Hayashi-ha sends six to US event

NELSON DIRENG
Correspondent | Wednesday August 25, 2010 00:00

The six-member Botswana team consists of three junior karatekas, Khaya Groth, Loagonyana Phefo and Kyle Bannister. Ofentse 'Shakes' Bakwadi, Kevin Groth and Tebogo Molapong are in the senior team. Hayashi-ha coach, Mpho Bakwadi said it is essential for clubs to send karatekas to international competitions in order for them to gain exposure.  He said that their focus at Hayashi-ha is to develop athletes from a young age. Currently Hayashi-ha junior development programme focuses on children from as young as five years. Bakwadi said soon, senior karatekas like his brother, Ofentse will have to make way for the younger generation and that is why they have a continuous development programme.

He complained about lack of funds, which has forced them to take a small contingent to the US competition. 'It would have been a good opportunity for Botswana if at least 30 athletes participated,' he said. The event will feature both individual and team kata and kumite.

A training session for the US-bound karatekas and coaches will be conducted by Japanese Hayashi-ha grand master, Soke Inoue from September 16-17.

Inoue is a Japanese famous for reviving an ancient technique of combining kumite and kata, known as Kihon. The technique is said to be a lost secret that most masters have either forgotten or never known. He is famous for training multiple champions who later started their own dojos. These include Mie Nakayama, Atsuko Wakai and Ryoki Abe of the Goju-ryu style; the world famous Hasegawa brothers of the Shito-kai style, Nao Morooka and Hisao Yokoyama also of the Shito-kai. From his Inoue's dojo, Kusuga Wakabayashi has won the All Asian Karate-do Championship and Rika Usami is the current All Japan kata champion.