New World Shotokan Karate Crystal Park dojo instructor sensei Louis Ramakulukusha won a gold medal in kumite and silver in kata at the WKF AUSC Region V Children, Junior and Senior Karate Championships on May 28 and 29 in Durban.
The sixth dan told the paper he was aiming for gold in both events but he was satisfied with his achievement.
“The night before I could not even sleep as I kept on having visions of victory. I imagined all the fights and I saw myself winning them with high scores. On the day of the event I was pumped up and fought excellently,” he said.
The championship featured karateka from Botswana and Namibia.
Ramakulukusha stated that it’s always a career highlight to represent his country.
“Besides my silver medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, this was a highlight. It took a lot of preparation. I attended the Karate South Africa online training and national team camps last year and the recent one held in Durban.
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“My attendance of these camps helped me prepare well. As they say ‘iron sharpens iron’. I would also like to thank KSA director of coaches Shian Michael Roets (7th Dan), sensei Eugene Oosthuisen and sensei Takis Chaniotakos (6th Dan) who took their time to assist me in my kata training sessions.
“Most importantly I would like to thank my family, friends, students and neighbours who assisted me financially with the preparations and travelling expenses. I am indebted to them.”
Despite not achieving his goal of total dominance in both kata and kumite, he remains confident he will be selected for the SA team to take part in the Commonwealth Games in July and August.
He is also gunning for the UFAC Championship in Durban in December.
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