With a desire to help students cultivate balance, strength with kindness, discipline with compassion, and mastery with humility, sensei Manu Lapiere opened the Johannesburg branch of the World Marudào Karate Organisation.

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Based at Cliffview Primary School, this form of karate is described as a fusion of traditional Japanese karate and traditional Chinese wushu.

“It reflects life itself; a continuous path of learning, respect, and appreciation for one another,” said Lapiere.

Together with his wife, senpai Julie Ah-Fa, the fourth dan black belt, launched the branch as a way to make the world a better place by teaching people to respect one another, both inside and outside the dojo.

“Our students come from all walks of life, from every background, ethnicity, and religion. It’s essential that they take the values we teach, respect, humility, discipline, and integrity, into their homes, schools, and workplaces,” he explained.

For Lapiere, true success lies in positively impacting a student’s life.
Marudào Karate takes a different approach from modern karate.

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“In traditional practice, both hands are always active, one to grab, the other to strike or apply a lock, making it far more practical and effective in real-life situations.” From the early stages, students learn useful self-defence techniques while developing focus, resilience, patience, and integrity.
“Integrity, unfortunately, is sometimes lost in modern karate, but it remains at the heart of Marudào.”

He added that over time, practitioners experience reduced stress levels, improved coordination, and greater confidence and clarity in all areas of life. The practice welcomes all ages and offers the chance to train alongside like-minded individuals while working toward personal growth and lifelong self-improvement.

When Lapiere began practising karate, he had no intention of becoming a teacher; he simply followed the philosophy and discipline of the martial art. As his teachers passed down their knowledge freely, he chose to do the same for others.

He embodies the true spirit of kara (empty) and te (hand), which together mean ’empty hands’ – a symbol of giving without holding back. Marudào Karate has helped him make important life decisions and brought him clarity, courage, and a deep sense of purpose.

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