The Sunday Mail
Don Makanyanga
GODWIN MURAMBIWA is a sure bet for the Zimbabwean rugby’s Hall of Fame — a decorated national team player and the first black coach to take charge of the Sables.
But the 50-year-old international rugby instructor has another life, he is a karateka who recently attained a sixth dan black belt in Japan.
In rugby, he is Coach Jaws and in karate, he is Master Murambiwa.
The veteran rugby coach disclosed that he took up karate as a way to protect himself from bullies who terrorized juniors at Marondera High School.
“At the age of 13, I found myself at an institution where bullying was rampant, one lived with the threat of being beaten up constantly being thown at them. I had to find a way of defending myself.
“I had no option but to enroll in self-defence classes so that when the bullies came my way I would be able to defend myself. Back then that was my only motivation, something that has changed over the years as I have grown older and wiser,” said Murambiwa.
The recent visit to Okinawa, Japan, not only delivered a sixth dan black belt but pushed Murambiwa into mulling about taking part in his maiden international tournament. “I did compete a bit back in the day, but never really pursued the sport owing to rugby commitments.
“However, I am hoping to enter the World Goju Ryu Champioships next year in Asia, maybe in the kata competition,” he said.
Competing at 50?
“At 50 years, there are Senseis who hold the 8th, 9th and 10th Dan. On my recent visit to Okinawa, I met Sensei Hokama who is 75 years old and trains every day.
“He is super-fast and knows more than I do, and that alone has motivated me to push on,” added Murambiwa.
Murambiwa, who has been running a dojo for the past two decades, believes his success story in rugby was shaped by his involvement in karate.
“Martial arts helped my rugby career in that it taught me patience, something I have managed to apply in rugby over the years,” he said.
