Over 70 Seshego karatekas brag during grading
Oyama School of Karate's karatekas showed off their distinctive skills in judo and were promoted to different belts based on technical ability, knowledge and understanding.
POLOKWANE- More than 70 karatekas from the Oyama School of Karate (OSK) participated in the Kyu Grading on May 20 at the Ngoako Ramatlhodi Sport Indoors in Seshego.
Shihan Gumede, the branch chief of Kyokushin South and a seventh dan black belt holder, who has been teaching karate for more than 40 years, was in charge of the grading.
The karatekas showed off their distinctive skills in judo and were promoted to different belts based on technical ability, knowledge and understanding as well as supplementary knowledge of Japanese terminology.
The youngest students were Seraphel Lekgothoane (6) and Theto Molepo (8), who also participated in the session to earn themselves a pass.
Both boys, girls and adult students performed very well.
Pontsho Tele (17) earned himself a third kyu (green belt); and his adult fellow students Eric Matsetela, Gabriel Maluleke and Cyprian Mohlomi also earned themselves a fifth kyu (yellow belt) and seventh kyu (blue belt) respectively.
According to the observers, Shihan Gumede, sensei Thomas Sekhale and sensei Bongani Mtshweni, the students performed well.
The session tested the student’s physical endurance, kihon and then finished with fights.
The best part of the test was when sempai Phenyo Mahapa had to be the last man standing, after getting more opponents to fight while his peers decided who was fighting him one after the other.
The overall event was showered with birthday signings for sempai Peter Malatji and celebrations for passes for those who were awarded senior grades, including Seraphel Lekgothoane and Theto Molepo who were both awarded orange belts.
The dojo also earned itself three new sempai junior instructors: sempai Retang Madia, sempai Cuba Makgoka and sempai Itu Manamela – all being awarded a second kyu (brown belts).
After having been in the club since 2019, all of them made it through tough times and they deserved their positions in the dojo as new junior instructors.
With hard work, Mahapa also outdid himself to qualify for his first kyu grade (and brown belt), now, he will have to wait one year to be promoted to black belt, which will be done either in KwaZulu-Natal or Stellenbosch in 2024.
Malatji commented to all students as he closed the day for celebrations.
“The Oyama School of Karate aims to continue providing karate lessons and discipline to children in and around Polokwane and Seshego, to raise respecting future adults and nations.
“Karate is not just a sport, it’s a disciplined culture for all races and genders. It brings together people who love the sport and the discipline.”
