Karate is all about hard work and discipline – and for the karatekas of Khayelitsha’s Monwabisi Academy, it’s all been worth it: all 13 athletes have been selected to represent the Karate Association of Western Province at national events in March 2023.
Hard work continued to pay off for the Monwabisi Karate Academy when all 13 of their athletes were selected to represent the Karate Association of Western Province at national events next month.
Their selection came after they first impressed at the Karate Association of Cape Town Unicity at Wynberg Military Base Sports Complex in August.
“We have pushed as hard as we can to attend all the Unicity squad training that was held in Muizenberg, Milnerton and Wynberg Military Hall,” says Monwabisi Spogter, Instructor of the Monwabisi Karate Academy.
The under 18, seniors, veterans and Masters division will form part of the provincial team that will compete in Gqeberha for their national colours on 4 March 2023; while the children, Cadets and juniors will compete in Durban on 18 March 2023.
Sensei Spogter, a 5th dan Ryushin-Kan Karate black belt, is over the moon about the selection.
“I feel very happy to be able to put my students on a Provincial level. I did not only do it for my name to be recognized but also for the community of Khayelitsha to be known for doing good, rather than dominating in crime.”
Sensei Spogter started his karate journey at the Samurai school of Karate in Kirkwood in the Eastern Cape, under the leadership of Sensei Siyabonga Whitey Tambo, 25 years ago. He’s been a lover of the martial arts ever since.
Since 2012, he has managed to open five karate schools in Khayelitsha, sharing skills and teaching discipline to appreciative youngsters in the community.
“Karate is a sport that is based on discipline and respect,” he says. “Learning this, I believe, can keep a lot of children out of the streets – and that can be very useful in a province with such a high crime rate.”
Monwabisi Karate Academy is registered with the Karate Association of Cape Town Unicity and Karate Association of South Africa.
Find out more about Sensei Spogter and the challenges faced by Monwabisi Karate during COVID in the Cape At 6 Sport magazine.
Edited by Nicklaus Kruger
