DELMAS – The Dojo Awards Ceremony, hosted on October 5, 2024, at Joheve Conference Hall, celebrated the exceptional accomplishments of skilled karate practitioners, presenting them with medals and trophies in recognition of their unwavering commitment and diligence.
The occasion also celebrated Sensei Brian Mpila’s birthday and honoured him for his contributions, dedication, and passion towards the local Shotokan Karate-Do Association. Proud parents, mentors, and fellow karate practitioners gathered to celebrate the recipients’ dedication and devotion to the discipline.
Sensei Brian Mpila, the visionary founder of the Shotokan Karate-Do Association, shared with the Highveld Chronicle the significance of this year’s dojo awards: “They reflect their hard work, perseverance, and teamwork, showcasing the dojo’s commitment to excellence. The curated teachings have developed confident, skilled, and passionate martial artists, leaving a lasting impact on their lives.”
Looking ahead, Mpila mentioned that the dojo plans to expand community outreach programmes, introducing karate to underprivileged youth. “We’ll also establish a mentorship programme, pairing senior karatekas with juniors to ensure Sensei Mpila’s legacy continues. Additionally, we’ll host seminars and workshops, inviting international instructors to enhance our skills,” he added.
Neo Msimang, chairperson of the Shotokan Karate-Do Association, stated in an interview with the publication, “The award ceremony is an integral part of our annual calendar, known as the Best of the Best Championship, where we honour and recognise the dedication and hard work exhibited by our students throughout the year. It is a select group that reaches this pinnacle of achievement. Our ethos revolves around creating value, emphasising uniqueness, and striving to successfully execute all our scheduled events, expand our membership base, and deeply resonate with individuals on matters of marketing and branding related to karate.”
Speaking at the event, Precious Mkhabela, Shotokan Karate-Do Association Fundraising Executive and parent of one of the karatekas, said, “Sensei Brian’s guidance and mentorship have been amazing, especially for us as we are new here; we joined in December last year. This is my son’s first experience, and I can see he’s enjoying it. The teachers are really impressed with his behaviour—quiet yet very confident. This award ceremony means a lot to both me and my son, as it shows that there has been improvement since he started karate, and it encourages us to push harder despite life’s challenges.”
Mkhabela added, “I would encourage more parents to consider karate as a sport for their kids because the discipline, self-confidence, and self-esteem that come with karate are amazing. My son’s teacher says you wouldn’t even tell that he’s at a new school; he’s very clever, considerate, and respectful.” The association can be reached at 079 191 2853 or 066 184 9966, and classes are held on weekdays in the township and in town.
