The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Kusema
Shihan Samson Muripo was exuding confidence as he spoke about his impending return to the mat this week at the sixth Kyokushin Karate World Cup in Moscow, Russia.
Muripo is usually a withdrawn and soft-spoken fighter who prefers to do all his talking on the mat.
The Shihan is no stranger to the tournament, the host nation as well as its weather conditions.
But the fact that he has been inactive for over a year has got the 41-year-old a bit worried.
“As a fighter, one has to be in the ring time and again. I haven’t fought in over year, that is not good,” said Muripo.
“ln combat sports, we say that as a fighter, your best teacher is your opponent. I have been away for such a long time, which could pose a challenge for me.
“Other than that, I am going into the tournament with a positive mindset.
“I want to represent my country and continent with distinction,” he said.
It’s been approximately 13 months since Muripo last fought in a tournament.
Part of the reason for that was the Cyclone IdaI that wreaked havoc in Chimanimani early this year.
Muripo spent the first 17 years of his life in Chimanimani, which is still home to his immediate family.
The karate king owns a house in that part of the country and was left counting his losses when the tropical storm left over 500 people dead and thousands of families displaced in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe.
However, Muripo is aware that the tournament is not going to be a stroll in the park.
“Russia is amongst the top nations in this sport, they take martial arts very seriously. It won’t be a stroll in the park,” said the veteran fighter. Familiarity with the sport is likely to be Muripo’s most treasured tool when he sets aside the unfortunate events of this year and returns to the mat.
The tournament itself is a means to an end, as Muripo’s ultimate goal is next year’s So-Kyokushin World Championships in April.
“In gym, bag workout and specified drills, karate tournament training varies from technical to strength.
“Fortunately that is my lifestyle so there has been no major adjustments. However, the final weeks are mostly for technical fine tuning.
“You want to condition your body, but not to the extent of tiring yourself and affecting your performance.
“That is where I am right now, everything is fine,” said the Shihan.
While the Russian weather is reported to be extremely cold at this time of the year, Muripo is not worried about it.
“I hear it’s extremely cold this time of the year, but that shouldn’t be much of a problem.
“Training in hot weather is an advantage for us, especially with regards to cardio. That will come in handy during the tournament as the halls will be well air-conditioned,” he said.
