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ITS back to competition for full contact fighters this weekend when they take part in the Japanese Ambassador Cup Karate tournament at Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex.
The one-day event is lined up for this Saturday with participants drawn from different full contact styles across the country.
Zimbabwe Karate Union president Tawanda Mufundisi confirmed they will be hosting the event and are hopeful off a huge turnout.
“We are expecting over 400 athletes to participate from all different organisations. It’s an open event. For the affiliates of ZKU, we are dealing with those who are in good standing with ZKU, those that have paid their levies, they have paid for the annual affiliation fees.
“And we are going to start early, as early as 8am. We are starting from as young as boys and girls Under-20kgs, these are the five to six-year-olds up to the Open category men and women, that is 80kgs and above,” said Mufundisi.
The previous edition of the tournament featured both full contact and semi-contact styles now operating under the Zimbabwe National Karate Federation. However, Saturday’s event will feature only full-contact styles under the ZKU. “Last year it was integrated with semi-contact and full contact but this year it’s only full contact, ZKU is hosting. “So we are going to take turns to run the Japanese Ambassador Cup, this year we are going to have ZKU only, it’s a full contact event, no semi-contact. So next year it’s going to be semi-contact, ZNKF.
“The competition has grown, it has over the years attracted so many athletes who want to prove themselves locally so that they make teams for international events, World Championships, European Championships, African Championships to mention but a few,” said Mufundisi.
Mufundisi said based on the registration and response they have received so far, it is looking promising in the females’ section with an improved number of female karatekas likely to participate on Saturday.
“Also the participation of the girl child this time is huge. So I think we are making positive strides in promoting gender balance, the girls are dominating.
“Our dream is to have a fifty-fifty balance in five years’ time . . . that’s what we want and I think we are making progress.
“When we got into office (this year) as the new administration for ZKU, we realised that it’s something that we have to work on, and by also involving women, a fifty-fifty gender balance in the new administration. Our secretary general, treasurer and technical director, are all women.
Online Reporter