A need to defend himself has led to nine-year-old Matthew Maree being awarded his SA development colours for karate.
The Amanzimtoti Primary School grade 3 pupil is currently competing in Maputo, Mozambique.
At a national development and elite tournament in Durban on 24 and 25 July, featuring Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free State and KZN, Matthew and teammate Nathan Mileham, a grade 10 pupil at Kuswag Skool, were awarded their KZN development colours.
Matthew won silver for kata and bronze for kumite, while Nathan won gold for kata.
Both compete in development, as they are still junior belts.
Matthew and Nathan train with Sensei James Pretorius and Sensei Michael Thompson at Rising Sun JKA Karate Academy in Athlone Park.
At the Durban tournament, Sensei James won silver for kumite.
“I wanted to learn to defend myself, as I kind of got picked on by bullies at school,” said Matthew. “Now I don’t anymore.”
The young karateka is an avid sportsman and does well in soccer, cricket, rugby, hockey, swimming and athletics.
“Karate is special to me though, as I want to be famous and with karate, I can be.
I enjoy learning to count from one to 10 in Japanese and learning all the moves.
Bruce Lee is my favourite and I watch all his movies.
I’m very excited about competing in Mozambique and I think I will do well. I’ve been training hard to get either gold or silver.”
Matthew trains twice a week, but puts in extra effort at home when preparing for a tournament.
At the JKA nationals in Johannesburg in June, he claimed two golds and at last year’s provincial tournament scooped gold with brother Jason and Ruan Pretorius of Kuswag Skool in the team kata.
