What comes to your mind when you hear “South Africa”? Our young nation (30 years old) has been labelled many things and certainly evokes an array of images and emotions. Amongst these “DIVERSITY“, “HOPE“, and “EXTRAVAGANT BEAUTY” deserve special consideration and provides the backdrop for the much-anticipated country visit of Kasuya Shihan (WSKF World Chief Instructor).
The World Shotokan Karate-Do Federation (WSKF) was established by Hitoshi Kasuya Shihan, along with other senior instructors, in 1990. In the same year, WSKF South Africa was established. To date, WSKF has affiliated members in over one hundred countries. Kasuya Shihan (now in his seventies) still travels to various member countries where he presents training seminars.
[Video – YouTube – credit: The Karate Channel] [ Video: Facebook – credit: WSKF India Shotokan Karate] [Shotokan Karate Magazine Issues 40, 45, 46]
HISTORY
In 2016, WSKF-SA hosted Hitoshi Kasuya Shihan (then 8th Dan) during his brief visit to South Africa. In April 2024, Kasuya Shihan visited the Rainbow Nation for a 2nd time in a decade to conduct his highly sought-after training seminars. Given his full travel programme, the time he allocated to the South African visit is especially significant. WSKF-SA made the most of this opportunity through a country-wide tour programme that not only introduced Kasuya Shihan to dojos across the country, but also provided opportunity to showcase the beauty of our country. In addition to the country-wide seminar programme, a select group of South African WSKF karateka were afforded the rare privilege of grading in front of Kasuya Shihan, on their home soil.
From Joburg to Plettenberg Bay and back
Mike Dukas Shihan (8th Dan) hosted and accompanied Kasuya Shihan (9th Dan) during this tour, which was comprised of four parts. 
The first leg of the journey took them to Bloemfontein, Free State. Thereafter, they travelled to the Garden Route for visits to Knysna and Plettenberg Bay. The final leg of the tour brought them back to Gauteng for seminars in Vereeniging and Vanderbijlpark. The fourth part of the programme involved Dan Grading, followed by a true South African style “sayonara”party.
Part 1: Johannesburg to Bloemfontein
Welkom to Johannesburg! The City of Gold (“Egoli”) had a brief opportunity to welcome Kasuya Shihan for a quick night’s rest before his tour commenced.
Destination: Bloemfontein! A road trip of 420km (260mi) through the provinces of Gauteng and Free State kicked off the ten-day tour. In Bloemfontein, Quentin Rourke Sensei and Sandike Makwali Sensei of the WSKF-SA Shotokan Karate Academy dojos played host to Kasuya and Dukas Shihans.
Session 1 introduced White to Green belt karateka to the dynamic style and innovative approach of Kasuya Shihan’s teaching. Blue to Black belt students were treated to this opportunity, on a more advanced level, in Session 2.
Seen here are the WSKF-SA senior instructors who attended the Bloemfontein seminar. From left to right: Quentin Rourke (7th Dan), Rickus Weihmann (3rd Dan), Mike Dukas (8th Dan), Hitoshi Kasuya (9th Dan), Andrio Lombaard (6th Dan), Tatjana Radojevic Rogowski (5th Dan), and Sandile Makwali (5th Dan) Senseis.
Session 3 took place in Heidedal, a culturally rich and diverse suburb of Bloemfontein. Heidedal is one of the oldest suburbs of Bloemfontein and it has seen many challenges over the years. Therefore, it was particularly poignant that the tenet “Karate is for Everyone” came to fruition, here… Many current and prospective students of the community and its surrounding areas might never have an opportunity to experience true Japanese karate. However, driven by their collective vision and love for the art of karate, Mike Dukas Shihan and Sandile Makwali Sensei organised the 3rd seminar session in the previously disadvantaged community of Heidedal. WSKF-SA subsidised the seminar fees in an effort to empower students who would not otherwise be able to afford an international training seminar.
Says Sandile Makwali Sensei:
“…this training camp… and having Kasuya and Mike Shihans in the same venue was a blessing because you can see they are all about empowering students and living out their art. We were left with a good understanding of how to transfer weight in our movements, and as an instructor, I learned new ways of teaching and making training sessions less challenging but more experimental. We… would like to thank everyone who made this possible! We hope in the future we will have a lot of experiences like this…”
Kasuya and Dukas Shihans recounted their joy at being able to teach and interact with the students, who showed so much potential and enthusiasm. Mike Dukas Shihan expressed his heart’s wish for WSKF-SA to conduct more training sessions along these lines in the future, so that the benefits of karate might reach further and wider into our communities.
[SKA Grassland/Heidedal Dojo Facebook post]
Part 2: Bloemfontein to Knysna
Next stop: Knysna! Any excuse to visit The Garden Route is a good excuse… When karate provides that excuse, one is doubly blessed! So, with a quick flight (under 2 hours) to cover the 770km from Bloemfontein to George International Airport, Kasuya and Dukas Shihans embarked on the 2nd leg of the tour. Their hosts, John Peach Sensei (6th Dan) and Natasha McKelvin Sensei (3rd Dan) escourted them to the breathtakingly beautiful town of Knysna. Knysna is home to the WSKF-SA dojo Shotokan Karate Knysna-Plett, which also serves the town of Plettenberg Bay and surrounding areas.
In Knysna, White to Green belt karatekas had the privilege to experience one of Kasuya Shihan’s world-renowned training sessions.
For the senior belt session (Blue to Black belts), a quick 35km drive along the coast to the nearby town of Plettenberg Bay, ushered in an awe-inspiring experience…
The venue for the 5th session was “The Space Between” – a wellness venue surrounded by fynbos, earth and open sky with spectacular views of the ocean. In this space, Kasuya Shihan presented a master class to the fortunate and dedicated few who could attend this session.
WSKF members travelled substantial distances to attend this unique seminar. Some attendees came from as far as Vanderbijlpark (more than 1160km). From WSKF-SA Langebaan dojo (more than 560km by road), follow the story of 4 ladies, united in their passion for karate, who ensured they wouldn’t miss this opportunity!
WSKF-SA was pleased to welcome special karate friends from other Shotokan organisations, who travelled as far as Makhanda (“Queenstown”, 350km away) to train at this event.
Local hosts, John Peach Sensei and Natasha McKelvin Sensei (seen below with Kasuya and Dukas Shihans) reflected on this experience:
“…Our club had the privilege of attending 2 training sessions with a true Shihan (Master Instructor), who travelled all the way from Japan to share his passion and knowledge of Karate with us. He is a real pioneer of our art and has infused traditional “Budo” Shotokan techniques with a unique system of rotational dynamics, or spinning techniques – and boy, did he have us spinning. His approach is both analytical and practical. Many times, did we hear him say that Karate is a blend of science and logic. What makes his teaching style so effective is his belief that training should involve the mind as much as the body. By adding subtle, and often unexpected changes to our routines, he made sure that our minds never went to ‘neutral’.
The following morning, following the seminar with Kasuya Shihan… still on a high from the previous night’s training, the rising sun brought a new opportunity. This time in the form of training with yet another Shihan, our very own Mike Dukas Shihan. Training with Mike Shihan felt like slipping on a familiar and comfortable pair of slippers. He has the uncanny ability to make the complex seem simple and then he can take the simple (basics), and make it seem exciting – that is a real skill. It is always a pleasure having Mike Shihan in Knysna, and we already look forward to his next visit.”
After a day of resting and sightseeing, it was time for the next leg of the tour…
Part 3: Knysna to The Vaal Triangle
From Knysna to George International Airport and then onwards by airplane to Johannesburg, the 1200km journey ushered in the last two parts of the tour. The destination was The Vaal Triangle, specifically the sister-towns of Vereeniging and Vanderbijlpark, on the banks of the Vaal River.
In years gone by, Vanderbijlpark was home to the honbu dojo of WSKF-SA. This dojo, together with the dojo in Vereeniging was home to the largest concentration of WSKF karateka in South Africa. However, in recent years the rapid expansion of WSKF-SA resulted in larger numbers of students who are located outside the Vaal Triangle, than within. Yet, the dojos in Vanderbijlpark (now Kuro-Obi dojo) and Vereeniging (now WSKF-Karate Vaal dojo) are still seen as “our karate home”. These two dojos played host to the final training sessions of Kasuya Shihan’s South Africa tour.
Kasuya Shihan presented an exclusive Instructors Seminar as the 6th session of the tour. This session (hosted by Martin Pretorius Sensei of WSKF Karate Vaal dojo) was “by invitation only” to WSKF-SA members who assist in a teaching capacity in their respective dojos. Instructors travelled from across the country, most notably Reagan Forbes Sensei (4th Dan) and his team from Forbes Karate Academy (Piketberg, 1350km) and Rickus Weihmann Sensei (3rd Dan) and his team from Komodo Dragons Karate dojo (Reitz, 180km).
This session proved tremendously insightful: local instructors were able to hear and see directly from our World Chief Instructor what the teaching focus and philosophy of the organisation is. Hitoshi Kasuya Shihan invited instructors to freely ask questions and ask for technical clarification to assist them in their roles as instructors. Kasuya Shihan reiterated that the WSKF TRADITION is INNOVATION. He encouraged instructors to always think about, and study the meaning behind techniques, as opposed to mindlessly copying what others say.
Instructors were asked a particularly sobering, rhetorical question: “…how can you learn if you think you already know?”
Instructors were admonished to be mindful of advances in medical science, biomechanics, and martial arts in their pursuit of karate, so that the art remains relevant and dynamic.
On the matter of application (“bunkai”) of movements, Kasuya Shihan explained how much of the early karate masters’ intentions with specific movements were never recorded, or were lost over time. And so, often the most truthful answer to a question of “bunkai” is… “kangaroo”…
Instructors were guided through the intricasies of the kata “Hangetsu”. The expansion and contraction of power, matched with appropriate breathing and synchronised body movement was demonstrated. Instructors were encouraged to strive for ELEGANCE in their execution of kata.
The session was concluded with a technical overview of the kata “Jitte”. Instructors were reminded that certain movements in kata find their best expression when viewed in the context of the traditional weapons around which they were designed.
With our hearts full and our minds overflowing, we retired with a great expectation for the final sessions that would follow the next day.
Our hosts in Vanderbijlpark on the final training day was John van der Sandt Sensei (3rd Dan) and his team from Kuro-Obi dojo. The 7th session of the tour introduced White to Green belts to the vital, but simplified concepts of how to move and how to execute kicks whilst keeping one’s body in good alignment.
Students were then treated to a session of fun learning when loads of empty plastic softdrink bottles were employed to teach targeting (and listening) skills for punches and kicks, whilst at the same time practicing good manners as they waited in lines for their turns. A school hall full of youngsters were captivated – eagerly awaiting their chance to hit or kick those bottles into oblivion!
Senior karateka from across South Africa and across Shotokan organisations gathered for the 8th and final tour session.
And despite the serious nature of karate training, there are also those moments of collective humour – like with most families…
The focus in this session was on the fluidity of movements: the point where movement begins and where it ends and the spaces in between.
The theme was carried through into the WSKF spinning combinations and kumite applications, where adaptability and a balance between relaxation and kime determines the effectiveness of a technique.
In conclusion, the theme was expressed in the kata “Nijushiho”, where the kata was likened to the ebbing and flowing of a big ocean wave.
The sincere, appreciative response from participants was touching. Some comments were:
“What a great karate weekend! We learned a lot. We thank WSKF for the opportunity to train with Kasuya Shihan (9th Dan) from Japan… It was something we will never forget!”
“An unforgettable experience to have been able to do a grading in front of our Chief Instructor and Head of our organisation!
The memories will be everlasting – through the seminars that I attended I could experience the wealth of knowledge that Kasuya Shihan shared with all of us. The opportunity to get to know Kasuya Shihan in a casual environment, before his return to Japan, was a memorable occasion!”
“Thank you for ‘taking us to Japan’, and thank you Mike Shihan, this time, for ‘bringing Japan to South Africa’ – for bringing Kasuya Shihan to our dojo!!!
Shihan, if I didn’t know anything about Shotokan Karate-do, after your classes and this unforgettable karate weekend, I would start practicing karate this day!
Kasuya Shihan and Mike Shihan took us through the history of Shotokan Karate to the source and back to the present time – teaching the traditional Budo Shotokan Karate in a modern, scientific way – showing us that the power of the human mind, spirit and body have no limits… And after all these years of living according to the Shotokan karate way, now like never before, I feel that I am ready to start practicing and learning Budo Shotokan Karate-do!”
As the session concluded and goodbyes were said, a small group of very nervous karateka rushed to the next venue for the final formal part of Kasuya Shihan’s tour – Dan Grading!
Part 4: Dan Grading
Fourteen WSKF-SA members graded behind closed doors under the scrutiny of Hitoshi Kasuya Shihan, assisted by Mike Dukas Shihan. WSKF was pleased to announce a 100% success rate, which is a testimony to the exemplary standard of karate which Mike Dukas Shihan upholds in South Africa.
WSKF congratulates the following students who passed their gradings:
Rokudan (6th Dan): Andrio Lombaard Sensei; John Peach Sensei
Godan (5th Dan): Martin Pretorius Sensei; Stephan Steyn Sensei; Zilla Steyn Sensei; Gary van Jaarsveld Sensei
Sandan (3rd Dan): Karin Lombaard Sensei
Shodan (1st Dan): Lesego Mabe ; Cornelia (Connie) Deacon; Rolf Hansen; Durant van Niekerk; Gontse Mathoba; James Marincowitz; and Ockert Winter.
On a lighter note…
In conclusion to a wonderful, enlightening, and full tour, WSKF-SA said “sayonara” to Kasuya Shihan in true South African style – with a “braai” (barbeque) on the banks of the beautiful Vaal River.
Kasuya Shihan‘s visit underscored the unifying power of karate: WSKF’s bond as a family stretched through geographic, demographic, age, ethnic and organisational boundaries with a simple, but profound message… Karate is for Everyone!
In the kihon component, Mike Shihan explained and demonstrated how the focus on hip activation and -rotation changes the dynamics of movement, as opposed to an erroneous focus on feet placement. Various linear and rotational combinations were practiced, giving students an opportunity to experience the theory.
he substantial number of competitors travelled from across South Africa to represent their respective dojos in this event. Similarly, officials from the respective dojos offered up their time to assist with the smooth running of the event.
During the intercession, spectators were treated to a showcase performed by 
WSKF-SA karateka are fortunate, therefore, that they face an Executive Examination Panel comprised of kind-spirited, gracious people who not only strive for excellence in the practice of the art of karate, but who also have compassion for the struggles karateka face in their continuous search for more knowledge and deeper understanding through the vehicle of Dan gradings.
Despite the inevitable mix of success and failure, karateka were relieved that for this year, Dan Grading Day had passed.
“If the cup doesn’t touch the saucer, there can be no magic…” 
