When 12-year-old Mark Robberts ditched his VR headset, a whole new (real) world of martial arts unfolded. Now, Mark is competing at the Karate World Championships in Japan!
Takasaki, Japan (25 October 2024) — Today, 12-year-old Mark Robberts represents South Africa in the Funakoshi Girchin Cup Karate World Championship in Takasaki, Japan. It’s a massive opportunity for the tween who, over three years, has poured himself into his passion. But, it’s also something that might never have come about if he hadn’t been encouraged to ditch his VR (virtual reality) headset.
Mark’s mom Marna tells Good Things Guy that her son’s karate journey all began as a way to “break his relationship with his VR Headset.” Then, she didn’t even know that a knack for the martial arts ran in her son’s blood (his father is a brown belt). But all was soon to be revealed as the Robberts’ rekindled their karate roots!
What started as a way to break into a new hobby away from VR soon became far more, both for Mark and his dad. Mark Snr was inspired to get back into karate while little Mark knuckled down to learn the basics.
Young Mark soon proved that the apple didn’t fall far from the tree (the father and son even share the same birthday) and went on to compete (and reign victorious) in different events, including the Gauteng and SA Championships in his belt and age categories!
“His heart and soul is now Karate,” Marna shares.
By May this year, he participated in the Elite division at the SA Championships—a serious feat considering his purple belt status in an arena typically designated for black and brown belts.
Mark proved his karate chops, qualified for bigger leagues and even took home a medal.
It wasn’t long until it was all systems go in preparing for the Karate World Champs and already has his participation number: lucky 52.
Team South Africa’s Junior squad are already hot on the scene in Japan, with last push training underway before the big event.
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Marna explains that a lot of fundraising efforts went into getting Mark his moment, and they were able to raise around a third of the funds required. Those able to help offer donations in help with closing the gaps can do so here.
South Africa is enormously proud of Mark not only for his achievement but also for his story, which is a striking reminder that in a world so dominated by life online, there’s a lot more purpose to be found beyond our screens or VR headsets.
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