Getting to Know Karate Champ Mechelle Tjimuku

Mechelle Tjimuku has found her passion in life, and that’s karate. Although she may be in Grade 11, the St Paul’s pupil already has an impressive list of achievements.

Tjimuku received gold and bronze medals in the kumite (sparring against an opponent) and kata (choreographed patterns and movements) categories at the Region 5 event held in Botswana earlier this year. She has also participated in the All African Games in Algeria, coming in fourth place overall in kumite, and the athlete made headlines once again when she received a bronze medal in kumite at the African Junior and Senior Karate Championships 2018 in Kigali, Rwanda.

caught up with Tjimuku and spoke to her about who her inspirations are and how she manages to balance her love for karate with school.

The Girl Behind The Sport

Tjimuku is the oldest of three among her brother Daniel (13) and her sister Daniella (7), and aspires to study either economics, clinical psychology or oncology in the future. “I love numbers and I’m always reading up on the economy, so that’s an option. I’m thinking of clinical psychology because I always want to help people and push them to be who they want to be. I decided on oncology because my grandmother has breast cancer. I want to make a difference in Namibia with that.”

On how she got into karate, she said: “My brother actually started with the sport and I used to attend his competitions. I decided to give it a try.”

Dismissing the stereotype surrounding the sport that it’s ‘only for boys’, Tjimuku said karate has helped her in more ways than one. “It’s not all about fighting. In kata and kumite, that aggression… it’s unique.”

Tjimuku may have started only six years ago, but recently moved dojos (a studio where karate is practiced) and it has helped pushed her towards championships she never thought she would get into. “I started off with the new dojo in May and I have since won gold and bronze medals.” Concerning her competitors at the karate championships in Rwanda, Tjimuku said the standard was high. However, her biggest challenges during the competition were fitness and conditioning. “You go to competitions with people who already have rankings and you must manage the blows that you get from them.”

Her training schedule is booked for about four days a week after school and often deals with the basics from stretching to sparring. “On Saturdays, it’s the intense training because we jog, strengthen our conditioning and plan strategically. We also do a lot of competition practice,” Tjimuku added.

But what are her strengths and weaknesses? “My aggression in kumite is my biggest strength. I am mighty. I really do come off as ‘she’s really such a girl!’ but when I’m competing, it’s different,” she said. But her weakness comes more from her personality. “I’m a little bit shy and cautious of what I want to do. I’m such a perfectionist!”

When it comes to kata, however, she feels that her grace is what makes her an attraction on the stage. “But sometimes I am self-conscious. I won’t do something if I’m not 100% certain of it.”

The Balance

Many pupils struggle to find a balance between school and sports, but Tjimuku feels that her support system and her school have been quite helpful when it comes to planning her schedule. For the championships in Rwanda, for example, she had to sacrifice a lot of her time seeing as the competition was during exam time. “It was difficult. I tried to catch up, and I managed to work with a schedule,” Tjimuku said. “Before the games, I talk to my teachers and I try to make sure that my work doesn’t fall behind.”

Her mother, Menlyn Tjimuku, is grateful to St Paul’s for this. “We engage the school and they are always encouraging the kids to do sports.”

One word she has for her daughter’s acheivements? “Proud!”

When Tjimuku isn’t kicking butt in karate, she enjoys listening to music – from house to classical. “I’m always cooking too and trying out new things. I read books a lot, the intellectual ones that always try to challenge my mind. Right now, I’m reading ‘Diary of an Oxygen Thief’.”

Some people may find inspiration in figures such as Helena Ndume, Serena Williams or Le Bron James, but for Tjimuku, it’s her parents. “There will be moments where I’m feeling down, but they encourage me to do my best. They always make sure I’m on time and give me pep talks. Win or lose, they have my back,” Tjimuku said.

“My parents are my role models because of the way they manage things. They came from a poor background and managed to have all the luxuries that they do. I often ask myself ‘how do they do it?’ I truly look up to them. They are my biggest superheroes.”

When the nerves get the best of her, Tjimuku says she blanks out, but when she looks at her parents, she feels 10 times better again. Her coach, Freddy Mwiya, is also listed as one of the people who often motivates her as well as her senseis (karate teacher or coach).

“My inspiration is truly my mom. She just got her degree and she’s already studying for her master’s. She comes home around 17h00 and goes back to school, so I only see her for an hour or so, but she always makes sure that I’m 100%. She always makes time for me and pushes me to do my best.”

For those who feel down and out and cannot find a balance between sport and school, Tjimuku shared that it is simply mind over matter. “At school, one of my teachers said that every time you tell yourself something, your brain records it. Nothing is impossible. No matter where you come from, you need to believe in yourself.”

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