Three dedicated students of the Ermelo Karate Academy are preparing to represent South Africa at the Commonwealth Karate Championships.

Under the guidance of chief instructor sensei Eugene Smith, the karatekas, Chibuzo Okpugo, Chinedu Okpugo and Lesedi Twala, will compete in Durban from November 28 to December 1, joining top karate talent from across the Commonwealth.

Chibuzo, inspired by Ninjago, a children’s television show they watched, began karate at age five and recalls winning his first Karate South Africa (KSA) medal, a silver, in kumite in 2023.

“My dream is to compete at the world champs one day,” he said. “Maybe I’ll even go up against my friends in a final showdown!”

His brother, Chinedu, shares this vision.

“My dream is to compete at the world champs, too, and maybe I’ll face Chibuzo or Lesedi in the finals,” he said. “I do it for fun, and working hard makes it all worth it.”

Lesedi, who started karate as an extracurricular activity, found it a source of focus and mental clarity.

“My dream is to be at world champs. Imagine a showdown between the three of us – fighting for first, second and third!”

Read the complete article in Highvelder