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Prince Mukuna Sports Reporter
GODWIN “JAWS’’ MURAMBIWA has once again shown how versatile a sportsman he is with the former national rugby coach last week being conferred with the Sixth Dan Black Belt, Shorin Ryu Karate in Japan.

Murambiwa has made his name in the local sporting circles in rugby where just like his friend Brighton Chivandire, are among a privileged few coaches to have taken charge of two or more national teams.

The former Old Hararians and Prince Edward School coach has on the sidelines of rugby majored in Karate in a long journey which Murambiwa says spans three decades.

Murambiwa’s karate journey started way back when he was still a student at Marondera High School in 1992 where the sport of karate was an extracurricular activity which took part in.

But for all his experience in karate, it is the year 2018 which has been special to Murambiwa in the field of martial arts.

This is because he was earlier in the year highly graded for the 4th Dan Black belt in Aiki Jijitsu at Old Hararians Sports Club, where his dojo is based.

Murambiwa also runs a karate academy

As if the 4th Dan Black belt was not an achievement enough, Murambiwa was this time in elite company in Japan where he went a notch up and secured a 6th Dan Black belt.

Murambwa said the conferment of the belt would add value and recognition to local karate as it is one of the highest recognised grades at the international level.

“It was an honour to be handed such an award by the grand masters and pioneers of the sport, this will add recognition to the local karate and also for us to gain connections and skills so that we can invite them to impart knowledge to our local students”, he said.

Murambiwa also reflected on the journey he has travelled in karate.

“When I got to Marondera High School, karate was an extra-curricular activity which I did take to like a duck to water.

“This of course was related to the order of the day were one had to survive fellow bullies as well as those seniors who if you were Form 1 were Form 2 and the rest. Our Teacher then only a blue belt himself taught us basics as well as self-defence for us to carry ourselves confidently.

“Those earlier years are all a haze and fast forward to 1992 after having left Prince Edward School a few years earlier I went in search of a Dojo, finally settling at University of Zimbabwe were my 1st Sensei the late Tichafa Maswinge Shihan welcomed me and took me under his wing.