12 Feb 2017

Local karate star, Sensei Thabang Lesole is devoted to sharing his skills with young people through his karate academy.
Established in 2013, Young Masters Karate Academy is aimed at encouraging children from as early as age five years to develop the essential skills in the sport.
The 27-year-old, karate sensation is pleased with the development of the academy as it has been doing well since its inception.
Sensei Lesole said the academy was focused on taking the sport to the community of Gaborone by developing and encouraging children to join the sport at a tender age.
Sensei Lesole noted that through karate children learn discipline, adding that through sport, the youth were taught to focus on the positives by avoiding unruly behaviour that was likely to drive them into indiscipline, alcohol and drug abuse.
He said since it was located at Block 7, the academy would ensure that its positive results directly impact on the residents of the host locality and other localities in its vicinity such as Block 6, Block 8 and Mogoditshane.
Since the karate school uses Child Line premises as their training facility, he said it was also important to cater for children under the care of the centre.
Sensei Lesole has excelled in karate by putting up sterling performances, both on local and international arenas.  
He is a first Dan Black Belt under Shotokan.
Sensei Lesole joined karate while at Itireleng Junior Secondary School in Lobatse in 2004 and rose to professional level in 2006 under the tutelage of Sensei Fisher Masilo and Sensei Obakeng Motsamai.
Throughout his sporting career, Sensei Lesole has amassed 23 medals.
 In 2012, under the guidance of Sensei China Metswi he earned his maiden spot in the national team.
As for the international stage, Sensei Lesole prides himself with winning two gold medals for Individual Kata and Kumite and a bronze for Kata at the Southern Africa Championship 2010 in South Africa.
He also scooped gold and bronze for Team Kata and Individual Kata at Zone 6 Sothern Africa Championship in 2012 hosted by Botswana.
Sensei Lesole also got a gold medal for Team Kata at the Zone 6 Sothern Africa Championship in Namibia in 2013.     
Some of his achievements in the local arena include a gold medal for Kumite at the Botswana Games in 2007, two gold medals for Kata at JKA closed National Championship in 2011 and other two gold medals followed for Kata and Kumite at the JKA closed National Championships in 2010.
He also won Best Sportsman of the year in 2009.
Sensei Lesole is not only a marvel to watch on the karate arena as he also developed himself academically.
He graduated from Limkokwing University of Creative Technology with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Software Engineering with Multimedia in 2012.
While studying at Limkokwing, Sensei Lesole joined the newly established school club, where he became the club captain.
In appreciation of the development of karate at Limkokwing, the management honoured him with a University Colours Certificate.
He noted that he had been following martial arts for 12 years and it had brought a lot of transformation in his life.
Besides using martial art skills to enhance his karate skills, he said it had also helped him to have a positive outlook on life. ENDS