A karate dynasty in the making

Sports Reporter

THE Kadzombe siblings — Nicole (15) and Bradley (14), as well as 10-year-old Juanita — are considered rising stars in Goju-Kai, a traditional martial arts style.

The trio recently made headlines at the Gaborone Open.

Juanita made history when she became the first Zimbabwean to win a gold medal in the 10- to 11-year-old Kumite category.

Bradley walked away with a silver medal in the 14- to 15-year-old Kata style, while Nicole finished fifth in the Under-55kg Kumite category.

What makes their achievements even more remarkable is the fact that all of them only started competing in October last year.

They have won five medals each since then.

“I started karate as a means to gain the skills I needed so as to be able to defend myself,” Nicole told The Sunday Mail Sport.

“It was also a sport I enjoyed watching on television, and I wanted to have that true feeling of doing karate.”

For Bradley, who has a second-degree kyu brown belt in the Goju-Kai style, the sport was a way of gaining and mastering the art of self-defence. However, Juanita was drawn to the sport by her elder siblings.

“Whenever I gear up to train with my siblings, I feel overjoyed at the prospect of having my family with me.

“They support and help me train every day,” she said.

The trio has since fallen in love with the sport. Their parents have been very supportive.
“Our parents have supported us every step of the way.

“They buy all the equipment we need.
“The joy of having your parents supporting you, and also understanding the sport, has helped achieve a lot in the sport,” added Nicole.

The siblings are all trained by Zimbabwe karate captain Sensei Fortune Nyabanga, who described them as “hardworking”.

“I started training them in 2019, and it has been a great joy to see them develop,” said Nyabanga.

“They are hardworking and really hungry to win.

“This can be seen by what they have achieved in the short time they have been competing.
“I see a great future for them,” he said.

Mike Kadzombe, the father, is a very proud man.

“We started training karate as a family in 2017, and it was mostly a way to stay fit,” he said.

“However, the kids fell in love with the sport and eventually wanted to start competing at tournaments.

“It is very humbling just to see them excel,” he said.