On March 9 Tembisa Shinkyokushinkai Karate fighters fought in the eighth Matlosana Cup at the Shinkyokushinkai Matlosana annual championships.
The event was hosted for two days in Klerksdorp where special guests from Japan came to see the South African talent.
According to Tembisa Shinkyokushinkai Karate instructor sensei Paul Sehlabelo, the delegates from the World Karate Organisation (WKO) were the organisation’s president, shihan Kenji Midori, general manager shihan Yasukazu Koi and branch chief shihan Shinichi Sotodate.
“Tembisa Shinkyokushinkai Karate fighters fought very well in the junior division.
“They were all knocked out by experienced fighters of senior belts, but they gained lots of fighting experience.
“A great moment for the Tembisa dojo was on March 10 when their only senior fighter, Lucky Tsoku, took the tatami in the u-70kg division.
“His first fight was a walkover because his opponent refused to get into the fighting tatami and Tsoku was awarded the fight,” said Sehlabelo.
He said the second opponent Tsoku faced was seriously punished and knocked out with a low roundhouse kick called a gedan mawashi geri.
“The third fight was difficult Tsoku because he faced a black belt fighter who is highly experienced.
“The boy tried his best and gave a good account of his fighting ability, but ultimately he lost to the best fighter in the division,” he explained.
“Tsoku has a big heart for fighting and he is good. Our African continent head spoke to me about exposing him to many continental fights so he can gain more experience. We have already started with his training and psychological shape up for bigger fights,” said Sehlabelo.
Midori said he recalled that at a championship in 1991 in Tokyo a South African fighter was crowned a champion.
“Since then we expect African fighters to become strong international fighters at the next world championship,” he said.
