Shihan Collen Sedoaba

Shihan Collen Sedoaba was born in Kwa Thema near Springs in the Eastrand in 1962. He started Kyokushin karate in 1975 when his classmate Lottie Thage introduced him to his legendary brother Peter ‘Poison’ Thage (then Sensei) who taught him kyokushin karate at the famous DH Hall Dojo in Katlehong.
In 1985, together with his friend Leonard Nketsi, they graded for shodan in Durban under Shihan A.K. Ismail and Sensei Peter Thage. When Shihan Thage stopped instructing he teamed up with Leonard Nketsi to form a local karate association. They later joined forces with Sensei Steven Helm. In April of 1990, they visited Cape Town and tested for their nidan under the watchful gaze of Shihan Len Barnes, the founder of Kyokushin Karate in South Africa.
In 1991, he joined Shihan Kenny Uytenbogaardt and for many years served on the National Committee. In July of 1997, he was graded to Sandan. For many years he advocated for transformation and empowerment and in 2001 was tested for yondan by a panel comprising of Shihandai Uytenbogaardt, Trevor Tockar & Hennie Bosman.
In January of 2003, when he was approached by the newly appointed Chairman of Kyokushin-Kan Africa, Shihan Hennie Bosman, he joined the Kyokushin Kan group and was appointed Branch Chief of South Africa and graded to fifth Dan by the IKO Chairman Kancho Hatsuo Royama. At the same time, he was awarded branch chief status for South Africa. He is grateful to Kancho Hatsuo Royama for his commitment to the development of Kyokushin-kan karate as propagated by the late Sosai Oyama.

Mary Jane Sasa Lesiba

Tshepiso Sasa Lesiba was born on the 6th of April 1984. She started training karate at the age of thirteen under Sensei James Sithole. She started competing in full contact tournaments in 1999. She has been a champion from 2000 fighting in the under 55kg division. In 2003 she graded to first dan. In 2005 she graded to Nidan and she was selected to take part in the 1st World kyokushin kan tournament in Russia, and she came sixth in the woman kata contest. She then was invited to a ladies all Kanto tournament where she won the under 55kg division. She became the first black lady to win a tournament in Japan. She is an instructor at Sijabulile dojo.

Sensei Simphiwe Dlulane

Simphiwe shook the Kyokushin world in November 1999 when he defeated the undefeated Japanese heavyweight champion (Hitoshi Kiyama) and the European middleweight champion (Emil Kostov) at the Seventh World Open Karate Championships in Japan. Hot on the heels of that achievement he lifted the Russian and Eastern European light-heavy weight trophy in Ekaterinberg Russia, May 2000.
Simphiwe Dlulane is the young Free Stater of the year 2006; an award which was awarded to him by the honourable free state premier, Me Beatrice Marshoff, on the 2nd June 2006 in Bethlehem. Simphiwe Dlulane won the sport category of the premier’s awards and also became an overall winner topping other young free staters from different categories (Youth Entrepreneurship, Education, Community and Youth Service, Science & Technology, etc).
Simphiwe Dlulane is an internationally recognized tournament judge and has officiated in many tournaments in South Africa. He holds a 4th dan Black Belt and has been teaching karate to the youth from the previously disadvantaged communities throughout South Africa since 1990.

Simphiwe Dlulane

Full Name: Simphiwe Dlulane
Date of Birth: 20 February 1974
Grade: 4th Dan Black Belt
Years of Training: Since 1985
Simphiwe Dlulane was born in 1974 and started Full-Contact Karate (Kyokushin) training in 1985 and is today an internationally recognized and respected karateka. Having represented the country in numerous international events, a detailed list of his achievements would fill volumes. Let it suffice to say some of his notable achievements include, inter-alia, the following:
South African Young Lions (under19 years) Champion; 1992, 1993
Undefeated South African Lightweight Champion for 3 years until he voluntarily campaigned in other divisions; 1992 - 1994.
Undefeated South African Middleweight Champion until he voluntarily campaigned in other divisions; 1995 – 2000.
Current undefeated South African Heavyweight Champion; since 2001.
Current South African Open weight Champion of Champions;
Year 2000 Russian and Eastern Europe Champion.
8th Place & best technical fighter in the 2006 All-Japan Championships.
Top 10 Knockdown (Full Contact) Fighter in the world.
Young Free Stater of the Year 2006.
Besides these he has represented South Africa in many international events in countries such as Japan, Brazil, Russia and France as illustrated in the table below:

INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMA FOR UKZN KARATE ENTHUSIAST

A student at the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine (NRMSM) who has excelled in karate was recently acknowledged at an international tournament in Russia. Fourth-year student, Mr Thabani Mndebela, and his three team mates were recognised as the best fighters in their category at the International Karate Team Tournament held in Khabarovsk, Russia, on May 11.
The International Karate Organisation presented the team with the Best Fighters Diploma for their prowess in the martial art. Mr Mndebela's participation in a tournament in South Africa last year - the All African Kyokushin Karate Tournament - led to his selection for the Russian competition.
Mr Mndebela, who has a brown belt, said he felt he "deserved" this win because of the "hours of hard work I have put in". He trains daily at UKZN's Old Mutual Sports Hall. Students are often advised to balance their studies with extra curricular activities and Mr Mndebela has struck this balance through his karate training. It has taught him discipline and motivated him in his studies. The aspirant paediatrician said he chose to study Medicine because he "liked serving people".
Professor Willem Sturm, Dean of the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine said: "Students and staff at the NRMSM are proud of Thabani's achievements. He is a role model for younger students in that he performs in his sport at international level while being successful in his studies as well."