Tenshinkan students dominate at final tourney of the year
They won seven gold, 11 silver and three bronze medals in kata and kumite in their age categories.
The Tenshinkan Karate Benoni dojo capped off a good year with 21 medals during the South African national karate championships at Brakpan Indoor Sports Centre on October 28.
Taking part in the last tournament of the year, the students won seven gold, 11 silver and three bronze medals in kata and kumite in their age categories.
Dante Lucas claimed the biggest honours for the club as they declared him a national champion in kata and kumite after winning gold medals in both styles in his category.
Bruce Cloete won a silver in kata and a gold in kumite.
The Ilunga siblings, Joyce and Michelle, each won gold in kata and silver in kumite, while their sister, Peace, won silver in kata and gold in kumite. The trio’s father, Elan, claimed silver in kata and bronze in kumite.
Roland van der Walt was declared a national champion in kata after winning a gold medal in that category.
Charleigh Cloete and Krysten Wardill grabbed a silver in both styles. Jeandre Liebenberg claimed silver in kata and bronze in kumite, while Brandon Wardill claimed a bronze in kata and silver in kumite.
“We were excited as it was the first time since Covid that we all came together instead of limiting attendance to age groups.
“All the students marched into the hall while the national anthem played. My students did very well once again. We are now looking forward to the 2024 championships,” said the club’s shihan-dai Catherine Venter.
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