Karateka targets action movies
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday October 30, 2020 14:18
To him, it was beyond the excitement of watching a movie; he wanted to play a starring role.
He went to the extent of calling himself ‘Shaolin’. Rantsho decided the only way for him to achieve his dream was to become a karateka.
In 2010, he joined a karate club at Meepong Junior Secondary School in Selebi-Phikwe. “I joined the school karate club and our instructor was Sempai Lebogang Daniel. The other reasons I became a karateka was that the sport instills discipline, self-control and good character. I used to be a naughty child and my parents scolded me. I used to skip training thinking that my instructor was too hard on me,” Rantsho said.
He made his debut in national competitions in 2011 during the Kofukan karate championship and won a bronze medal. The following year he bagged a silver medal at the BISA National Championships. Still in 2012, he finished in second position during the JKA Open Championships.
He also scooped a bronze medal at the BOKA junior championship in the same year. Rantsho would then become one of the best karatekas in the country when he progressed to Form Three.
He won a gold medal at the SSKB Open Championships in 2013 and another gold at Kofukan Karate Championship. In 2014, he won another gold at the BISA National Championships and settled for silver at the JKA Open Championship.
Rantsho continued with his blossoming karate career when he moved to Selebi-Phikwe Senior Secondary School and joined BW Champions karate club. In 2018, he scooped a gold medal at the Zambian International Super League.
Last year, he returned home with a silver medal from Cape Town.
“I have 39 medals since 2011. I am a first Dan black belt after being graded by Shihan Con Kasis last year,” he said.
He said his international role model is Douglas Santos Brose, a Brazilian karateka. Locally, Lemogang Koolopile inspires him. Rantsho said his intention is to open a karate academy.
“In the next five years I want to be in a martial arts movie. It is a far-fetched dream, but it can happen. My focus is not locally because our local movie industry is struggling,” he said.
The 26-year-old said he wants to see himself owning martial arts schools across the country.
“Karate has the potential to become the next big thing in the country but we are hampered by financial difficulties. In some instances, children who have interest in karate cannot pursue their dreams because their parents are unable to support them,” Rantsho said.
When asked which local karateka he fears, Rantsho said he trusts his abilities.
“I have told myself that fear is like a disease to me. You cannot prepare for it but I do not fear anybody, but at the same time anything can happen. Our country has the best karatekas who can cause an upset anytime,” Rantsho said.
Just like all athletes, COVID-19 had a negative impact on Rantsho. He said since karate is a contact sport, they were the first National Sport Association (NSA) to be instructed to stop training and holding competitions.
“For you to be a better karateka, you have to train every day. The restrictions meant
I could not do anything and now I must start from scratch. It is tough, but I hope to get back into shape soon,” he said.
Rantsho said karatekas compete according to weight and at the moment he has gained a lot. He said normally he competes in the lightweight category (60kg), but now he must shed the fat.
“My strength is to stand up to defeat all challenges I face and what I want to achieve in life. I want to fight until I reach my destiny,” he said.