WSKF South Africa: Our Successful Japan Tour – 2023
WSKF National Dan Grading – 2023
18
Oct
The annual WSKF National Dan Grading took place on 14 October 2023. Grading attempters and examiners from across the country converged on Vanderbijlpark at Kuro-Obi Shotokan Karate-Do dojo. This event testified to the substantial growth the organisation experienced in the past year, with one of the largest gradings, to date.
The notion that “karate is for everyone" was seen at this occasion, where karate-ka aged 16 to 70 presented themselves to showcase the progress they've made in the study of higher levels of understanding and ability. This proved to be a formidable undertaking, considering the seniority and collective experience of the grading panel.
In the spirit of organisational continuity and continued education, WSKF appoints an Observation Panel, comprised of Senior karate-ka who are new to the organisation, as well as existing WSKF-SA Seniors who have less experience with regards to grading. These members sit on the observation panel as observers. This year the panel was led by Zilla Steyn Sensei (4th Dan). The Observation Panel has a collective vote of one (1) point.
The auspicious Main Grading Panel consists of experienced WSKF-SA karate-ka, normally referred to as the Saiko Shihan Panel. Each of these members has completed and passed the qualifying examinations for Instructors and Examiners, as presented by WSKF-SA. These two panels represent decades of karate knowledge and experience.
The 2023 Saiko Shihan Panel consisted of the following members: Michael Dukas (8th Dan),
Phillip Venter (6th Dan), John Rust (6th Dan), Quentin Rourke (6th Dan), Andrio Lombaard (5th Dan), Stephan Steyn (4th Dan), Tatjana Radojevic-Rogowski (4th Dan). Each of these members has 1 vote.
Front Row (left to right): John Peach (5th Dan), Louis Ramakulukusha (6th Dan), Martin Pretorius (4th Dan), Mike Dukas (8th Dan), Tatjana Radojevic-Rogowski (4th Dan), Goran Stankovic (6th Dan), Wesley Dyssel (4th Dan), Zilla Steyn (4th Dan), Cobus Nienaber (4th Dan). Back Row (left to right): Philip Venter (6th Dan), John Rust (6th Dan), Stephan Steyn (4th Dan), Quentin Rourke (6th Dan). Not in the photo: Andrio Lombaard (5th Dan), Gary van Jaarsveldt (4th Dan).
Results of the Grading
Promoted to SHODAN (1st Dan)
• Rosemary Kloppers
• Willem Jonk
• Barries Conradie
• Johan Saunders
• Michael van Rooyen
• Daniel Coetzer
• Salma Kadwa
• Johanco Greyvenstein
• Juano van Tonder
• Kaylee van der Sandt
• Megan Weideman
• Katlego Nhlapo
• Fareed Marshall
• Hilmi Alam
• Sara Potterton
• Yolanda van Rooyen
Promoted to NIDAN (2nd Dan)
• Marius van Niekerk
• Elke Human
• Boitumelo Makhanya
• Annchen Weihmann
• Sasha Rogowski has to repeat her Kumite in January 2024
Promoted to SANDAN (3rd Dan)
• John van der Sandt
• Duncan Rogowski
• Damon Jardim
Promoted to YONDAN (4th Dan)
• Andrew Els
• Lindie Jenkins
• Jaco Visagie
The following students were commended with “Best Grading on the Day" in their categories: Ms Katlego Nhlapo (Shodan); Ms Elke Human (Nidan); Mr Jaco Visagie (Yondan; Overall Best Grading of the Day).
Left to right: Quentin Rourke Sensei (6th Dan), Katlego Nhlapo (1st Dan).
Left to right: Jaco Visagie (4th Dan), Stephan Steyn Sensei (4th Dan) Mike Dukas Shihan (8th Dan), Elke Human (2nd Dan), Zilla Steyn Sensei (4th Dan).
Following the formal grading procedures, a Pre-dan Grading was conducted in which the following karate-ka presented their grading syllabi, in preparation for their upcoming Dan Grading in Japan, during the 16th WSKF World Championships and Training Seminar:
• Quentin Rourke will be attempting his 7th Dan;
• Tatjana Radojevic-Rogowski will be attempting her 5th Dan;
• Sandile Makwali will be attempting his 5th Dan;
• Reagan Forbes will be attempting his 4th Dan (Pre-Dan Grading was done in Cape Town earlier in the year).
We wish them luck and hope they do well!
At the end of a gruelling day, after bruises were nursed, injuries tended and frazzled nerves put to rest, karate-ka proved again that karate unites us as family and family sticks together.
As 2023 draws to a rapid close, there remains 3 major events on the WSKF-SA calendar:
1. The November Black Belt Training (4 November 2023, hosted by Kuro-Obi Shotokan Karate-Do dojo)
2. The WSKF-SA Team tour (9-24 November 2023) to Tokyo, Japan for the 16th WSKF World Championship and Training Seminar.
3. The December Black Belt Training (2 December 2023, hosted by Karate Vaal dojo).
We look forward to what 2024 holds for WSKF-SA. The first major event of 2024 will be the National Instructors Seminar (to be held in Vanderbijlpark on 19 and 20 January 2024). All karateka who contemplate Dan grading in 2024, are required to attend this seminar.
Until we meet again, continue training and Ganbatte Kudasai (JP) – Please, in everything, do your best (ENG).
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Photo credits:
Karate in Focus (https://www.facebook.com/karateinfocus)
Shotokan Karate Academy (https://www.facebook.com/shotokankarateacademybloemfontein)
Steyn Dojo (https://www.facebook.com/steyndojo)
WSKF Team Event – 2023 – Bloemfontein
16
May
The Tempe Indoor Sports Centre in Bloemfontein recently played host to the highly anticipated WSKF Team Event on May 13th, 2023. The event brought together talented karateka from various regions, spanning different skill levels and age groups. With intense competitions in Team Kumite and Team Kata, the event was a thrilling display of martial arts prowess and sportsmanship. 53 Kata Teams, 30 Kumite Teams! Excellent student conduct, great camaraderie all around, and professional judging made it a smooth tournament. Let’s look at the impressive results achieved by the participating teams.
Kiddies Category:
In the Kiddies category, the team consisting of Paul, Ulrich, and Jonathan from Potchefstroom showcased their dedication and skill, securing the top spot. Their remarkable performance demonstrated their potential for future success in the world of karate.
Female Beginners:
The Bloemfontein contingent was dominant in the Female Beginners category, with two teams demonstrating their talent. Team 1, comprising Amy, Emma, and Lene, emerged as the winners, displaying precision and technique. In second place was Team 2, consisting of Chrisne, Chane, and Chene, who showcased their determination and spirit.
Female Intermediate:
The Female Intermediate category witnessed fierce competition, and the Crystal Park team emerged victorious. With their synchronized movements and focused execution, Refiloe, Raemohetse, and Bokang claimed the top position. The Kestell team, comprised of Marinell, Banele, and Lambert, showcased their skills and determination, earning them a well-deserved second place.
Female Advanced:
In the highly competitive Female Advanced category, the Bloemfontein team once again asserted their dominance. Cherilee, Mariana, and Vyada delivered a breathtaking performance that secured them the first-place position. The Vaal team, consisting of Adi, Boitumelo, and Mari, demonstrated their expertise and dedication, earning them a commendable second place. The Els team, comprising Andrew, Penyao, and Penny, showcased their skills, securing the third-place position.
Female Kumite:
The Female Kumite category was a thrilling spectacle, featuring intense sparring matches. The team from Potchefstroom and Pretoria, consisting of Leonard, Berdine, Erika, Boipelo, and Natalia, emerged as the champions, displaying their exceptional fighting skills. The Bloemfontein team, comprising Cherilee, Mariana, Bridget, Lindsay, and Mile, showcased their strength and technique, securing a commendable second place. The Crystal Park team, consisting of Zondi, Bokang, Njabulo, Refiloe, and Raemohetse, demonstrated their determination and skill, securing the third-place position.
Male Beginners:
The Male Beginners category saw impressive performances from multiple teams. Plettenberg Bay’s team, comprising Kayden, Finn, and Zac, secured the first-place position with their excellent execution. The Kestell team, consisting of Neo, Teboho, and Thloni, exhibited their potential and determination, earning them the second-place position. Once again, the Plettenberg Bay team, with Kayden, Finn, and Zac, showcased their skills and secured the third-place position.
Male Intermediate:
Potchefstroom’s team, composed of Donovan, Janco, and Murray, emerged victorious in the Male Intermediate category, displaying their exceptional skills and technique. The Bloemfontein team, consisting of Mikos, Jante, and Handre, showcased their determination and secured the second-place position. The Knysna team, comprising Kyan, Zac, and Kayden, impressed the audience with their talent, earning them the third-place position.
Male Advanced:
The Male Advanced category witnessed an exceptional display of skill and determination. The Potchefstroom team, composed of Stephan, Jaco, and Elke, delivered a remarkable performance, earning them the first-place position. The team from Kuro-Obi, consisting of Duncan, Sasha, and Declan, showcased their expertise, securing the second-place. The Bloemfontein team, comprised of Ethan, Ehart, and Bridget, demonstrated their proficiency and secured the third-place.
Male Kumite:
The Male Kumite category featured intense bouts of combat, and the Bloemfontein team, consisting of Damon, Ehart, Ethan, Robert, and Handre, emerged as the champions. Their display of skill and determination was truly remarkable. The Bloemfontein team, comprised of Sandile, Fareed, Johanco, Gerrit, and Mikos, showcased their fighting spirit, earning them a well-deserved second place. The Els Karate team, consisting of Andrew, Buchi, John-Daniel, Khwezi, and Alexander, demonstrated their proficiency, securing the third-place position.
The WSKF Team Event held at the Tempe Indoor Sports Centre in Bloemfontein was a resounding success, showcasing the talent and dedication of karatekas from various regions and skill levels. The event highlighted the spirit of competition, sportsmanship, and camaraderie within the karate community. Congratulations to all the participants and winners for their outstanding performances. Their dedication and passion for karate continue to inspire and promote the growth of this ancient martial art.
Langebaan – Championship & Prizegiving – 2021
11
Nov
With much anticipation, Langebaan Dojo finally had our internal championship this past Saturday, 6 November 2021.
Everyone was so excited to be competing again. Especially after 2020 and Covid-19. It seems things are finally getting a little bit more normal.
It was our beginners’ first time in a competition environment, and they were superstars!
All karateka had so much fun and did amazing.
We had our prize-giving after the championship to praise all the karateka for being impressive!
All the hard work during this year definitely paid off!
Langebaan Dojo is ready to start 2022 with a bang!
3rd Place for Lebo Motshweneng ate the KSA Nationals
25
Mar
Lebohang Motshweneng from WSKF Kuro-Obi Shotokan Karate-do Institute, Sasolburg Dojo, received third place in Kumite at the recent KSA National Championships held in Cape Town on the 16/17th March 2019.
Lebo received his Free state colours during trials held in Bloemfontein on the 9/10th February 2019.
History: In 2010, at the age of 6, Lebo’s karate career started under Sensei Bryan Dukas. He started competing in 2012 at the age of 8 where he was chosen to represent Sedibeng at District Level, where he achieved highly.
In 2014, when he was 10 years old, he was fortunate to have the opportunity to compete at Provincial level, National level, and then be selected to represent our country at the Zone 6 competition.
In 2015, due to his performance, he was selected to represent South Africa at the 9th Youth World Cup in Croatia. This was a great honour for him, as he got exposure and the opportunity to learn from his peers who came from different parts of the world.
Currently: Lebo trains basically every day. His main training dojo is at Sasolburg Dojo but also trains with other WSKF instructors in the Vaal Region. Before competitions, Lebo puts in a huge amount of effort to attend extra classes with instructors that can assist him from a technical point of view. Lebo has a mindset of “back to basics”, because like he says: “I have learned from my instructor if my basics are good the rest will fall in place.”
Word from his current Instructor: “In this past 8 years I have seen Lebo develop into the karateka he is today, Lebo has a deep passion for karate. He is a hardworking and dedicated karateka, always eager to learn. Throughout the years he has become a great young role model for new young karateka. I see him growing up to be an established senior black belt and exhibits the qualities of assistant instructor in the dojo one day, he is one of the top performers in karate overall. His achievements speaks louder than words. As a member of WSKF karate, I have found Lebo to be motivated and a responsible student who master technique and applies it well. He ask questions to ensure that he has a firm understanding of the technique. Lebo is self-motivated and gets along with all his fellow karateka”.
Congratulations to other members of the WSKF Kuro-Obi Shotokan Karate-do Institute, Sasolburg Dojo who also received their Free State colours, Ulani Erasmus, Declan Gerber and Sasha Rogowski.
Provincial Achievements for WSKF SA – 2019
Super Star Wenette
26
Sep
Wenette Jordaan has been selected to be part of the National South African Protea Team for karate. This is a wonderful achievement, and one that we are all very proud of.
The team will be taking part in the “Commonwealth Karate Championships” to be held in Canada during October 2013.
2013 has been an exceptional karate year for Wenette, with her major achievements being:
• Awarded Sedibeng Karate Colours
• Awarded Gauteng Provincial Colours
• Winning 3rd place in Kata and 2nd place in Kumite at the International Kanazawa Cup in Durban
• Selected to compete in the Elite S.A. National Karate Championships
• Awarded South African WSKF Colours, then taking part in the World WSKF Karate Championships where she was placed 4th in the Individual Kata events and 2nd in the Team Kata events. (33 countries competed in these championships)
• While in Japan she attained her Shodan (1st Dan) grading under our WSKF Chief Instructor, Kasuya Sensei.
Good luck to Wenette – we will all be rooting for you.