Shihan Samson Muripo - 6th Dan (born 5 May 1978) is a Zimbabwean two-time World Kyokushin Karate Champion. Samson Muripo became the first black African Kyokushin World Champion in Osaka, Japan 2009.[1]

Samson Muripo
Samson Muripo at the 1st World Cup Open Karate Tournament in Osaka, Japan in 2009
Born (1978-05-05) 5 May 1978 (age 46)
Chimanimani, Zimbabwe
Other namesShihan Muripo
StyleKyokushin Karate
Rank6th Dan Shihan
Websitewww.sokyokushin.org.zw

Background

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Samson Muripo was born in Chishiri Village in Chimanimani. He started training Karate in 1993 at Ndima Government High School.[1]

In Japan 2009, Muripo won gold at the 1st World Cup Open Karate Tournament in Osaka, after defeating Japanese champion Kikuyama Yasumichi in the final match • Zimbabwe’s ANSA 2009 and 2017 Sportsperson, Sportsman of the year 2009, 2013 and 2017 • Experienced trainer in mental and physical coordination • Skilled team and individual motivator • Team player • Dedicated to grassroots and international karate development • High regard for professionalism • Successful Trainer of Trainers • Successful local and regional karate event organizer • Sport Ethics – Zimbabwe Olympic Committee Coaching Certificate – 2019. • Train the Trainers - Zimbabwe Olympic Committee Coaching Certificate – 2015. .[2]

In 2021 a documentary series about his karate career was announced, it was produced by Yakontent.[3][4] According to the Zimbabwe Sports and Recreation Commission he is a 6th Dan Black Belt (ROKUDAN) in Kyokushin.[5]

Sports administration

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Muripo is the Branch Chief for the Zimbabwe So-Kyokushin Karate - Do Organization https://www.sokyokushin.net/wp/wp-content/themes/sokyokushin/world_samson.html,[6] Africa Development Officer for the International Karate Organization Kyokushinkaikan:[7] World So-Kyokushin, council member in the International Karate Organization Kyokushinkaikan: World So-Kyokushin, council member in the Zimbabwe Karate Union (Style representative), council member in the Harare Metropolitan Province Karate Association (style representative) and he is also a qualified technical Dan examiner.[8]

He has organized local Kyokushin Karate tournaments and seminars. He organized the first International So-Kyokushin Karate Championship on July the 22nd of 2017 at The Aquatic Complex in Chitungwiza.[9] He also organized the continental championships in 2015 and 2016.[10] Shihan Muripo has also been active in attaining sponsorships for Zimbabwe from Arosume Property Development and Dr. Mnaba.[11]

Achievements

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Regional and local achievements

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Shihan Muripo has medals in competitions he participated in.[12] He was also named Zimbabwe’s Annual National Sports Awards (ANSA) Sportsperson of the years 2009 and 2017,[13] and Sportsman of the year 2009; 2013 and 2017.[14] In 2018, he came second at the Zimbabwe Annual National Sports Awards.[15]

International achievements

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  • Gold Medallist in the All Africa Kyokushin Karate Championships in the senior men under 80 kg, Cape Town, Republic of South Africa, October 2006.
  • Gold Medallist in the Last Man Standing, Knock out Karate Tournament in the Open Weight Category Cape Town, April 2008.
  • Gold Medallist in the Ashihara International Full Contact Karate Open Championships in Cape Town, August, 2008.
  • Gold Medallist in the Karate South Africa All Style Full Contact Championships in the Middleweight- men’s category, September 2008.
  • First African World Karate Champion at the 1st World Cup Open Karate Tournament in    Osaka, Japan, June 2009.[16]
  • Best Technical Prize of the 1st World Cup Open Karate Tournament, Osaka, Japan, June 2009.[16]
  • Silver Medalist at the Higashi Nippon International Kyokushin Karate-do Senshukentaikai Open Weight Tournament in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, April 2010.
  • Fighting Spirit Award of the 2nd World Cup Open Kyokushinkai Karate Tournament in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 2011.
  • Silver Medalist in the Middleweight category of the 2nd World Cup Open Kyokushinkai Karate Tournament, Astana, Kazakhstan, July 2011.
  • Gold Medalist in the Men's Open Weight Category of the Southern Africa Kyokushin Union Karate Championships, Thokoza, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa, May 2012.
  • Silver Medalist in the Men’s Open of the 5th Len Barnes Memorial International Karate Tournament, June 2013 in Cape Town, South Africa.[17]
  • Bronze Medalist, Middleweight category of the World Kyokushin Union Karate Championships in Bulgaria 5–6 October 2013.[17]
  • Champion in the Heavyweight Category of the 2013 So-Kyokushin Cup Karate International Tournament in Shanghai, China.[17]
  • Silver Medalist in the Superheavyweight Category of the 2013 So-Kyokushin Cup International Karate Tournament in Shanghai, China.[17]
  • Silver Medalist in the Middle Weight of the 4th IKO Matsushima Group World Karate Tournament in Durban, RSA on the 6th and 7 September 2014.[18]
  • Bronze Medalist at the 46th All Japan International Karate Tournament in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, April 2015.[19]
  • Gold Medalist of the Men 35 years plus Open Weight in the 3rd So-Kyokushin International Karate Tournament in Ahvaz, Iran, February 2017.
  • Silver Medalist of the Men 23 years plus Open Weight in the 3rd So-Kyokushin International Karate Tournament in Ahvaz, Iran, February 2017.
  • Gold Medalist of the Men 35–40 years Over 75kilograms (Open Weight) in the 4th Ohishi Cup So-Kyokushin International Karate Championships in Ahvaz, Iran, February 28 – the 2nd of March 2018.[20]
  • Silver Medalist of the Men +18years Kata Competition (Open Weight Division), in the 4th Ohishi Cup So-Kyokushin International Karate Championships in Ahvaz, Iran, February 28 – the 2nd of March 2018.[20]
  • Gold Medalist in the Young Master Kumite Category (36-46years) Men Open of the 49th All Japan Karate Tournament in Shizuoka City, Japan, 14th and 15 April 2018[21]
  • Gold Medalist in the Open Weight Division of the IKOKU International Full Contact Karate Tournament in Cape Town, Republic of South Africa on the 25th of August 2018[22]
  • Gold Medal in the Men Over 80kgs Veterans Category (41–45 years) at the 6th Kyokushin Karate World Cup, Moscow, Russia on October 6 of 2019.[16][23]

• He graded to 6th Dan on the 27th of November, 2023 together with Shihan George Mutambu - 5th Dan and Shihan Likhwa Khumalo - 5th Dan in Shizuoka City, Japan by Hanshi DAIGO Oishi - 9th Dan.

References

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  1. ^ a b "The making of Samson Muripo | The Standard". 22 October 2017. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  2. ^ "Video". Vidmate.
  3. ^ "Muripo excited by docuseries". The Herald. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
  4. ^ "Africa's 1st karate world champion now has a docuseries & here's more about it from the man himself". Techzim. 2021-07-20. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
  5. ^ "Sports & Recreation Commission". Retrieved 2021-04-10.
  6. ^ "Muripo graded to Shihan". The Herald. Retrieved 2021-04-10.
  7. ^ "Karateka remains optimistic". The Herald. Retrieved 2021-04-10.
  8. ^ "The Shihan's Journey" (PDF). sokyokushin.com. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  9. ^ "Karate tourney begins". The Herald. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  10. ^ "Zimbabwe to host All-Africa So-Kyokushin Karate Championships". The Herald. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  11. ^ "Arosume Chairperson Dr. Manson Mnaba, the longstanding sponsor of the Zimbabwe So-Kyokushin Karate-Do Organization | Arosume Property Development". www.arosume.co.zw. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  12. ^ "Zim dominates All Africa So-Kyokushin tourney". The Chronicle. 27 July 2015. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  13. ^ amlambo (2017-12-14). "Karateka Muripo rules". NewsDay Zimbabwe. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  14. ^ "Meet Zimbabwe's Finest for 2009 | The Standard". 14 January 2010. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  15. ^ "Zimbabwe Triathlon | 2018 ANSA AWARDS". Retrieved 2021-04-10.
  16. ^ a b c "Karateka Muripo crowned world champ". The Sunday News. 25 February 2017. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  17. ^ a b c d amlambo (2013-08-10). "A legend living the life of an unsung hero". NewsDay Zimbabwe. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  18. ^ "Muripo wants to do even better". The Herald. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  19. ^ amlambo (2015-04-14). "Muripo leads Zim karatekas to Japan". NewsDay Zimbabwe. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  20. ^ a b "ジンバブエ(Zimbabwe)のサムソン(Samson Muripo)選手の情報を更新しました | 国際空手道連盟 極真会館 世界総極真 SO-SKYOKUSHIN". 国際空手道連盟 極真会館 世界総極真 SO-SKYOKUSHIN | 大石代悟が代表をつとめる、国際空手道連盟 極真会館 世界総極真のWebサイト。 (in Japanese). 2013-08-07. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  21. ^ "Muripo comes first in Japan". Zimbabwe Today. 2018-04-16. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  22. ^ "Samson Muripo's big task". The Sunday Mail. 29 November 2018. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  23. ^ "The 6th Kyokushin Karate World Cup Kyokushin Union 2019 | Organizing Committee". karate-worldcup.org. Retrieved 2021-04-08.