Nihon Karate Kyokai to spread footprints
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday August 30, 2024 08:56
The first step towards achieving their target is by staging a training camp known as the Botswana JKA International Summer Camp. Speaking to MmegiSport, Sensei Keone Ndio Kgorotlhe said the camp has been extended to all Shotokan karate schools in Botswana and neighbouring countries. “The training camp started on Thursday and ends today (Friday) at the Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) hall. Sub-Saharan regional director, Sensei Daniel Gombe, sixth Dan black belt, who has been sanctioned by JKA headquarters, is conducting the training,” he said. Kgorotlhe said during the training camp, the visiting Gombe will conduct training sessions, grading and course qualifications for instructors, judges, and examiners.
He said the camp is a step in the right direction, as it is a first for the Federation to host such an event, and they are privileged for the support they received from JKA headquarters in Japan. He explained that it is not every day that a sanctioned JKA Sub Saharan regional director visits a country and the development is likely to lead to the growth of the federation. He added they hope to bring a Japanese instructor to Botswana soon. Kgorotlhe said yesterday (Thursday) there was an open slot for all styles including some karatekas from the Botswana All Buda Styles (BABUSA) who had registered. “The rest of the training was strictly for JKA Shotokan due to the fact that the instructor was grading and conducted courses for our members,” he said. He added the plan is for the training camp to be an annual event, with the assistance of Gombe. Kgorotlhe said the camp is expected to ensure that Nihon Karate grows numerically and improves administratively and technically. He said they want to ensure that JKA standards set at the headquarters are practised without fail in Botswana. In July, Nihon Karate Kyokai members, Kgorotlhe and Karabo Samuel were graded from third Dan black belt to fourth Dan black belt while Sempai Neo Tautona and Gaosenkwe Tautona were graded from second Dan to first Dan, respectively.
Shihan Soichiro Okuma and South Africa JKA chief instructor, Shihan Johan La Grange graded the four at the JKA headquarters in Japan. Meanwhile, the second edition of the International Shitoryu Karatedo Kenshikai (ISKK) training camp and seminar started on Wednesday in Phakalane. The seminar is conducted by ISKK president, seventh Dan Sensei John Rakoto. ISKK chief instructor, Shihan Thuto Thuto, said Rakoto Sensei is also in Botswana to standardise the technique, after starting last year and this represents continuity. “Rakoto Sensei will grade some black belts and also announce our World Championship in Europe. He is here to share the technique with us. Above everything else, he is here to unite us with other countries. Our style, ISKK exists in 15 countries. In Botswana, we started last year. We are still crawling,” Thuto said.