By Loveness Hulwane

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus recently hosted the national University Sports South Africa (USSA) Karate tournament at the Tsebonokeng Hall.

The competition featured Clicker, Kata, and Kumite (fighting) categories, and the NWU team ranked sixth in Overall Team Performance among the 12 participating universities.

Individual achievements included Thomas Tsokolibane who showcased his exceptional skills and achieved first place in Kata, Lungani Shasha who topped the charts by winning first place in the men's 55 kg Kumite, and Thando Memberi who fought valiantly to secure second place in the women's Kumite.

Furthermore, Angie Phakathi excelled by securing joint third place in the 55 kg Kumite category, and Matlatsi Pheneus also earned a joint third place in the male's Kata category.

According to the NWU team, the results of the competition highlight their robust performance in both semi-contact and full-contact categories.

Karate manager Joseph Mentor Matlhong says the event not only demonstrated the exceptional skills of their karate club members, but also reinforced the NWU's commitment to excellence in sports and student development. “These achievements are a testament of the hard work and dedication of the students and everyone involved.”

He adds that the karate club offers many benefits to students, staff and the community, including physical fitness, self-discipline, self-defence skills and stress relief.

“Furthermore, participation in competitions adds further advantages, such as competitive experience, recognition and opportunities to network. Since students from across the NWU’s campuses participate, it also strengthens our university representation and fosters a sense of pride and unity among participants,” he adds.

Ready, steady … karate!