Samson Muripo
Samson Muripo |
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Samson Muripo is a Zimbabwean karate champion and the first African to win a world karate championship title.[1]
History
Muripo scooped gold in Japan in 2009 during the first International Karate Organisation Kyokushinkaikan First World Karate Tournament in Tokyo, after defeating Japanese champion Kikuyama Yasumichi in the final within three minutes. Kyokushi style karate is a full contact knockdown style.[1]After Muripo's victory, Zimbabwe was ranked the third best country in karate after Japan and Russia.[1]In July 2011, during the defence of his world title, Muripo, together with his mentor, South African Shihan Bas van Stenis, was poisoned. The poison nearly claimed his life and left scars in his face.[1] Muripo is also Africa’s kyokushin karate champion, a feat he achieved in South Africa during the All-Africa Kyokushin Karate Championships in October 2006.[1]Muripo has more than 10 recognised international trophies and medals under his belt, making him the undisputed best karateka in Zimbabwe and Africa.[1]
Achievements
- 1st ever African World Karate Champion
- Defeated Spanish, Kazakhstan, German, Australian and Japanese champions in the Men’s Middle Weight Category at the 1st World Cup Open Karate Tournament in Osaka, Japan, June 2009
- Best Technical Prize of the 1st World Cup Open Karate Tournament, Osaka, Japan, June 2009.
- Silver Medallist at the Higashi Nippon International Kyokushin Karate-do Senshukentaikai Open Weight Tournament in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, April 2010
- Silver Medallist in the Middleweight category of the 2nd World Cup Open Kyokushinkai Karate Tournament, Astana, Kazakhstan, July 2011.
- Scooped the Fighting Spirit Award of the 2nd World Cup Open Kyokushinkai Karate Tournament in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 2011.
- Silver Medallist in the Men’s Open of the 5th Len Barnes Memorial International Karate Tournament, June 2013 in Cape Town, South Africa.
- Scooped the Most Fighting Spirit Award of the 5th Len Barnes Memorial International Karate Tournament, June 2013, Cape Town, South Africa.
- Gold Medallist in the Ashihara International Full Contact Karate Open Championships in Cape Town, August, 2008.
- Reached the last 16 of the Mens Open in the 3rd Kyokushin Union Cup World Karate Tournament, November 2012, Toyama City, Japan.
- Participated in the 1st Kyokushinkan World Karate Championships in Moscow, Russia, representing Zimbabwe in the middleweight (under 80kg) men’s category, September 2005.
- Gold Medallist in the All Africa Kyokushin Karate championships in the senior men under 80kg, Cape Town, Republic of South Africa, October 2006.
- Gold Medallist in the Last Man Standing, Knock out Karate Tournament in the Open Weight Category Cape Town, April 2008.
- Gold Medallist in the Karate South Africa All Style Full Contact Championships in the Middleweight- men’s category, September 2008.
- Gold Medallist in the Men’s Open Weight Category of the Southern Africa Kyokushin Union Karate Championships, Thokoza, Johannesburg, South Africa, May 2012.
- Silver Medallist at the Annual Champion of Champions Full Contact Kyokushin Karate Tournament in the Senior Men Open Weight category, Harare, Zimbabwe December 2005.
- Zimbabwe 2009 Sportsman and Sportsperson of the Year.
- Graded to 4th DAN (YONDAN) BLACK BELT, Harare FEB 2012.
- Voted Zimbabwe Kyokushin Karate Icon — Arosume Properties Kyokushin Karate Merit Awards for 2010, Harare Zimbabwe.
- Voted 2011 Best International Karateka – Arosume Properties Kyokushin Karate Merit Awards, Harare, Zimbabwe.
- Awarded International Kyokushinkaikan Karate License by the General Director of the IKO. KYOKUSHINKAIKAN: All-Japan Kyokushin *Union, Shihan Shigeru Tabata — 7th Dan in Japan, September 2006.[1]
References
