Who said black kids can’t do karate?

“The more you train yourself, the more cultivated love, the spirit of dedication and the affluent spirit will be to you.”- kwf.jp

Karate is compilation of highly sophisticated techniques into an art form. This art is rarely practiced in black communities; the only time it is seen is in movies. It is hardly something someone would say they would want to make a career out of due to its scarcity in our communities.

It was refreshing to meet Malope Mokotedi, 17 year old Cornerstone College learner and winner of the 7th Karatenomichi World Federation (KWF) World Cup. It’s good to know that black kids can dream beyond what they see on a daily basis.

17 year old Malope.

Malope started karate in grade 1 (2004), but had to stop in the middle of the year due to his instructor not being available anymore. One day after school he saw a few youngsters in his neighborhood wearing karate suits and he knew that he had to join them. Unfortunately, due to the ups and downs of life, he was only able to join them 6 years later. After a few weeks he had to quit.

In 2011, just a year after he had to quit from karate, he rejoined the same club in order to fulfill his desire of being the next Jackie Chan. He has been affiliated with the art of karate since then.

The organization he is part of is KWF. They train Shotokan and have their national championships once a year hosted in Johannesburg. Their head Dojo (office/place of practice) is situated in Parktown North, headed by Shihan Malcom Dorfman (chief instructor of KWF SA).

Malope entered his first national championship in 2012, just a year after he properly joined the club, and he received a bronze medal for Kumite (combat). In 2013, with the exceptional training provided by Sensei Moses Sebopa, alongside Sensei Cass Sehloho, he was able to win the gold medal for Kumite at the national championships.

KWF national team.

This qualified him to represent the country along with the South African KWF national team in Denmark, where the 6th KWF World Cup was hosted. There he lost his first round, but that didn’t discourage him from continuing to fulfill his passion.

In the 2014 national championships he came 3rd for Kumite and kata (karate techniques put in a sequence to form a kata).

“The 2015 national championships went horrible,” he said. He received bronze for kata and came 5th for Kumite.

Irrespective of his performance, he was still chosen for the national team that went to Japan at the end of September to compete in the 7th KWF World Cup. That’s where through lots of hours of training and constant input from his instructors, he was able to win a gold medal on an international level.

His medals.

This gold medalist is a good example of how hard work can lead you to any place your mind can travel to. He failed a few times, but that didn’t give him reason to give up. He crafted his talent till it was good enough to get him named the best on an international level.

Malope is a regular guy who plans to continue on focusing on his studies, while winning more medals on the side.

So, black child, go out there and fulfill that passion! No matter how ridiculous it sounds.

Winner!!!

I’m out! Ramadimetja ‘Rami’ Makgeru