Karate revived in KwaThema
To ensure the continued interest in karate in KwaThema, a new karate club has been formed.
The club which is led by the karate veterans, Alfred Mkhondwane and Michael Cindi Mailula has registered 10 young girls and boys between the ages of four and 16 years.
KwaThema Dojo was formed last year with the aim of training children self defense and producing the best karate artists of tomorrow.
Speaking about his love for karate, club founder Alfred Mkhondwane said he started karate in 1969.
He said because they saw that karate is slowly dying in the township, they formed the club to revive this martial art.
Mkhondwane explained that karate is not only about self defence as many people think, but also teaches children respect.
“Karate is one of the sports that require the fighter to have respect and fitness to defeat the opponent,” believes Mkhondwane.
Co-founder Cindi Mailula said the young fighters can also make karate a career like all other sports.
He said what he loves about karate is that it teaches a fighter different tricks that he can use to defend himself when attacked on the streets.
Nosipho Monare (11), one of the young karate students from the club said she fell in love with this sport the first time it was introduced to her.
“Being a girl, I need to be able to fight back should someone try to attack or assault me,” said Nosipho.
Adding that she will continue to doing karate until she gets to fight at a professional level.
“It is my wish to pass the knowledge and share my tricks with the other girls of my age,”said Nosipho.
She encouraged the young girls from Kwatsaduza to join the dojo.
