Lower belts dealt a blow in karate
Calistus Kolantsho | Tuesday May 24, 2016 10:37
Presenting the motions, Kofukan chief instructor, Sensei Million Masumbika said brown belts cannot be members of the technical commission. He said it was not proper for low graded karatekas to assess black belts holders who want to become national team coaches. “Karate is an art and one has to understand its technical aspects. Juniors cannot assess their chief instructors,” he argued.
Masumbika said there should be an entry level to the commission if they want BOKA to grow. “What are we doing if we are not developing our people?” he asked. BOKA president, Sensei David Mathe said the entry requirement should not be firm on the grades. Despite that, Mathe said the changes have been effected. He said those who had submitted their names to be part of the technical commission should re-apply and they should be third dan black belt and above.
JKA Botswana chief instructor, Sensei Karabo Samuel felt that the amendments should be done during the review of the constitution.
Chief instructor of Karatenomichi, Sensei Tshepho Bathai suggested that there should be minimum entry requirements for the technical commission. He said the review of the constitution might take longer.
“Karate is belt orientated. We can compromise other things, but we should respect the belt. For us to be better, we should progress technically. We will be destroying karate if we allow juniors to be in the technical commission. The standard of technical commission members should be up,” said Bathai.
BOKA vice president (administration), Sydney Maruping said when the delegates set standards, they should consider that karate is still developing. He reminded the meeting that they should not compete with developed federations. “We are still developing and if we had enough capacity it was going to be better,” he said. Sensei Sam Dire of Shuko Kai Shutoryu said even if an individual is not of the required grade, technical knowledge should be considered. He argued that the arrangement will not work for other federations. He said they all want to have representation.
For his part, Sensei Union Kgafela from Botswana Shitoryu Federation said BOKA the affiliates should consider the number of third dans in the country.
Meanwhile, Masumbika said Botswana is the only country in the region that has trained many referees. He said the entry level for referees commission should have regional qualification. The meeting agreed and endorsed the motion. BOKA also appointed an interim committee that will focus on Re Ba Bona Ha and School of Excellence. The committee comprises Bathai, Dire, Samuel and Chris Ponatshego. The committee has been given up to end of June to submit their initial report.