Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE So-Kyokushin Karate-Do Organisation branch chief Samson Muripo says they need to channel more efforts towards increasing the number of female participants in the sport.
The organisation held a selection tournament recently at the Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex for seniors and juniors.
However, the senior women’s category featured just the Open weight category due to a low turnout.
“We had a lower turnout in the women’s senior kumite section this year.
“We only had enough registered senior female competitors to safely and fairly run one Open Weight Division,” said Muripo.
The former world champion said they are working on improving the numbers through a number of initiatives.
“This is something we are actively working on.
“Through our school programmes, community outreach, and the Bushido for Women initiative, we want to see more women and girls step onto the tatami.
“The ladies who did compete showed tremendous spirit and courage.
“We are proud of them, and we will use this as motivation to grow the numbers for next year’s event,” said Muripo.
Tsitsi Muranda won the women’s section after overpowering Antonella Zimbodza.
Prior to the tournament, the Zimbabwe So-Kyokushin Karate-Do Organisation held seminars for athletes and referees at Raylton Sports Club with the assistance of Japanese instructors, Naoto Kusakabe and Marty Yamagata.
“The athletes’ technical seminar taught our athletes the modern training methods, kata bunkai, and competition strategy.
“Our athletes now understand the international standard of So-Kyokushin.
“Referees and judges seminar polished our full contact karate instructors to the same standard as Japan. This will make our tournaments more professional and fairer.
“Having Japanese instructors on the ground gave our students direct access to authentic Kyokushin.
“The knowledge gained will benefit the Zimbabwe Karate fraternity for the next few years to come.
“We thank the World So-Kyokushin Japan for sending us Uchideshi Naoto Kusakabe and Sensei Marty Yamagata,” said Muripo.
The seminars were part of preparations for the selection tournament held over the weekend.
With the organisation hoping to send a strong team to Japan for the World Championships next year, Muripo said the selection tournament was just the beginning.
“During the tournament, the karatekas showed improved power, timing, and control. You could see the impact of the seminars on the athletes who attended. Kumite was clean, most referees were firm, and sportsmanship was excellent.
“We will take the technical knowledge from the seminars to all our respective dojos and provinces.
“We are looking forward to international representation with the main goal to represent Zimbabwe at the World So-Kyokushin Championships in Japan 2027 and other regional to international events before August 2027.
“We still have areas to improve in conditioning and strategy. But overall, the level has gone up.” Japanese instructor Yamagata said there is room for local karatekas to improve.
“So, there are different styles and cultures between Zimbabwe’s karate and Japan’s karate.
“But then what I appreciate the most about seeing Zimbabwe’s karate, Zimbabweans are very much willing to learn, hungry to succeed, and pushing as much as they can to become better.
“If they keep on doing that and they become better, there is a chance that we will have champions who will come from Zimbabwe.”
Besides facilitating the seminars, Yamagata and Kusakabe graced the selection tournament.
