26 May 2016

 Karate equips an individual with discipline and self defense skills.

Speaking in an interview with BOPA on Wednesday, the vice chairperson-marketing and publicity of JKA Botswana Keone Kgorotlhe said Karate sports keeps on developing as new athletes keep on joining the sports at grassroots level.

Kgorotlhe said Karate is one of the sports where young ones were groomed to be more disciplined while learning self defense at the same time hence parents should support their children in the sports.

Kgorotlhe noted that as their athletes continued to do well and bring medals from international tournaments as last September the JKA Botswana team scooped 35 medals in SA at the All JKA Africa Cup championships.

He said local tournaments and gradings help the students to grow through conducting tournaments and trainings locally to help them improve their performance.

He said as a way to bring the athletes together JKA Botswana would conduct its National championships and grading scheduled for 28 May and 29 May 2016 respectively in Gaborone.

He noted that the championships will take place at BOKA hall starting from 8am while the venue for the grading session will be announced at the championships on Saturday.

He said the grading was open to all bonafide members of JKA Botswana World Federation from 9^th kyu white belt holders to 2^nd Kyu Brown Belts.

He urged parents to come and support their children as that gave them confidence and morale to do better in the ring.

He said sports was important in the life’s of students as it kept them away from indulging in awkward behavior that could  endanger their lives through drinking alcohol and taking drugs.

 He said only JKA registered members were to participate in Individual Kata and Kumite from ages 5 and above while in Area Teams for both males and females in kata and kumite will range from ages 16 and above.

Kgorotlhe noted that they expected to see more improvement and skill in the athletes who would participate in the championships as they had been training in various areas.

For his part, the JKA Botswana Patron Kgosi Kgolo  Kgari Sechele III said it was key for the athletes to take part in such championships as they learnt how to compete with others and improve on performing proper basic, techniques, learning how to fight well, and learning new approach to attack.

 He said the weekend will be a lively weekend for the Karatekas and a moment to match their skills with those of others from a different dojo so that they could go and work on their weaknesses.

    He further encouraged the participant to give their best and be good sports persons and women, adding that parents should support their children by attending the event.

He said the sport was also good for the body and mind as it prepared students both mentally and physically. ENDS