Anthony becomes a karate world champion
Anthony flew the South African flag with pride after advancing through six bouts to claim the title.
Members of the Dan Triangle Karate Club are beaming with pride after one of their own became a world champion last week.
In fact, 25 Dan Triangle members gathered at O R Tambo International Airport on Saturday to welcome home their very own Christopher Anthony (27) who went all the way to the final of the Karatenomichi World Federation (KWF) World Cup in Malta where he won gold in the open senior men’s kumite (fighting) category.
Anthony flew the South African flag with pride after advancing through six bouts to claim the title of world champion in the KWF style.
He is no stranger to the tournament having achieved a bronze medal for third place in the same category in Japan two years ago.
He also competed in the senior male team kumite tournament, but the South Africans fell out early this year (the South African team won gold in this category two years ago).
Speaking about his individual success, Anthony said: “It [being a world champion] still feels unreal.
“It is hard to process.
“It was a difficult tournament and I am still nursing some bumps and bruises,” he told the Herald on Monday.
“If you lose one fight you are out. There are no second chances.”
Competitors needed to land clean blows on their opponents in two-point fights.
Anthony explained that his toughest fight came in the quarterfinals against a tall opponent from Russia.
“I beat him with two punches, but it was a really aggressive fight,” he said.
He advanced to the finals after beating a competitor from Botswana.
He then defeated a Polish fighter in the final to claim the first position on the podium and achieve the crowning moment of his karate career to date.
“My preparation for the tournament stood me in good stead,” said Anthony.
“Sometimes in sport you just have a good day and you perform to the best of your ability.
“Everything just fell into place on the day.”
His attention and focus now turn to the biannual World Shotokan Karate Association (WSKA) Championship, to be held in Portugal in 2019, a tournament which he described as “one of the most difficult Shotokan karate tournaments in the world.”
The Dalpark resident expressed his gratitude towards his parents Chris and Wilma for supporting him.
The karateka’s father (a stalwart in the sport of karate) started teaching the sport to his son at the age of four and said he is delighted and proud of his achievement.
The Dan Triangle Karate Club has dojos in Benoni, Brakpan and Boksburg.
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