I, Collen Sedoaba born on the 20th of February 1962 and started training Karate in 1975 at DH William Hall under Sensei Peter Thage in Katlehong.

·   I graded my1st Dan in 1985 Oct 08 Cert no 40415 in Durban (AK Ishmael Shihan)

·   2nd Dan 1990 Apr 10 Cert no 96-440 in Cape Town (Len Barnes Shihan)

·   3rd Dan 1995 Jul 13 Cert no 97-783 in Gauteng (Kenny Urteynborgardt Shihan)

·   4th Dan 1999   Sept   Cert no Available (Kenny Urteynborgardt and Henny Bosman Shihan’s)

I spent 27 yrs training Kyokushin under the IKO 1 Matsui group until 2002, I then joined Kancho Royama when he established his own style in 2003.

Since the inception of Kyokushin Kan Africa in 2003 as one of the founding members under the leadership of Shihan Bosman.

  I Graded my 5th Dan in May 2003 Cert no 027-00 in the presence of Kancho Royama, Fuku Kancho Hiroshige and Shihan Cameron.

I was appointed Branch Chief in 2003, and I obtained my Renshi Shihan Licence on the 21st of Mar 2005 Cert no 00018 during an International Seminar in HONBU Japan at Saitama. I have held this rank for the past 32 years.

Ø  I took part in various National Tournaments   as a Referee / Coach from 1985.

Ø  During the 7th World Tournament IKO 1 in 1995 Japan had the opportunity to be an Assistant Coach.

Ø  2005 – acquired the (Shihan LICENCE) Renshi during an International Camp in Japan

Ø  2006- attended my second Instructors Seminar March 2006 Japan.

Ø  In Sept 2006 was requested to (COACH) Sasa Tshepiso Lesiba and she Wan the Ladies     U60KG All Japan Kanto  Championship.

Ø  Represented Gauteng and SA in 1st Kyokushin Kan European Tourney 2005 in Russia.

In 2006 represented Gauteng and SA as a referee and coach in the 1st Kyokushin Kan World tournament.

Ø  1st World Weight Category Referee /Coach 2008 Hungary and Sasa Tshepiso Lesiba Won U 65 Ladies Championship.

Ø  1st WKU Youth World Tourney Referee / Coach 2010 Russia took Mkhombiseni Manyathi and Lebohang Motshweneng as fighters representing Gauteng and SA.

Contributions towards the development and Spread of Kyokushin Kan in Gauteng Province and Beyond.

Kyokushin Kan development in Gauteng has been steady and we have few dojos due to lack of training venues because of high rental rates from the local municipalities and most public schools are reluctant to provide venues because of the high rate of burglaries and crime in the Townships.

In 2003 when Kyokushin Kan was established we established a few dojos that exist even to this day.

Sijabulile dojo was operating as the main dojo under my supervision and later handed the dojo to Sasa Sithole sensei to avoid conflict of interest at work because of being the principal where I had the dojo and to avoid unnecessary politics.  We had branches at Abram Hlophe under sensei Joseph Tshabalala, Ferkandos dojo under sensei Linda Ngubane, Alafang Dojo under sensei Thabo Mbatha who recently resigned to look for greener pastures. VUT dojo under Shihan James, Akasia dojo under sensei Avele Fumba, Ikigai in Centurion under Herno Ngongo sensei, Lethlabile dojo under sensei Patrick Motlakwane, Budo Karate Club under Sensei Rahube Nkwana NWU under sensei Steven and recently under sensei Mkhombiseni Manyathi . We have established a new dojo at Eketsang under sensei Mlungisi.

Since 2003 Gauteng Kyokushin Kan under my leadership as the Branch chief have been able to supervise the promotion of:

1. One 5th Dan graded in 2023 James Sithole Shihan

2.Two 4th Dans graded in 2023 Tshepiso Sithole and Thabo Mbatha who recently resigned.

3. Five 3rd Dans Avele fumba, Thabo Malatjie and recently graded Mkhombiseni Manyathi in 2023 and Thabo Seabi in 2024.

4. Several 2nd Dans Linda Ngubane, Mtshweni Sibusiso, Komape Tolo, Thembinkosi Maseko, Patrick Motlakwane, Herno Ngongo, Bongani Mkhwanazi, Wezz Phakade and recently graded William Mashiloane, Lebohang Motshweneng , Rahube Nkwana.

5.  Twenty-five 1st Dans and unfortunately most of these karatekas they stop training Karate once they reach this important milestone in their martial art career.

The path to the development and upskilling our instructors is an ongoing struggle.