Lovemore Zigara in Gweru
EIGHTEEN kickboxers were upgraded to different categories at the Zimbabwe Kickboxers’ Association summer training and grading exercise held at St George’s College.
Among them is Innocent Kanopupa, who was upgraded to a second Dan black belt and Charles Tembo to a third Dan black belt.
ZKA director-general Arnold Mutawiri, who is based in the United Kingdom, conducted various clinics for the kickboxers.
Mutawiri also donated kickboxing equipment, which included blood pressure monitoring machines and kick pads, among others.
ZKA president Tony Kamangira said the summer training exercise was meant to ensure that local kickboxers were well versed with the latest trends and prepare them for future regional and international tournaments.
“This was a review of our intensive training code, grading for belts, certificate to upgrade and use merit awards for our kickboxers. The idea is to ensure that we keep our kickboxers abreast with the latest trends so that they can hold their own in regional competitions,” said Kamangira.
“We also want to encourage our kickboxers to keep an interest in the sport through our constant gradings. We are hopeful that we will upgrade other kickboxers in the next two weeks because some did not manage to come due to logistical challenges.”
Kamangira said kickboxers that attended the summer training and upgrading exercise would be considered for the annual kickboxing tournament in South Africa in January 2017.
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