Caiphus cuts a new path in martial arts
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday October 2, 2020 16:13
Oratile Caiphus, a karateka of note, was amongst men in uniform who attended the training.
The aim of the process was to nominate an officer who would attend the Chinese Wushu instructor course at the PLA Army Special Operations Academy, Guangzhou.
Caiphus passed the unarmed combat course, which earned him the sole ticket to China.
Caiphus said in his 25 years as a karateka, he has always wanted to do something unique.
“The course that I attended ran from September 17, 2018 until January 17, 2019. There were 111 foreign students admitted in the PLA Special Operations Academy. Some (74) were doing special operation field courses and 37 were focusing on Chinese Wushu. The Wushu had 25 countries including Botswana, represented by myself,” he said.
Other African countries that were represented were Djibouti, Mauritius, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Caiphus said the Chinese are a welcoming nation, but the challenge was the weather that kept changing all the time.
“Wushu is a martial sport in the modern world. Wu means military and Shu means art. Wushu is mostly used to describe combat sport. The curriculum for the Chinese Wushu was developed by the PLA Army Special Operations Academy for security. The educational objectives are specified to provide clear information of the knowledge and aspects of self-defence without a weapon,” he said.
He was also trained in Chinese language and culture, Chinese boxing routine, apparatus routine, Sanda technique, Wushu theory, Wushu pedagogy, sports injury and protection.
“The difference between them and us is that we call it non-combat because it is about bare hands. It is self-defence with or without a weapon. I learnt some few Chinese words,” he said. Caiphus said the course could improve the security of Botswana.
During the training at the academy, the 31-year-old was selected as the best student and was nominated to be a pre-instructor in the absence of other instructors.
He came back with a Chinese Wushu instructor diploma. Caiphus who is a third Dan black belt grew up under the Kufukan style.
Residing in the SSG camp, there were three dominant sport activities; football, lawn tennis and karate.
He chose the SSG karate club following in the footsteps of his elder brother, Bose. He started karate at the tender age of six.
“In 1999, I was selected to join the national team until today. I have won gold medals in Zone VI championships. In 2009, I was a Commonwealth champion, UFAK bronze medallist in 2017 and the following year I won a bronze medal at the same championship in Rwanda,” he said.
Caiphus also walked away with a gold medal at the Kufukan World Championship. When he was recruited by the BDF in 2008, he was still under Kufukan.
Upon arrival at SSKB, Sensei George Tshikare and Peter Molefhe were his coaches.
Caiphus said he managed to stay in the national team because of patience and determination.
“I always tell myself that I have not reached the ceiling. Despite the challenges that I always come across, I take that as a motivation. I never undermine my opponents,” he said.
The Jakalas No.2 born karateka said he started off doing kumite and kata until 2009. Upon return from BDF training, he decided to specialise in kumite.
Fact file
Full names: Oratile Caiphus
Date of birth: December 8, 1989
Place of birth: Jakalas No 2
Sport: Karate
Style: Kufukan
Hobbies: Fitness addict and singing
Achievements: Zone VI gold medallist (1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012) Kufukan World Championship: silver and bronze (2006). Gold and silver (2015), gold and silver (2017) Commonwealth champion: gold medal (2009)
UFAK championship: bronze (2010) All Africa Games: semi final (2015) Australian Open Championship gold (2016)
UFAK: bronze (2018) AUSC Region 5 Karate championship: gold (2017) AUSC Region 5 Karate Championship: bronze (2019)