19 Sep 2016

Renowned South African karate instructor Sensei Karin Prinsloo was in Gaborone over the weekend to impart the martial arts technique to local karatekas.

The sixth dan kata and kumite instructor was here at the invitation of the local karate governing body Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) who are also working round the clock to prepare a team that will compete at the 23^rd World Senior Championships penciled for the Austrian administrative city of Linz at the end of October. 

Speaking to BOPA on the sidelines of a training session at the BOKA Dojo, Sensei Prinsloo said she was impressed by the level of commitment from the local karatekas who had an undying passion to learn the discipline. 

She explained that besides the technical slip-ups that she identified during the training exercises, she was overall delighted by the fantastic spirit of karatekas on learning a thing or two from her. 

She praised the local karate governing body for the commitment they show to their athletes by tapping expertise from across the shores. 

Sensei Prinsloo said the African karate standards were growing that is why teams such as Botswana could now face karate founding nations such as Japan and other powerful European teams.

Botswana’s Sportswoman of the year, Lame Hetanang could not hide her excitement at the opportunity she had of learning from sensei Prinsloo.    

The 23-year-old kata sensation said as a lady athlete she was inspired by the exploits of the instructor and was looking forward for fruitful interaction with her in future. 

Hetanang is part of the team that will travel to Austria for the World Karate Federation sanctioned tournament. 

BOKA publicity secretary, Jerry Ditlhong said the past practice of sending athletes outside the country for training turned out to be a costly exercise hence decided to invite the likes of Sensei Prinsloo to Botswana. 

He said they were sending Africa Games medalists to the world championships.

Sensei Prinsloo is head instructor at the Pinetown JKA Karate institute in Kwazulu Natal. 

Between 1991 and 2008 she was ranked number one in open kata and kumite under 60kg more than 10 times that period. 

She was graded 6^th dan in 2008 and the following year she was part of the national coaching staff for Team South Africa at the Commonwealth Karate championships. 

Amongst her top drawer achievements is the gold medal she clinched at the 2001 World Games in Akita, Japan. ENDS