MEET OUR ASPIRING KARATE BLACK-BELT, LYNMARY

WRITTEN BY MERCY

On a sunny October afternoon, Lynmary walks into the office. A third-year medical student at the University of Zimbabwe, she’d been studying for long hours through the night and catching up on much needed sleep in the early hours. Not that today you could tell, the young lady is looking fresh-faced and wearing the biggest smile on. We’ve been meaning to have this ‘formal’ chat for about a year, and we are both excited it’s finally happening.

Lynmary joined Makomborero after being awarded a Non-residential Scholarship. She and I have spoken many times about her love for karate. As staff we knew her story would inspire many. I didn’t want to miss any of the important details that make this story so unique, so my first question was a little unorthodox.

 

Lynmary, do you mind if we tell people how tall you are?

There was a gracious laugh.  153cm ma’am…. the last time I checked. I have always been the shortest person in my class. My mother would have to take in even the smallest uniform so I could fit.

 

Tell us how your karate journey began.

It was 2018. I was 13. In Form 1 (first year of high school). I had watched the movie ‘Karate Kid’ and loved it – the discipline, the self-defence aspect and of course the winning! Not long after, someone at my former high school, St Marys Chitungwiza, announced there was a free karate club. I initially went because I thought I would be flying all over the place, you know, just like in the movies. It looked easy in the movies, and I was excited to be just like them. Of course, once I joined, I found that even some of the exercises were hard! Particularly push ups and sit ups.

 

What did you like about karate practice?

Karate broke my thoughts about gender at age 13. There was so much equality even in the hard exercises. I liked that.

 

What kept you going back

I had so much support from my family and love from other karatakers. It was like having a 2^nd family. Oh, and another reason – I wanted to be like Jackie Chan.

 

We couldn’t help laughing at that last line.

 

Tell us about the first time you won a prize.

I had trained for a month and then we went to another school for competitions, Dominican Convent. I remember being intimidated by the size of my opponents. Anyway, I gave it my best and walked away with a bronze!

 

Wow! What was life like after becoming a bronze medalist?

I continued training until the 3^rd term. Unfortunately the school had no more money to pay the coach in 3^rd term. Our captain at that time was in form 3’s and her dad was a sensei. She volunteered to train us. I then joined her dad’s club which ran at weekend at Harare Gardens in the city centre. It was great, I continued training and competing. In time, I was the one potential opponents felt intimidated by!

At age 16, in Form 4, I got my purple belt. As that was my final O-Level year, I stopped training and competing to concentrate on exams. I picked up training again in Lower 6th. I found that part of my karate journey very difficult. My body had lost its flexibility and I felt like I was starting all over again. I pushed through and got graded again. I got a first brown belt in Lower 6th. In Upper 6^th I stopped again to study for my A-Level exams.

Once at university, I picked up training again and immersed myself in competitions. So far, I’ve won 2 gold medals.

 

Lynmary, you’ve done incredibly well to come this far. Do you find fights a lot easier now?

Yes I’m definitely more confident and finding university fights easier than high school fights; but I still get intimidated by size.

 

What helps you when you’re feeling intimidated?

My team mates are so supportive! When I’m facing someone a lot bigger than me, they sing songs and chant to keep me going. I have also come up with a strategy to get me through the first 3 points but it’s a secret!

 

What’s the future looking like for you in this area?

I am preparing to get my second brown belt at the end of November 2026. And by end of 2027 I have to be a black-belt!

 

How can people support you?

People can support me financially. As I said, I have two more gradings to go through in the next year and these cost USD$50 each. I would also like to own my own Gi. I have always had to share with teammates, and this is not ideal. Lastly, sometimes trips are self-funded and as much as I’d like to, I can’t go especially if they are outside of Zimbabwe.

 

Tell us some of your hobbies, likes and what you do in your spare time.

I like writing songs, singing and watching Chinese movies even if I have to read subtitles. I am very entrepreneurial. In my spare time I practice my karate moves at the Makomborero University Residence, usually in the tennis court. Studying medicine is so stressful and karate is a great stress reliever.

I am a mentor at the Girl Mentorship Programme as I value sowing into girls younger than me.

I read my Bible a lot because I feel I have a lot of questions about life.

 

Tell us some things that you or others find unique about you.

I don’t like seeing things bunched together, I have to arrange things so that I see exactly what those things are. Does that make sense?

I stand up for people in distress or whose rights are being violated.

 

Tell us something you learnt to do recently.

Cook, and I’m great at it now!

 

What else would you like to tell anyone who reads this?

People think karate is for boys but girls can do it too. I would love for everyone to learn to protect themselves!

What a lovely, inspiring chat I had with this phenomenal young lady, Lynmary! After chatting, we walked around the beautiful grounds at the Makomborero University Residence looking for a spot to take a photo that reflected both Lynmary’s strength and softness. A few shots later, we had two that we both loved!

 

To end, here is a list of her achievements while at university:

2025 ZUSA hosted by HIT team  – won a gold medal

2025 ZITSU hosted in Bulawayo – won individual gold and team bronze

2026 ZUSA hosted in Masvingo – won individual gold and team gold

2026 ZITSU hosted by Harare Polytechnic – won individual silver and team gold

2026 Lusaka Open Championship hosted by Zambia – won individual bronze