ZKU step up preps for World Champs

The championships are catering for the full contact styles and will feature karatekas from across the world.
This year Zimbabwe is hoping to send two fighters — former world champion Samson Muripo and seasoned fighter Mugove Muhambi. 
Previously it has been the Kyokushin Union of Zimbabwe who fielded Muripo to represent their style and in 2009 he wrote his own piece of history when he won the world title in the middleweight category.
Last year Muripo went for the championships again with three other fighters from the kyokushin style and he scooped a silver medal after losing to Suiyegov Ruslan of Kazakhstan in the finals.
However, Muripo will be joined by Muhambi from kyokushin-kan and they will be competing as a national team.
ZKU secretary general, Steven Charandura, said they are hoping to send Muhambi for a tournament to be held in South Africa next month as part of his preparations.
“For these world championships the guys are training as a national team, we have athletes from all full contact styles.
“With resources available we are expecting to send two fighters that is Samson Muripo and Mugove Muhambi. 
“There is going to be a regional tournament in Cape Town on August 11 and I think Mugove for his preparations will be going there.
“Muripo recently took part in another tournament and he is currently training locally,” said Charandura
Meanwhile, the national association will host the Japanese Cup tournament on August 4 at the City Sports Centre. 
The tournament targets both the semi and full contact styles but they will be competing differently with each style having their own competition and officials. 
Some of the affiliated styles expected to take part are urakashi karate, kimura shukokai, dentokan, kyokushin, extreme contact karate, JKA shotokan, bino ryu, shito ryu, kofukan, seidokan, toma, JSKA shotokan, shorin ryu. 
The tournament is sponsored by the Japanese embassy and the ZKU president, Joel Rugwete, said they are proud to host the event.
“The tournament is for local fighters only. The ZKU is proud to host this annual event sponsored by the Embassy of Japan in Harare.
“We are expecting karatekas from all over Zimbabwe and we are determined to do our utmost to bring about the best possible conditions to make this competition a memorable occasion. 
“There will be two different tatarm for the full and semi-contact styles and they will have separate officials. Registration will be on the day before the competition at Alex Sports Club,” said Rugwete.
Rugwete said they are looking forward to a bigger and better competition. 
“We expect more people than last year because the invites have been quickly dispatched way before the tournament.