Buddy Govender was born in Sydenham, Durban in 1960. Buddy’s love for karate and soccer began in 1969. At the age 9, he joined Goju Kai Karate school. This dojo was run by Stan Hart and Leo Lapinski. In 1976 Buddy was graded to Shodan under Yamaguchi Goshi Shihan. He continued to train under Vasi Naidoo.
Buddy’s first club was Avalon Celtic. He later joined D’ Alberton Callies. At the age of sixteen years Buddy made his semi-professional debut for a club called Royals. In 1979 Buddy turned professional when he joined Leeds United, playing alongside Patrick Moodley and Cheesa Baptist. In 1980 Buddy joined his boyhood club, Berea, playing two seasons before joining Amazulu. His nine season spell at Amazulu FC was dotted by a loan spell to African Wanders in 1982.
In 1997 Buddy trained at Jundokan in Naha, Okinawa under Miyazato Ei’ichi Hanshi. Sensei Miyazato awarded Buddy the grade of Yondan (4th Dan). In addition Buddy was appointed Sensei Miyazato’s official representative in South Africa. He is now the Jundokan Chief Instructor of South Africa.