DO not let her wry smile mislead you; she is a smiling assassin who will not shy away from a fight; she was born to fight and win.
At only nine years old, Rujeko Chizura is forging her own path to greatness after claiming three gold medals at the recently concluded Kurai Kofukan Open Championship, held last weekend at Nelson Mandela Hall in Harare's Exhibition Centre.
Chizura competed in both the eight to nine and nine to 11 years categories, emerging unscathed against opponents older than herself.
When you speak with her, she radiates a confidence, wisdom, and understanding beyond her years, though some may dismiss it as youthful folly.
In true karate discipline and sportsmanship, she respects her opponents but is unafraid to boast about her accomplishments, which are the results of dedication and perseverance.
When asked how she triumphed over competitors who were two years her senior and weighed more, her response leaves a lasting impression, revealing that you are conversing with a present and future champion whose mentality is primed for success.
"When I entered the tatami (fighting mate), I didn't consider the height or age; all I saw was an opponent standing in front of me," Chizura told The Sports Hub.
"I used different karate skills like kizami, Mawashi geri, and my reaction time was faster than theirs."
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Her grasp of karate is impressive for her age, yet it brings to mind the conventional wisdom that one should not underestimate their opponent and maintain the awareness that anything can occur in a karate match. Consequently, a humble fighter keeps their expectations reasonable while relying on their fighting spirit.
Despite basking in the glory of her three gold medals, the Divaris Makaharis pupil did not anticipate such a success at the tournament.
"I did not expect to win three gold medals; my first gold was for kata, and after winning it, my confidence skyrocketed, and I was not afraid of entering the next event," Chizura said.
Kata is a Japanese term meaning "form." It refers to a meticulously choreographed sequence of martial arts movements practiced to refine techniques against imaginary opponents, performed either individually or as part of a team before judges.
After her impressive victory at the tournament, Chizura exhudes an aura of confidence that makes you wonder why not everyone had such self-assuredness at her age.
Much credit goes to one of her Sensei, who introduced her to karate at six, recognising her potential. Any instructor identifying talent at such a young age would notice many boys and girls with promise, yet only a few convert that promise into capability.
Chizura is not among those who fall short; she has participated in 15 tournaments to date, securing nine trophies, 15 gold medals, seven silver medals, and eight bronze medals.
Reflecting on her journey and spotlighting that girls can also excel in martial arts, Chizura fondly recalled her initial foray into karate and how she overcame her fears.
"I fell in love with karate when I experienced it and realised it was not scary at all," she said.
True to her role as a student of the discipline, Chizura embraces the ethics that have shaped her into a better individual: "It teaches you self-discipline, how to defend yourself, self-control, how to behave, and helps you understand yourself better."
Nothing compares to the feeling of victory.
"After winning three gold medals, I feel proud of myself and very powerful," she added.
With such accomplishments on her small shoulders, she may not have garnered national attention without her parents' unwavering support, sometimes even disrupting her much-needed rest.
"My parents have been extremely supportive. My mum always attends all my tournaments. She ensures I have the right gear to compete," she acknowledged.
"She also wakes us up early in the morning, even when we feel like we do not want to, to make sure we train in the mornings. I have been preparing for this tournament for over a month."
Part of her training routine includes sessions with her 15-year-old brother, Rukudzo, who also won a silver medal during the Kurai Kofukan Championship.
Like a confident younger sister, she playfully asserts her competitiveness when asked about training with him.
"We always train at home, and my goal is always to beat him," said Chizura.
This child prodigy encourages other girls to embrace karate.
"Girls out there don't be afraid to try out Karate, just try it once and you will see how fun it is," she added.
"Karate is not always about fighting, it also has kata and my inspiration comes from kata because it doesn't make you afraid and it also makes you have all the confidence."
Chizura shared words of advice: "Even if you don’t succeed at first, remember that in the next round, you can try again. I hope you know the saying, ‘practice makes perfect."
Like any young girl, she harbours dreams.
"My dream is to one day become a Sensei," retorted Chizura.
Rujeko and her older brother Rukudzo are members of the Panda Karate Club in Warren Park.
Their instructor, Sensei Fortune Nyabanga, is excited about Rujeko’s accomplishments.
"Rujeko has the heart of a warrior; if she continues on this path, she will one day become a world champion," said Nyabanga.
"I am happy for Rujeko—she won three trophies today, and her brother earned silver."
Nyabanga was not surprised by how well Rujeko and her fellow Panda Karate Club members performed at the tournament.
"We do everything possible to prepare them, training every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, with additional focus on Saturdays," he added.
"We work on agility and fitness drills to ensure our children are strong, and we include sprinting to enhance their endurance. Anyone who joins Panda is guaranteed to become a champion."
Sensei Nyabanga encouraged parents to allow their children to take up karate.
"My message to every parent is: this is the sport you've been waiting for. Don't wait—let your children join karate today, as they'll learn discipline, self-confidence, and boost their self-esteem," he added.
"Even in situations involving bullying at schools, we teach them not to retaliate but to neutralize the situation.
“You won't hear about a karateka involved in fights outside, as it’s not permitted; those battles happen in the dojo. We need them to be exemplary in society."
