Sensei Michael Cindi Mailula
Profile - 6th Dan
Profile - 6th Dan
Michael Mailula (6th Dan) and head of the Pan African Shotokan Karate-Do Federation was born on the 15th of December 1954. After his schooling years, he spent few years working for different companies where he was a prominent boxer. He then hung his gloves and went on to become a soccer player for two amateur clubs in Kwa Thema in Springs.
In 1969 he felt that he needed a new challenge and his friend took him to a karate club to witness his first lesson. He was extremely impressed with the discipline involved in the sport and the very next lesson he became part of the class. His first instructor was a brown belt holder Abram Nhlapho. The karate style was Shotokan Karate and the association was JKA which was established by Stan Schmidt. The name of the club was Hideleka. After training for two years the club was closed.
In 1971 Michael Cindi and his friend Alfred Mkhondwane wolfed the Nishiyama Karate Club under Edward Mtshali who was a green belt holder. In the following year the Nrshlyama Club held the first grading by Sensei Norman Robinson who was the a 4th Dan black belt holder. Robinson was the first white person to assist black people in the karate sport. This was a huge event for Michael as he was double graded from white belt to orange belt Edward Mtshah was also double graded from green belt to purple belt. There were six double graded students.
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In 1969 he felt that he needed a new challenge and his friend took him to a karate club to witness his first lesson. He was extremely impressed with the discipline involved in the sport and the very next lesson he became part of the class. His first instructor was a brown belt holder Abram Nhlapho. The karate style was Shotokan Karate and the association was JKA which was established by Stan Schmidt. The name of the club was Hideleka. After training for two years the club was closed.
In 1971 Michael Cindi and his friend Alfred Mkhondwane wolfed the Nishiyama Karate Club under Edward Mtshali who was a green belt holder. In the following year the Nrshlyama Club held the first grading by Sensei Norman Robinson who was the a 4th Dan black belt holder. Robinson was the first white person to assist black people in the karate sport. This was a huge event for Michael as he was double graded from white belt to orange belt Edward Mtshah was also double graded from green belt to purple belt. There were six double graded students.
When the Transvaal JKA was formed in 1974 in the township, Michael Cindi who was the purple belt holder and Edward Mtshali attended the full contact karate championship in Durban which was promoted by Sensei A.K Ishmael. There were 128 fighters who took part in the tournament. Michael got 4th place in kumite and Edward got the first place.
In 1978, after training hard in preparation for grading, Michael was graded by Stan Schmidt and in 1979 and he went on to become the first African to be in the junior Springbok. He was also a four time Transvaal JKA champion as well as All Styles Transvaal champion. In the same year he represented South Africa to compete with the team from USA. At that tournament he met Billy Blanks, Domingo Llanos, Ted Pritchert and Chuck Meriamen who was the USA team coach.
1982 he was graded to nidan by Sensei Stan Schmidt and in the same year he jetted off to Germany to train with Master Ochi and went on to compete with the German team in the Ochi Cup. In 1983 he went to America and this proved to an elephantine task to try to make contact with the Sensei he never met and whom he only knew by the name James Field from the karate circles. When they finally met, strong bonds of friendship developed. This culminated in him being a JKA student in Santa Monica under the stewardship of Sensei James Field. While in Santa Monica, he went to New York to train with Chuck Meriamen, a Goju Ryu master and Domingo Llanos.
In 1983 he trained with Master Namiki and Sensei Frank Smith at James Field dojo and was then selected into Santa Monica team to represent Santa Monica dojo in the ISKF National championship in 1984. He further went to San Diego with the same team to participate in a tournament. In the same year he went to represent the Santa Monica team in the JKA 20th anniversary championship hosted by Master Tak Kubota. In that tournament he got 2nd place in kumite. The year 1984 proved to be his busiest one as he again had to accompany Sensei James Field who was invited to conduct a seminar in Arizona by master Koyama, master Mikami and Frank Smith.
In 1987, back in his home country he took part in the national team event. They lost in the final round of a championship tournament to a Southern Transvaal team. After that tournament he went back to America to train with his teacher Sensei James Field. By the year 1990 he was still at 3rd Dan level for the whole 18 year period without further grading. He then decided to leave JKA due to irreconcilable differences of opinions emanating from some traditional aspects within the association. He then decided to form his own group of karate under NOSC.
In 1992 Wits University needed the services of a karate instructor. They asked Shihan Imtiaz to help but he decided to recommend Sensei Michael Cindi Mailula instead. A strong bond of friendship developed between the two gentlemen. Shihan Imtiaz introduced Michael to Aidan Trimble who was then the world champion at the time to join FSK in Britain. However due to unforeseen circumstances that arrangement did not materialise.
In 1995 he decided to join the Seishinkai Shotokan Karate International. That is where he attained his 4th Dan black belt after 18 years without grading. He then moved Motherwell in Port Elizabeth to start a karate development team. In 2003 he was invited by Port Elizabeth Technicon to train a team for the University National Tournament. His team took 3rd place in kumite.
After leaving Seishinkai Shotokan Karate, Michael Cindi has spent most of his time improving his federation. He likes to work with all Shotokan masters to improve the standard of Shotokan. Throughout his illustrious career in karate, he has trained with top masters in the country and abroad. He has trained with master Ochi, Koyama, Mikami, Tanaka, Asai, Okuma, Kazumi Tabata, Master Tomiyama Kunfu-kan, Shito-Ryu, Master Hisataka Nasayuki Kukan who is a founder of Koshiki karate-Do. He has also worked with non-Japanese masters like Master James Field, Master Chuck Meriamen (Gujo Ryu). Shihan Domingo Hanos (Gujo Ryu), Shihan Imtiaz Abdulla (Gujo Ryu), Shihan Mohon Hira (Shotokan), Shihan Malcolm Doffman, Shihan Edward Mtshali, Shihan Stan Schmidt, Shihan Norman Robinson, Shihan Keith Geyer and Shihan Derrick Geyer who are all Shotokan karatekas.
Sheehan Michael Cindi Mailula also holds an International referees qualification for Koshiki Karate-Do.
In 1978, after training hard in preparation for grading, Michael was graded by Stan Schmidt and in 1979 and he went on to become the first African to be in the junior Springbok. He was also a four time Transvaal JKA champion as well as All Styles Transvaal champion. In the same year he represented South Africa to compete with the team from USA. At that tournament he met Billy Blanks, Domingo Llanos, Ted Pritchert and Chuck Meriamen who was the USA team coach.
1982 he was graded to nidan by Sensei Stan Schmidt and in the same year he jetted off to Germany to train with Master Ochi and went on to compete with the German team in the Ochi Cup. In 1983 he went to America and this proved to an elephantine task to try to make contact with the Sensei he never met and whom he only knew by the name James Field from the karate circles. When they finally met, strong bonds of friendship developed. This culminated in him being a JKA student in Santa Monica under the stewardship of Sensei James Field. While in Santa Monica, he went to New York to train with Chuck Meriamen, a Goju Ryu master and Domingo Llanos.
In 1983 he trained with Master Namiki and Sensei Frank Smith at James Field dojo and was then selected into Santa Monica team to represent Santa Monica dojo in the ISKF National championship in 1984. He further went to San Diego with the same team to participate in a tournament. In the same year he went to represent the Santa Monica team in the JKA 20th anniversary championship hosted by Master Tak Kubota. In that tournament he got 2nd place in kumite. The year 1984 proved to be his busiest one as he again had to accompany Sensei James Field who was invited to conduct a seminar in Arizona by master Koyama, master Mikami and Frank Smith.
In 1987, back in his home country he took part in the national team event. They lost in the final round of a championship tournament to a Southern Transvaal team. After that tournament he went back to America to train with his teacher Sensei James Field. By the year 1990 he was still at 3rd Dan level for the whole 18 year period without further grading. He then decided to leave JKA due to irreconcilable differences of opinions emanating from some traditional aspects within the association. He then decided to form his own group of karate under NOSC.
In 1992 Wits University needed the services of a karate instructor. They asked Shihan Imtiaz to help but he decided to recommend Sensei Michael Cindi Mailula instead. A strong bond of friendship developed between the two gentlemen. Shihan Imtiaz introduced Michael to Aidan Trimble who was then the world champion at the time to join FSK in Britain. However due to unforeseen circumstances that arrangement did not materialise.
In 1995 he decided to join the Seishinkai Shotokan Karate International. That is where he attained his 4th Dan black belt after 18 years without grading. He then moved Motherwell in Port Elizabeth to start a karate development team. In 2003 he was invited by Port Elizabeth Technicon to train a team for the University National Tournament. His team took 3rd place in kumite.
After leaving Seishinkai Shotokan Karate, Michael Cindi has spent most of his time improving his federation. He likes to work with all Shotokan masters to improve the standard of Shotokan. Throughout his illustrious career in karate, he has trained with top masters in the country and abroad. He has trained with master Ochi, Koyama, Mikami, Tanaka, Asai, Okuma, Kazumi Tabata, Master Tomiyama Kunfu-kan, Shito-Ryu, Master Hisataka Nasayuki Kukan who is a founder of Koshiki karate-Do. He has also worked with non-Japanese masters like Master James Field, Master Chuck Meriamen (Gujo Ryu). Shihan Domingo Hanos (Gujo Ryu), Shihan Imtiaz Abdulla (Gujo Ryu), Shihan Mohon Hira (Shotokan), Shihan Malcolm Doffman, Shihan Edward Mtshali, Shihan Stan Schmidt, Shihan Norman Robinson, Shihan Keith Geyer and Shihan Derrick Geyer who are all Shotokan karatekas.
Sheehan Michael Cindi Mailula also holds an International referees qualification for Koshiki Karate-Do.
Instructors
3rd Dan
Mpumalanga Bethal Branch
3rd Dan
PE Motherwell Branch
4th Dan
Eastlondon Branch
4th Dan
Northen Gauteng Branch