Harare, (New Ziana) – The International Karate Organisation Kyokushin Budokan, in partnership with the Harare City Martial Arts Club, will next month host the Mayor’s Challenge Cup, at the City Sports Centre in Harare.
The event is being held as part of efforts to promote youth development, discipline, and sportsmanship through martial arts.
The tournament, to be held on August 2, offers free admission to spectators while participation fees are set at $5 for children under 18 and $10 for adults. It will feature fighters from across Zimbabwe competing in four divisions namely Girls, Boys, Ladies, and Men, with specific weight categories.
The tournament features various weight categories for participants with girls competing in the 20kg, 25kg, 30kg, 35kg, 40kg, 45kg, and above 45kg.
Boys categories include 20kg, 25kg, 30kg, 35kg, 40kg, 45kg, 50kg, 55kg, and above 55kg while ladies will compete in the 60kg, 65kg, 70kg, and above 70kg, and men in the 60kg, 65kg, 70kg, 75kg, above 75kg, 80kg, and above 80kg.
Strict rules against age and weight cheating have been issued, with disqualification for any violations while proof of birth is mandatory for participants in the Girls Under 45kg and Open, as well as Boys Under 55kg and Open categories.
“Weight and age cheating will lead to disqualification, ” reads part of the notice. All youth participants must wear protective gear, including gloves and shin pads while breast guards are compulsory for girls.
The major event follows a meeting in March this year, between Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume and Hanshi Bosman, an 8th Dan Black Belt holder who is the International Chairman of Kyokushin Budokan Karate, laying the groundwork for deeper cooperation between the city and the karate organisation.
Bosman expressed commitment to supporting karate development in Harare through training, grading seminars, and staff engagement. He led a national karate seminar in March and also participated in a city clean-up campaign, reflecting the community and civic values that karate promotes.
The partnership aims to promote karate in Harare, offering local practitioners a platform to grow and potentially compete on the international stage.
New Ziana
