After competing in the Gauteng Karate Federation’s Provincial and Development Championships, karatekas from Bedfordview’s Goju Kai Ekurhuleni Karate Academy returned home with 60 medals.
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Thirty-two members from the dojo attended the event at the Brixton Multipurpose Centre.
According to the academy’s renshi shihan, Russell Sim, the event was well attended.
“A high standard of karate was displayed over the two days of the competition.”
Divided into two categories, the first was for the elite athletes who had qualified through the Ekurhuleni district.
The second category was for development of up-and-coming athletes wanting to break into the elite divisions in the future.
A total of 26 dojo members entered the elite provincials.
Sim said they brought back 50 elite medals – 30 gold, six silver and 14 bronze.
“The Goju Kai dojo produced 20 provincial champions at the elite competition, thus making it the most successful dojo in Gauteng at this year’s provincial championships.
“We were expecting to do well, but never expected to take so many titles,” said Sim.
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He said it was one for the books.
“Our athletes put in hours of training, and the results reflect all the blood, sweat and tears that went into their preparation.”
The 26 elite athletes earned their Ekurhuleni karate colours and were selected for the Gauteng provincial all-styles team.
The all-styles team will compete at the Karate South Africa National Championships later this month.
Sim said the 26 athletes would also receive their Gauteng provincial colours once they had represented their province at the nationals.
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Elite individual results:
• Sensei Jess Sim – gold medals for kata and team kata
• Sensei Bongi Ngwenya – gold medal for team kata
• Sensei Brad Ho-Tong – gold medal for team kata
• Caitlyn Routley – gold medal for kumite
• Stefan van der Merwe – gold medals for team kata and kumite, and bronze medal for kata
• Sempai Mikayla Alves – gold medal for kata and silver medal for kumite
• Sempai Connor Hundermark – gold medal for team kata and silver medal for kata
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• AJ van der Merwe – gold medal for kumite and bronze for kata
• Praneel Ramjee – gold medals for kumite and team kata and silver medal for kata
• Giancarlo Ferrante – gold medal for kata and bronze medal for kumite
• Cristiano Coelho – silver medal for kata
• Prayan Ramjee – gold medals for kata and kumite
• Suzaan Botha – gold medals for kata, team kata and kumite
• Tyler Kabali-Kagwa – gold medals for kata, team kata and kumite
• Lilly Loots – silver medal for kumite
• Chloe Keartland – gold medal for team kata, silver medal for kumite and bronze for kata
• Phumelele Ngwenya – gold for team kata and kata, and bronze medal for kumite
• Gabriella Toweel – gold medals for kata and team kata
• Jazmin Turton – gold medal for team kata, bronze medals for kata and kumite
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• Mathew Soares – gold medal for team kata and bronze medal for kata
• Izabella Turton – bronze medals for kata and kumite
• Nomthi Ndebele – bronze medal for kumite
• Deidre Loots – bronze medals for kata and kumite
• Riaan Turton – bronze medal for kata
• Sempai Tayla Murray – gold medal for team kata
• Kate Ward – gold medal for team kata
The dojo’s development athletes also represented the Ekurhuleni district in the competition. The dojo entered six athletes who returned with 10 medals: three gold, three silver and four bronze.
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“This was a fantastic showing from our inexperienced tournament athletes,” said Sim.
“They had to learn the rules of competition quickly and applied their knowledge with aplomb in the kata and kumite sections.”
He said the results spoke for themselves.
“We are very proud of them. It takes courage to step onto that competition mat for the first time, and not one showed any hesitation. It was inspiring to watch.”
Development individual results:
• Allison Loots – gold medal for kata and bronze medal for kumite
• Knowledge Obada – gold medals for kata and kumite
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• Israel Obada – silver medal for kumite
• Nakesha Desai – silver medal for kata and bronze for kumite
• Rizz Alla El-boustani – bronze medals for kata and kumite
• Cameron Holtzhauzen -silver medal for kata
Sim said the athletes would represent the Gauteng development team at the Karate South Africa Development Nationals in September.
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