adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
MORE than 50 kyokushin karatekas were on Saturday graded to various levels with the highest being promoted to third dan black belt during the International Karate Organisation Kyokushinkaikan World Sokyokushin karate seminar and technical dan promotion at Raylton Sports Club.
The seminar started on Friday to prepare the fighters for the grading and it was conducted by Shihan Jiyuu Shibata while Shihan Bas van Stenis was the chief examiner for the technical dan promotion.
Both events were being hosted by the Kyokushin Union of Zimbabwe.
KUZ chief instructor, Samson Muripo, said the seminar was focusing on various aspects of the sport, including kata and kumite, with participants from as far as Malawi and Bulawayo taking part.
“We were looking at perfection of basics, moving basics, katas and kumite and above all endurance, character and attitude.
“We had sensei Spencer Mbazangi based in Bulawayo, Sempai Allen Mafukeni from Mutare and Sempai Elliot Chisalanga from Blantyre in Malawi taking part,” said Muripo.
Muripo said both the seminar and the technical dan promotion were a success with 56 karatekas being graded to various levels.
“We had a very fruitful seminar where Zimbabwean karatekas benefited and were highly inspired after receiving first-hand technical guidance from a Japanese Shihan.
“Shihan Shibata fine-tuned a lot of aspects ranging from the basics and kata. After such tremendous inspiration I expect to see karatekas improving their way of doing the sport, aspiring for greater things, improved fighting skills and showing more determination.
“This will also attract more new members, I think,” said Muripo.
Some of the karatekas graded include KUZ technical director, Kumbirai Musinami, Mbazangi and Manson Mnaba.
The three were promoted to third dan black belt while Nicolus Muchatisi, Naison Chituwa, Allen Mafukeni and Austin Mucheni moved to second dan black belt.
Online Reporter