KICKING ON TO BIGGER THINGS

Dwight Oliphant shares his inspiring Taekwondo journey

- DANIE VAN DER LITH

AT 26, KIMBERLEY-BORN Dwight Oliphant has reached the rank of 3rd Dan black belt in Taekwondo, a milestone achieved by few. His path to this accomplishment began at age eight in the Northern Cape capital, originally to channel his youthful energy under his parents' guidance.

“My parents initially enrolled me for discipline, and because I was full of energy and always on the move,” Dwight recalls. “At the time, I didn’t fully understand what I was stepping into, but it quickly became something I looked forward to.”

What started as a means to direct his restless energy soon grew into a deep passion. Taekwondo’s structure, challenge, and sense of purpose shaped not only his body but his mindset, turning a spirited boy into a focused young man.

Yet, Dwight’s journey to 3rd Dan was not without challenges. His smaller stature meant facing physically larger opponents, requiring him to rely on speed, strategy, and precision over brute force. “I’m naturally smaller than many of my sparring partners,” he explains. “So I had to rely on speed, strategy and precision. That mindset, thinking smarter, not just pushing harder, has shaped how I approach every obstacle in life.”