WSKF students from all over South Africa travelled to Port Elizabeth for the highly anticipated Andre Bertel Sensei Seminar during the first weekend of March. The extremely successful seminar was hosted by United Shotokan Ryu (USR) and it was Bertel Sensei’s second visit to the African continent.
Bertel Sensei is an internationally respected, dynamic and inspirational teacher, with an unparalleled knowledge of Shotokan karate. He received private tuition from the late Japanese Shotokan karate master, Tetsuhiko Asai Sensei, and is now considered to be one of the leading practitioners of Asai-Ha Shotokan Ryu.
The seminar focused on devastating self-defense techniques and applications practiced before World War II, many of which have since been almost forgotten since the internationalization of Shotokan karate.
Bertel Sensei, originally from New Zealand, now lives in Oita City, Japan.
All WSKF students present left the seminar inspired and grateful for the wealth of new knowledge gained.
A special thank you to Gary Grapentin Sensei (Chairperson USR) for extending the invitation to our students and allowing all to experience training with this contemporary karate master.