Accolade for sensei
While training his students is crucial to Anthony, he does not neglect his need to keep working on his craft.
It has been 52 years since Dalpark’s Chris Anthony started training in karate.
Now, the sensei recently received his seventh Dan black belt and a certificate from Japan’s Karatenomichi World Federation (KWF) grandmaster, Mikio Yahara.
Shihan Malcolm Dorfman handed over the certificate.
“I feel so happy and excited about this,” Anthony told the Brakpan Herald.
“I have trained for so many years. I started as a small junior, and now I’m here. It’s been practically my whole life in this. Lots of training and teaching my students.”
Anthony has fond memories of how his brother got him into the sport.
“He used tell me to ‘come and train’ when I just wanted to go and play with my friends,” he said.
“Over the years, I trained with some of the best. Some from Japan.”
After his involvement in the sport over the years, two things have stood out for Anthony.
“I love meeting different people and teaching my students,” said the sensei who heads up the Dan Triangle Club, which has classes in Brakpan and Dalpark.
“I believe I have a great personality, and I like everyone. From the juniors to ladies to men, I enjoy teaching them all.”
Anthony highlighted the importance of discipline and self-defence that karate brings to his students. He makes sure all his students are aware of this.
“They are like family, so I must teach them,” said the instructor.
Over the years, he has guided karatekas to achieve big things in the sport.
Most notable was his son Christopher, who won the Open World Championships twice and Christopher Thela, who was victorious in the veterans’ category.
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“I was so proud of them and the others who earned Protea colours,” said the sensei.
“I have also helped many to earn black belts by working with me from the start. I have guided over 350 black belts from white belts. So, it has been a great journey for me. I have been doing this my whole life and will continue until I die.”
While training his students is crucial to Anthony, he does not neglect his need to keep working on his craft.
“I train every morning and throw thousands of punches and kicks a week at a bag,” he said.
“I never stop working on my katas and shadow sparring.”
