Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE So-Kyokushin Karate-Do Organisation yesterday declared itself ready for the national selection tournament, with athletes and referees’ seminars scheduled to take off tomorrow at Raylton Sports Club in Harare.
The athletes’ technical skills seminar is set for tomorrow and Thursday, while the referees/judges’ seminar runs from tomorrow to Friday.
For the karatekas, it is an opportunity to fine tune their preparations ahead of the selection tournament to be held at Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex on Saturday and Sunday.
Zimbabwe So-Kyokushin Karate-Do Organisation Samson Muripo said they are bringing in Japanese instructors to conduct the seminars.
“The visiting instructors from Japan, Uchideshi Naoto Kusakabe and Sensei Marty Yamagata, will arrive on Wednes-day.
“We are expecting, for the athletes’ technical seminar, 50 to 100 participants. This includes all registered competitors from Zimbabwe.
“Referees and judges’ seminar, we are looking at 20 to 50 participants. This will include all national referees, provincial referees, and aspiring referees.
“The seminars will be conducted by Uchideshi Naoto Kusakabe and Sensei Marty Yamagata from Japan,” Muripo said.
The Zimbabwe So-kyokushin Karate selection tournament is open to all full-contact styles and marks the beginning of the build-up to next year’s World Karate Championships in Japan.
Muripo said all is in place for the lined-up activities and are ready to host the tournament.
“We have finalised venues, accommodation, equipment, and officiating teams.
“Our technical team, medical team, and organising committee have been on the ground for the past four weeks.
“The athletes have also been in and out of the dojos preparing for this prestigious event.
“With the sponsorship from human capital in three local doctors who consist of the medic tournament team, ambulance, Mr. Muromba of RM Plumbing World, So-Kyokushin members, and other community volunteers, we are ready to host a world-class event that will raise the standard of full contact karate in Zimbabwe and the region,” said Muripo.
Besides the tournament, some of the seasoned karatekas are due for grading and are preparing for the dan technical promotion slated for Friday.
The dan promotion will be led by Muripo, a sixth dan black belt holder. He will be assisted by the Japanese instructors, Kusakabe and Yamagata.
“We have more than 10 athletes who qualify for dan technical promotions on Friday, the 31st of July, 2026, at Ray-lton Sports Club.
“These are students who have been tried and tested many times and met the technical, time, and Bushido requirements over the past years.
“The promotions will be strictly dan grades where we should expect to witness a fifty-men fight (Goju kumite) for Sensei Admire Chingozhoro, currently a holder of fourth dan as I expect to see him graduate to fifth dan (Shihan rank — Godan).
“And Sensei Tangayi Mighty Mhlanga from third dan to Yondan (fourth dan), to mention just a few.
“The dan promotion will be officially examined and certified by myself with the assistance of Uchideshi Naoto Kusa-kabe and Sensei Marty Yamagata on behalf of World So-Kyokushin Karate Organisation, Japan,” said Muripo.
After the dan promotion, focus shifts to the tournament that will be used to select the national team for upcoming international events, mainly next year’s World Championships.
