adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
HAVING achieved so much in karate, former world champion Samson Muripo believes it’s time for him to plough back by sharing his experiences with upcoming fighters.
And as part of his efforts to reach out to different parts of the country, Muripo says he is going to hold a training camp in Guruve next month.
The camp is pencilled for June 24 and 26 in Guruve where he has set up a dojo since last year.
Muripo said it’s a combined event targeting both juniors and seniors and the focus is on the basics of the sport.
“I have a satellite dojo at Horse-shoe Secondary School in Guruve with more than 60 karatekas whom we want to help realise their full potential.
“We are looking at the basics, kata and kumite. We are spreading the fire of so-kyokushin karate in Zimbabwe’s grassroots,” said Muripo.
The three-day camp will feature fighters drawn from Harare as well to motivate the team in Guruve.
Muripo (38) will be assisted in running the camp by Sensei Muchineripi Tarwireyi, Kumbirai Musinami and Bakari Jamali. Muripo has won several regional and international tournaments.
In 2009, he carved his name into the small elite club of the greatest athletes in the history of Zimbabwean sport when he became the nation’s first black World Champion following a remarkable performance at the Kyokushin Union World Cup in Japan.
He won the middleweight title when he beat Kikuyama Yasumichi in the final.
In 2013, he was the bronze medallist at the World Kyokushin Championships in Bulgaria.
His victory in Tokyo also saw him becoming the first African kyokushin World Champion.
Online Reporter