The specialist Kumite is his forté

Sensei Themba is a former (2013) Universal Shotokan Karate Union (USKU) and former national champion.
So where did it all begin for this Second Dan Black Belt Kumite specialist?

Back in 1995 at the young age of 15, Themba started out as any karatekas would, from a white belt and at the bottom of the ladder. A year later he had already attained his green belt in karate (fourth belt) and received provincial colours.

By 1997 Themba had attained his brown belt and with it his national colours, he was also declared the u.16/17 national champion. The following year he won his first senior national championship and was named Mpumalanga Sportsman of the Year and was honoured with the premier’s award.

He competed in the Zone 6 karate championships facing off against Africa’s southern countries best karatekas and returned home with gold, and a chance to represent South Africa in the world championships which were held in Rio de Janeiro.
“The first thing people ask you when you come from South Africa, is ‘how is Mandela’,” he said. Themba was the youngest athlete in the senior team and lost his second round to a karateka from England.

“Back then if you were 18 you competed in the Seniors Division against all ages older than 18, meaning you went up against far more experienced karatekas,” said Themba.
Looking back on his teachings Themba remembers a girl named Puleng, who he tutored at his club in Embalenhle, named Embalenhle Karate Club.

She took part in nationals and won it, making her one of the youngest to compete and win a nationals.
“I specialised in kumite leaving kata behind many years ago, by making that choice I excelled in my kumite,” he added.
1999 was a bad year for Themba when a knee injury cost him his place on the shortlist for the All Africa Games, the injury also kept him out of the sport for at least two years.

He only got back into the kick of things in 2001, and was competing professionally again in 2003 when he took to the nationals competition and won it once again, he also attained his Second Dan black belt back then.

That year he was named Mpumalanga Coach and spent his time coaching the junior team, who won eight medals at the SA National Junior championships. They proved they had what it takes once again in 2004 when they won the national championships.

Being part of the national squad from 1998 to 2009, Themba as an athlete, retired from national karate in 2010 and focused on his coaching.
In 2013 he was made the national coach for juniors and seniors and two of his karatekas from his Bethal Dojo took nationals. 2014 was a good year for Themba as a coach when his karatekas from Bethal competed at provincial level against other dojos from Mpumalanga and excelled bringing home gold. He also coached for Zambia in which South Africa brought home 102 medals.

Now this specialist has come to eMalahleni to train and motivate future national champions after seeing their potential.
“It’s all about the right training,” he said and strongly believes that by training his students mentally, he can prepare them for any challenge they may face.

“You do not need to sweat like a soldier, if your mind is in the right place your body will follow,” he continued.
Sensei Themba’s new dojo, School of Champions, opened here in eMalahleni roughly three months ago. He currently has 13 students under his name in eMalahleni with another 17 in Bethal. He hopes to expand his dojo to take more of eMalahleni’s potential to national level.
“Witbank karate will never be the same again, and the future of our karatekas looks bright,” he ended.