Ethan Makwembere (10) from Redhill School recently made his mark on the international stage by representing Gauteng at the prestigious JKA Karate Africa Championships, clinching gold, bronze and international colours.

Held at Ellis Park Arena, Ethan’s dedication and hard work paid off as he clinched a gold medal in kata and a bronze in kumite, marking a significant milestone in his young karate career.

Ethan’s journey began at the age of eight, and he credits his success to consistent training, supportive family, and inspiring mentors.

Read more: Young karateka Cassidy Jones makes top 8 at SA JKA Gauteng Champs

“I trained a lot, trained and trained because my sensei, Dawie Grobbelaar, said if you keep on training, you get better. I also trained with my brother for like 10 to 15 minutes so I can improve my skills more quickly.”

Despite facing nervousness and moments of self-doubt, Ethan relied on his faith and belief that ‘the Lord is with me.’ He recalls feeling scared during competitions but found strength in prayer and perseverance.

“I was so scared without my mom, but I trusted that the Lord was with me, so I kept praying and practising,” he said.

Ethan explained the importance of being yourself and not copying others. “Be yourself. Being recognised with international colours feels good because karate is not my best sport, I love soccer, but I wanted to prove myself in karate, and I did.”

His confidence grew as he saw his efforts pay off, especially when he secured first place in Kata round and third in the Kumite round, where he lost a match but still achieved success overall.

Ethan added that Grobbelaar has been a vital part of his journey, providing guidance, encouragement, and pushing him to excel.

He expressed gratitude toward his family for their unwavering support, especially his mom, who drives him to practices and competitions. “I’m very grateful for my mom, my dad, my brother, and everyone who supports me.”

Ethan believes karate has taught him valuable lessons beyond physical skills.

“Karate teaches you discipline, confidence, and how to learn from mistakes. If your experiment doesn’t work, you learn more, and if it does, you grow.”

“Next year, I want to go to Mauritius and compete against other countries and represent South Africa, and I believe that one day I will wear the black belt.”

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