Some serious questions first, so let's get right to it:
LM: I have known you for several years now and have read just about every article I could find about you. I know that since you were very young you have been immersed in martial arts. You achieved the most incredible title as the Undefeated World Karate Champion in 2003. I know that you worked very hard after school, on most evenings and weekends training for this while growing up.
TS: I grew up in a karate family. My father, brother and sister did it. I was ten years younger than my second eldest sibling so my brother and sister were black belts before I even started. I didn't care much about any other sport other than karate. South Africa was highly competitive in pure Japanese karate, we didn't have ju-jitsu, taekwondo etc. We were restricted because of international sanctions against us. Being on the South African national team was a big deal as karate was practiced by everyone, from cop to robber. Sometimes I would be forced into street confrontations after a karate championships. For example I'd defeat a member of, for example, the Lebanese mob at a karate championship and then run into them later that night at a nightclub. Karate then was "budo" or "warrior-like", it was tough and it was pure. I was fortunate to be part of the first integrated South African sports team which happened to be the South African karate team that competed at the 1993 World JKA Karate Championships. Unfortunately my lip was busted open and I suffered several stitches in my mouth, 5 days before the championships. All I wanted was to be world karate champion and won it in New York in 2001.
Unfortunately the next year, before I could defend my title, I broke both my ankles in an accident in Africa and flew out to London for surgery. I competed 7 months later, with ankles strapped, my nose was broken but I didn't lose, that's when I decided to turn the page...(www.karatesbadboy.com)
At 18 years old competing in the semi-final round of the Africa All-Style Karate Championships.
Tony in Bangkok Thailand before winning the World Karate Championships.