Six Months in the Rear-View Mirror – Looking Back on the 2nd Semester of 2024

01 Jan

2024 proved to be a beehive of exciting and unceasing activity for WSKF South Africa. After the flurry of activities in the first half of the year, the second semester kept suit and showcased the biennial National Championships, with preceding months of meticulous preparation. Short on the heels of the competition, senior karateka from across our country had opportunity to participate in the National Dan Grading event. A few final Black Belt Training sessions rounded off the year. And before we blinked, a new year arrived…

July 2024 – Black Belt Training

The frosty Vereeniging morning of 6 July presented the fifth opportunity of 2024 for WSKF-SA Black and brown Belt karateka to train together and receive instruction from Mike Dukas Shihan (8th Dan).

Gauteng karateka welcomed karate family from Knysna, Bloemfontein, Heidedal, Reitz and Potchefstroom in our midst.

Hip activation and rotation was the focus of the session and was woven into the three pillars of kihon, kata and kumite.

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.

Part 2 of the session focused attention on Jiyu Ippon kumite. The systematic and progressive exposure of karateka to kumite through gohon-, sanbon-, and kihon ippon kumite also applies to a karateka’s journey into and through jiyu ippon kumite onwards to jiyu kumite. Mike Shihan illustrated this progression of Jiyu Ippon kumite and attendees had opportunity to apply the varied methods with multiple sparring partners.

Training was concluded with a rare opportunity to study the kata Wankan. Despite the brevity of this kata, the complex and physically challenging moves of Wankan left karateka both challenged and inspired.

As WSKF-SA geared up for the biennial Development Championships, these training sessions provided valuable opportunity for collaboration between the dojos. The upcoming black belt training in August was set to focus on the judging and refereeing skills required for standardised, fair and consistent competition requirements.

 


 

AUGUST 2024 – Black Belt TRAINING

Kuro-Obi Shotokan Karate-Do hosted WSKF black belt karateka for the August training. Andrio Lombaard sensei (6th Dan) presented an invaluable session on kumite basics, with a view to the upcoming national championships.

The second part of the session focused in great detail on the elements of judging and refereeing etiquette and skill which WSKF members are required to display and cultivate in any competition environments where the organisation is represented.

Andrio sensei, patiently and thoroughly guided participants through the judging criteria, -exceptions and -difficulties of kata and kumite divisions. Participants were able to practice scoring with the both the flag- and point systems. Andrio sensei masterfully coached potential center referees on matters of etiquette, overseeing a floor, and dealing with raised objections.

Undoubtedly, any members who missed this training session, truly robbed themselves of invaluable training!


 

WSKF National Championships – 20 & 21 September 2024

Months of arduous work, substantial organisation, and intense training preparation culminated in the eventual arrival of the 2024 WSKF-SA Biennial National Championships. The practice of Karate is associated with challenges and obstacles, so it would be uncharacteristic if Competition Weekend dawned without any tempest… Bloemfontein did not disappoint – unleashing one of the coldest weekends in September-history, trapping parts of South Africa in snow (in Spring). Competitors, officials, family, and spectators alike braved the cold and showed up in large numbers at the Tempe Military Base on the outskirts of Bloemfontein.

The 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.

Day 1 of the tournament hosted the senior karateka in both the kata and kumite segments. [for a comprehensive photo library, see Karate in Focus WSKF Nationals Friday 20 Sept 2024 album]

 

 

 

Day 2 kicked off with the customary opening ceremony, walk-on by each represented dojo and welcoming address by WSKF-SA Chief Instructor, Mike Dukas Shihan.

Due to the expert- and highly experienced planning abilities of the Tournament Director (Tatjana Radojevic-Rogowski sensei, 5th Dan), all segments of the competition ran on time.

Table- and Floor Officials worked together like well-oiled machines and ensured that each floor was professionally managed and kept to the allotted timelines.

During the intercession, spectators were treated to a showcase performed by Steyn Dojo. The first part of the demonstration gave an insight into the differences in technique and intensity between the progressive stages of kumite.

 

 

 

Following this, an Enpi-kata demonstration aimed to show how karate has application across practitioners’ ages, gender, and skill levels, with or without auxiliary weapons and even in the face of post-operative recovery restrictions.

In the words of Mike Dukas Shihan:

Karate fixes EVERYTHING…”

 

[It would be remiss to exclude a little tongue-in-cheek comment about lunch on Day 2… Suffice to say: “next time – choose the vegetarian option…”]

The second part of Day 2 provided even more entertainment as the Cadettes, Under-21’s and Open Divisions battled it out for victory.

At the conclusion of the day, karate friends and family parted ways with the promise to see each other on the competition floor in 2026.

[for a comprehensive photo library, see Karate in Focus WSKF Nationals Saturday 21/09/2024 album]

The karateka and supporters of the Shotokan Karate Academy dojos in Bloemfontein deserve special commendation for their diligence with the pre- and post-tournament logistics.


“Competition is always a good thing. It forces us to do our best. A monopoly renders people complacent and satisfied with mediocrity.” — Nancy Pearcy, author



OCTOBER 2024 – Black Belt TRAINING

The gracious hosts of WSKF Karate-Vaal dojo welcomed senior grade karateka in Vereeniging for the October black belt training. Only a few short weeks from then, National Dan Grading would take place and all karateka attempting dan grading could showcase their karate progress. To this end, the black belt training offered a final preparation and technique polishing session. Andrio Lombaard sensei (6th Dan) put karateka through their paces. Elements of the Shodan and Nidan syllabi were covered and Andrio Sensei shared valuable perspective and advice with the keen attendees.


NATIONAL DAN GRADING – October 2024

When a group of butterflies gather, it is referred to as a “kaleidoscope of butterflies” … This was no truer than on the morning of 19 October 2024, with nerves seemingly frayed and tension almost tangible in the air. Young and more mature karateka from across the country conversed on the Kuro-Obi Shotokan Karate-Do dojo in Vanderbijlpark for the annual nerve-wrecking event. It never ceases to amaze how a karate gi is a “leveler of people” – it pays no heed to the accomplishments of the individual in his/her other spheres of life. All that matters on the day and on the tatami is the karate that you have studied, practiced, and now offer up for scrutiny and evaluation.

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.

WSKF-SA congratulate all those who tried, whether they passed or failed, and sincerely encourage everyone to “never stop training, because the journey has only begun.”

 

 


November 2024 – Black Belt TRAINING

As 2024 drew to a close, the second-last Black Belt Training session was held in Vanderbijlpark. Andrio Lombaard sensei (6th Dan) presented a master class on several ways to teach kata. Heian Shodan was used as example of this approach. In the words of Louis Ramakulukusha Sensei (6th Dan): “…kata sessions were insightful, various versions of training Heian Shodan was greatly refreshing for me. I will definitely teach that to my students… the members who missed the Black Belt class today missed a lot.”


December 2024 – Black Belt TRAINING

Just before everyone went their separate ways for the festive season, Karate-Vaal dojo hosted the final Black Belt Training session of 2024. Tatjana Radojevic-Rogowski sensei (5th Dan) presented a masterful section on the kata Gojushiho Dai, in preparation for the National Instructors Seminar (January 2025). This was followed by yet another invaluable kumite session, presented by Cobie Nienaber sensei (5th Dan). The first two defense combinations of each Jiyu Ippon Kumite attack were practiced, in the style of Cobie Sensei’s no-nonsense real-life applicability approach. A tremendous opportunity and a high note on which to end a tremendous year.


Looking forward – 2025…

Whilst dojos across the country have resumed classes for the new term, the national WSKF activities will kick off with the annual Instructors Seminar, held in the Vaal Triangle in January 2025. Monthly Black Belt Trainings will resume shortly thereafter. Furthermore, 2025 is a Japan Tour year for WSKF – this biennial event is set to take place in November in Tokyo.

Teams across the country are already hard at work to prepare for the competition and to raise funds for their tour expenses.

The year is set to be an exciting one, with many great opportunities for those who are willing to seize them!

–o0o–