Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda
Zimpapers Sports Hub
Samson Muripo, Tawanda Mufundisi, Tendai Marange, Mugove Muhambi, Tangayi Mhlanga, Likwa Khumalo and Admire Chingozhoro are some of the big names in karate.
Muripo, who was promoted to sixth Dan last year, is one of the most successful local karatekas, having won the World Kyokushin Championship twice.
He became the first Black Kyokushin world champion in Osaka, Japan, in 2009.
Muripo belongs to a class of Zimbabwean karatekas who have flown the country’s flag at various international competitions.
One thing is common about these top karatekas.
Most of them were trained at Hennie Bosman School of Karate in Cape Town by the globally renowned Hanshi Hennie Bosman, an 8th Dan Black Belt holder and the international chairman of Kyokushon Budokan.
Bosman is one of the highest-ranked karateka in the world, an ex-world champion, and an actor who featured in films such as Survivor (1987), Doomsday (2008), Invictus (2009), Death Race 2 (2010), Zulu (2013), and Momentum (2015).
The 68-year-old Bosman has also made stuntman appearances in Jean Claude Van Damme’s Wake of Death (2004) and Marksman (2005), which features Wesley Snipes as the main actor.
Bosman will be in Zimbabwe for a karate training and grading seminar set for Harare’s City Sports Centre from Friday to Sunday.
Kyokushin Budokan Karate Zimbabwe, in collaboration with Harare City Martial Arts Club, are hosting the event.
“Basically, the idea of the seminar is mainly to dispel the misconception that karate is associated with violence.
“At the same time, we want to make karate available, accessible, and participatory at all levels,” said Dzidzai Enias Mombo, Budokan Zimbabwe chairman.
The association has been pushing for karate to be adopted in the mainstream school curriculum.
Budokan Zimbabwe wants karate to be used as a tool in the fight against social vices like drug abuse and childhood marriages.
“Having a seminar like this being graced by an international icon actually highlights the thrust.
“We want this to inspire and motivate our youth and all other organisations that karate can be run as a professional sport, which can even be adopted at international events like the Olympics,” added Mombo.
Harare City Martial Arts secretary, Piniel Nzvenga, described Bosman as “a big guy in karate.” Bosman’s title, Hanshi, is a Japanese term that refers to a senior expert, often translated as Grand Master.
“It’s not a stroll in the park for someone to have an 8th Dan black belt; it requires many years of working hard,” said Nzvenga.
