Hilma Nalupe 

Goju-Ryu Karate Namibia (OGKN) conducted its final gradings for the year last month, bringing together students from Honbu and Shinto dojos from Windhoek to celebrate their efforts and achievements. 

A total of 133 students, ranging from ages five to 66 were invited to be graded, each demonstrating the discipline and perseverance that define karate. Among the standout performances were 19-years-old Thomas Ndara and Darryl Musvamiri, two students who were successful promoted to Shodan black belts. Ndara described his achievement as a dream come true for him, saying he has been practising karate since he was 9-years old and was inspired by the karate films he watched with his dad. 

“Through my training, I have met many trials and tribulations, not just on the traditional side of karate but also competition-wise. So being able to stand here today and see the fruits of my labour culminate through this achievement is truly outstanding,” Ndara said. Musvamiri said receiving the Shodan black belt stands as one of his greatest achievements and as an example of how capable he is when he commits to a goal. “At 19 years old, this milestone has taught me that the values developed in the dojo, such as discipline and respect are not confined to martial arts alone, but can be transferred into other areas of life, like academics and even in the workspace,” he said. Musvamiri further stated that looking forward, this will not be the end of his karate journey. He intends to continue with the discipline and possibly explore other forms of martial arts. 

Both candidates showed strong character and technical ability, earning their place among OGKN’s black belt ranks. Best attendance awards were also presented to all the students who achieved the most classes attended during the 2025 karate year and 5th Dan was presented to Stefan van der Merwe. -hnalupe@nepc.com.na