Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda
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 participated 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 want 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 park for someone to have an 8th Dan black belt, it requires many years of working hard,” said Nzvenga.
“Hanshi Bosman trained a lot of Zimbabweans including Shihan Muripo and Mufundisi.
“We also have Mugove Muhambi who was schooled at the same school in Cape Town.
“So we are grateful to have the chairman remembering Zimbabwe.”
Interestingly, Zimbabwean karate followers could have a glimpse of the legendary Bosman as the South African will take part in a cleanup campaign at Copacabana in Harare that will precede seminar.
“Remember, most local karate guys use council facilities, so this is our time to give back to the council by cleaning up the city.
“After that there will be a march to the City Sports Centre, where some local karate practitioners will be graded.
“We encourage all karate organisations in Zimbabwe to attend because we are going to gain lots of techniques and fighting combinations from a former World Champion,” added Nzvenga
