THE SA National Kyokushin Kai Championship will start on Friday and wrap up on Saturday at Sikhawini TVET College, Sikhaleni.
In this annual national competition in which ‘karatekas’ representing different provinces face off, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, Gauteng, Eastern Cape and Free State, which are known for having swords in South Africa, are being watched.
There are six provinces that will compete, including the North West, which has sent players to participate in different categories from juniors, Under 55kg, Under 65kg, Under 70kg, Under 80kg, and open which will include full contact (ankle) and semi contact for men and women.
On Friday, junior karate players from six to 17 years of age will start in different categories, who do kata individually and in groups, and veterans.
On Saturday, the senior and open teams will compete, and that’s when the finalists will be selected.
Shihan Bongani “Chuck 50” Gumede, the vice president of the KwaZulu-Natal Karate Federation, said that they expect a high standard in this competition as usual, especially from the karate players from KZN which is the home and known for dominating karate competitions in South Africa.
“As the host, KwaZulu-Natal is the most watched, especially since it is the one with the best karatekas. This competition will be used again as a screening platform for karatekas who will compete in the Oyama Cup competition which will be held in October, and then the winners will receive a ticket to the World Open Full Contact Karate Championships, in Japan, next year,” said Gumede, who is on the national committee of Karate South Africa (KSA).
Among the karatekas that are being watched in this competition, there are the Mkhize brothers, Samkelo and Khayelihle, and Ayanda Gwala in the men’s open.
Among the women, Nontobeko Phungwayo and Guguletu Mngomezulu are being watched in the women’s open. As for the juniors, Honorable Cele who is returning from Japan and Poland is being looked at.
Khaylehle from Mfekayi, Mtubatuba, is making a spectacle at the World Open Full Contact Karate Championship, Japan, in 2023.
In the national competition held at Sibusisiwe Community Hall, Mandeni, in July last year, KwaZulu-Natal won. The karatekas in this province are collecting a lot of trophies and medals.