Local dojo shines on international stage
"The dojo garnered 28 medals from the international competition – 16 gold, seven silver and five bronze medals."
Sixteen karateka representing the Goju Kai Ekurhuleni Karate Academy in Bedfordview were recently selected to represent South Africa at the annual African Region South Southern African Karate Championships held in Harare, Zimbabwe, from June 9 – 11.
They had to qualify for their team positions by attending numerous tournaments across the country to improve their ranking within Karate South Africa.
“Our dojo members were then selected for the national team as they had achieved a number one or two ranking in South Africa,” stated Shihan Russell Sim, the head coach of the karate academy.
“The competition in Zimbabwe was a tough one, as it sees the best karate-ka from the southern African nations competing to be the champion.
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“Our team competed against top fighters and kata exponents from Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, and Angola.
“Our dojo’s rigorous preparation for this tournament saw our athletes reap the dividends of their hard work, as our dojo produced nine southern African champions in various age groups,” he said.
In total, the dojo garnered 28 medals from the international competition – 16 gold, seven silver and five bronze medals.
The academy’s three 10 and 11-year-olds were too young to qualify for SASCOC national colours, yet they did compete at the international and were awarded Karate South Africa colours, while the rest of the team were awarded national colours for this tour.Sensei Jesse Sim took gold medals for senior men’s kata and senior men’s team kata.
Sensei Bongi Ngwenya took a gold medal for the senior men’s team kata.
Sensei Bradley Ho-Tong won a gold medal for the senior men’s team kata.
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Mikayla Alves won a gold medal for girls 14-15 kumite.
Gabriella Toweel won triple gold for girls 12-13 kata, girls 12-13 kumite and 12-13 girls team kata. This made her the grand champion of her age group.
Chloe Keartland won gold medal for girls 12-13 team kata and silver medal for 12-13 girls kumite.
Jazmin Turton won gold medals for girls 12-13 team kata and 12-13 girls kumite.
Stefan van der Merwe won gold medal for boys 12-13 team kata, bronze medal for boys 12-13 kumite and bronze medal for 12-13 kumite.
Izabella Turton won a gold medal for girls 10-11 kumite.
Lillian Loots won a gold medal for girls 10-11 kumite.
Mathew Soares secured a gold medal for boys 12-13 team kata and silver for boys 12-13 kata.
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Praneel Ramjee walked away with a gold medal for boys 12-13 team kata:
Other medal winners included:
Senpai Tayla Murray: silver medal for senior ladies team kata and a bronze medal for senior ladies kata.
Suzaan Botha: silver medal for senior ladies team kata, silver medal for senior ladies kumite and bronze medal for senior ladies kata.
Kate Ward: silver medal for senior ladies team kata.
Cristiano Coelho: silver medal for boys 10-11 kumite and bronze for boys 10-11 kata.
