Basupang bestowed Shihan title

Calistus Kolantsho | Tuesday March 24, 2026 09:29

Speaking to Sport Monitor, Basupang said he is due to move to sixth Dan Black Belt next year, and Hanshi Pillay came to find out whether he is still well on course in preparation for upgrade.

He revealed that he attained fifth Dan Black Belt in 2022. Basupang said he has now been bestowed with the official title of Shihan, which is given after many years of developing karate.

He said two seniors were also graded being Sensei Lere Basupang, who is a first Dan Black Belt.

Lere was being graded for consideration to move to second Dan Black Belt while Wathuto Maake was graded to be moved to first Dan Black Belt.

Meanwhile, Basupang said under the calendar of events of SKI Botswana the activities they have three grading sessions, tournaments and international tournament and international instructors visit.

During these activities, they invite higher level instructors who can come to see whether they are teaching in accordance with international standards.

He said the person they are working closely is Pillay as chief instructor in Botswana.

“As part of our annual activities, we invite him here or we travel to South Africa for standardisation of our technique. This year, 2026, he is coming here for the second time, the first time he visited was in 2024,” he explained.

“Last year we did not invite him because we were limited by finances to do this event as we had planned. The reason for his visit is for standardisation of Shotokan technique in accordance with Shotokan International,” he said.

South Africa, Botswana and many other countries are members of Shotokan Karate International Federation (SKIF).

“He is one of the highly graded people within the global movement, he goes around countries like us who are still developing to see to it that what we are teaching as instructors at local level is in line with international standards,” he added.

Basupang said in accordance with karate, there are areas that they are looked at such as the Kihon, kata and kumite.

The headquarters of Kanazawa Shotokan Karate Do International Botswana are in Thamaga which hosted the training session, he explained.

He said the other training was held in Lobatse which was attended by around 40 students.

He said the training session at Letlole Mosielele Junior Secondary School was attended by students from three dojos which house many schools in the village.

Some of them came from Malerena which is the humbo dojo. Basupang said the were almost 60 students attendees during the Sunday training and some did not show up due to bad weather conditions but the membership in Thamaga stands at 100 students.

For his part, Pillay said he was invited by Basupang to come and ensure that SKI style of karate is on the right track and impart his skills to local karatekas particular those in rural areas who need attention from rural perspective.

“There is immense talent and we must nature this talent. They are future leaders, Botswana is excelling in athletics, and they also can excel in karate. It is all about giving them direction and provide them with opportunities. Sensei Basupang who is now given a new title of Shihan is doing a good job in developing talent in rural areas. “Being a Shihan in accordance with Japanese karate, Basupang is a master instructor status because he has been in karate for many years. He holds fifth Dan Black Belt, it is fitting that we ensure that he is bestowed with the Shihan title,” Pillay said.

Furthermore, he said despite the challenges that Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) is facing like the rest of other karate federations in Southern Africa, Shihan Mpho Bakwadi is doing a good job in developing karate.