The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Kusema
WITH his status in the international Kyokushin Hall of Fame guaranteed, Sensei Samson Muripo is toying with the idea of venturing into the bloody world of mixed martial arts. The 38-year-old was last week crowned world champion for the second time when he won the senior bout of the 3rd International So-Kyokushin Karate Tournament in Ahvaz, Iran.
And as he basks in that sunshine, Sense Muripo tells The Sunday Mail Sport that he is ready to move out of his comfort zone.
“I love fighting,” Muripo says. “It makes me wiser, stronger, think wider and pushes me to train more. I believe mixed martial arts could be a right choice for me, as it gives me all thrills of fighting but also takes me away from my comfort zone.”
When – if ever – the switch will be made is unknown, but last year Muripo started training with renowned MMA expert Sensei Ben du Plessis.
“I am not abandoning karate per se, but I want to try my hand in MMA and will seek to balance the two,” he explains. “I have already started my training with Sensei Ben du Plessis but I intend to take it one step at a time. I trust he will advise me and introduce me to the right people once I am ready.”
A two-time Kyokushin world champion would be a favourite of many MMA companies as such a man guarantees excitement and television viewership.
However, for now Muripo is enjoying the glory that came with his second world championship triumph.
Asked which world title is sweeter, Muripo considers the question for a while before responding: “I think the only difference for me is age. I can say, physically in 2009, l was faster, stronger and sharper with my technique. What age has positively contributed now is maturity, as I am mentally stronger and sharper.”
At 38 many would expect Muripo to be edging towards retirement but the world champion insists there are still several years of fighting at the highest level left in him.
“I have always felt stronger with each birthday and there is no better way of telling my critics that I still have a job to do on the tatami (mat) than this latest victory.
“This victory and all the fights I have participated in after the 2009 Championships were physically and emotionally challenging because everywhere I go people now know me and what l am capable of.
“I am now aware of the mind games that happen on and off the fighting mate at these tournaments and that experience has served me well,” concludes Muripo.
