Africans are mostly fascinated by the fact that animals are incorporated into the characters fighting styles, with titles such as Snake in the Eagle Shadow, Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon, being big hits.

People often discuss the amazing movies that they’ve watched and imitate some of the fighting scenes. This love of the martial arts genre is so strong, that it has even led to some people in the township venturing in establishing their own dojo’s, with close to no formal qualification for their practice. It is these self proclaimed masters that our Kasi Sensai is based on.