Zwelakhe Sinam is a well-known face in Grahamstown. Over the last two decades, he has taught the Japanese Martial Art of Shotokan Karate to hundreds of locals.
Sinam started his karate training in 1990 under the guidance of his brother, Mzwandile Sinam, who was a Japan Karate Association (JKA) graded 1st dan black belt.
Zwelakhe Sinam is a well-known face in Grahamstown. Over the last two decades, he has taught the Japanese Martial Art of Shotokan Karate to hundreds of locals.
Sinam started his karate training in 1990 under the guidance of his brother, Mzwandile Sinam, who was a Japan Karate Association (JKA) graded 1st dan black belt.
Unfortunately a severe back problem, further compounded by a road accident and two back operations in 2001 and 2003, forced Sinam to stop practicing and teaching karate for a number of years.
He never lost his passion for karate, and in 2006 he joined the Albany Karate Academy (East Cape Shotokan-Ryu) under Gary Grapentin and began training again.
While the first few months of training were extremely difficult for him, Sinam believes that being active in karate has contributed significantly to improving his back condition as well as to his overall well-being.
In 2008 he attained the much sought-after level of shodan (1st dan black belt) and in 2010 was awarded Nidan (2nd dan black belt).
The gradings were both conducted by Koos Burger, one of South Africa’s leading karate masters.
Apart from his duties as an assistant instructor at East Cape Shotokan-Ryu, Sinam also re-established his own karate club, the Makana Karate Academy.
His students have already enjoyed numerous successes in gradings, as well as at local, provincial and national championships.
East Cape Shotokan-Ryu head instructor, Gary Grapentin, describes Sinam as being a naturally gifted and patient instructor who has a special ability to impart karate technique to his students.
Sinam’s two daughters, Kuhle (7) and Sokhana (13), look set to follow in their father’s footsteps, as both are keen karateka. Kuhle and Sokhana will both be competing at the SASKA East Coast Karate Open Championships which will take place at the Fish River Sun Hotel on the 6 August.
