Three Straight Overall Titles Later, Blessing Itai Sithole Sets His Sights on a Pro Card
"Pro card, my brother. Been chasing it for some time. God willing, we get it this year."
That is how Blessing Itai Sithole describes his goal for the season. The words are calm, but they carry the weight of a veteran who has been on this road for a while. The pro card he speaks of is the IFBB Pro League card—the ticket to the sport's biggest stages. For any amateur bodybuilder, it is the ultimate prize.
And Sithole has been running toward it for a long time.
Sithole's strongest credential is an achievement he just completed: three straight overall titles at NPC regional shows.
In 2024, he took the overall. In 2025, he defended it. And most recently, he claimed his third overall title on the Muscle Mulisha Durban stage.
The Karate Advantage
What makes Sithole unusual is that he competes in both karate and bodybuilding at a serious level. And according to him, the karate background is not just a side note—it is a competitive edge.
Asked about the advantage karate gives him over other bodybuilders, he pointed to three things: "Cardio wise and mobility plus flexibility, yes."
For a tall or heavily muscled competitor, flexibility can be the difference between a pose that flows and one that looks forced. Sithole's karate background appears to give him an advantage in both the preparation and the presentation.
"Been chasing it for some time"—that phrase carries the weight of countless prep mornings, strict diet cycles, and the ritual of standing on stage waiting for your number to be called. He has not offered a timeline. He has not made bold predictions. He simply said: "God willing, we get it this year."
