14 Jul 2016

Botswana Kofukan Federation (BKF) will host renowned kata master, Shihan Keiji Tomiyama, from July 21- 25 to continue his work of developing and upgrading senior instructors.

Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of intensive training this week, former national team head coach, Sensei George Tshikare explained that Shihan Tomiyama is visiting Botswana at the invitation of BKF with the assistance of the mother body Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) as part of the federation’s development mandate.

Sensei Tshikare noted that the association of BKF and the karate guru dates back to the early 90s when a few black belt karatekas were on offer, the likes of sensei Thuto Thuto, Ginger Mataboge and Million Masumbika. 

Tshikare said the arrival of Tomiyama was always helpful as they were learning a few new tips every time.  

In his last visit to the country Shihan Tomiyama explained in an interview that he would conduct completely different sessions and would concentrate on senior instructors as the country had groomed karatekas fit enough to cascade karate lessons to lower students. Shihan Tomiyama is an 8th dan black belt. 

Currently BKF boosts of its chief instructor sensei Masumbika who is 6th dan black belt followed by sensei Otto Tafa and Austin Rakgampu on 5th dan. 

Tshikare will be the only senior instructor going for classes for a 5th dan belt while under 75kg kumite sensation Oratile Caiphus will try his luck for 3rd dan honors. 

Tomiyama was born in Osaka, Japan in 1950. 

He started doing karate when he was 17 years old. Before then he aspired to be a boxer but after his cousin who was training as a karateka beat him in a fight he immediately took up martial arts. 

Tomiyama’s relationship with the BKF however started back in 1991, a year after the establishment of BKF. 

He then decided to expand the sports boundaries to countries outside Europe. 

Tomiyama’s training programmes in Botswana attracted people from different places in South Africa and that influenced the birth of the Shito-Ryu style in Botswana. 

Tomiyama visits about 30 countries annually from more than three continents. 

In Africa, Tomiyama visits South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe. ENDS