Sensei is honoured with shihan title

In his profile, the technical director of Goju Ryu Karate-Do Kuyukai South Africa, sensei Stephen Cohen, pays a glowing tribute to shihan Frans Bronkhorst, who he says introduced him indirectly to karate as a 16-year-old in 1979.

Cohen said he was enjoying a stroll in downtown Klerksdorp when he was disturbed by Bronkhorst’s “sharp and striking noise” on the second floor of a building he was passing by.

“I went upstairs to enquire and discovered it was sensei Frans Bronkhorst demonstrating a saifa kata to his astonished audience. It sounded like lightning had just struck in broad daylight. That was the beginning of my karate journey,” Cohen said.

Bronkhorst, from Farrarmere, enjoyed an illustrious career as a karateka and instructor. He recently graduated to seventh dan and was bestowed the honour of shihan or grandmaster for his service that spans over 50 years in the sport.

“It’s a huge honour and means a lot. It’s like I’ve achieved all I’ve worked hard for,” he said.

The seventh dan was a young schoolboy in Welkom when he began his journey into martial arts in the 1960s.

Hooked

Teased and bullied because of his stuttering, Bronkhorst decided martial arts was the only solution to stop the bullying.

“I was touched and asked the bullies why they were teasing me. I said to them, one day, they’ll regret it.”

He started with judo but after three months, changed to karate and realised he liked it more. He was introduced to Goju Ryu by sensei Wessie Warren, who trained him for 40 years. They were both part of the formidable Goju team of the 1970s.

“Sensei Wessie taught me everything I know about karate,” he said.

A multi-talented sportsman, Bronkhorst earned his provincial colours for rugby, gymnastics, karate and pole vault for the Free State. But his heart was always in karate.

“When I started, it was like I was stung by a bee. I was so hooked. I enjoyed it very much and trained for four hours a day, six times a week.”

He earned his first black belt in 1968 in Japan. He said his biggest regret was returning to SA instead of settling in Okinawa to pursue his passion and become one of the top karatekas in the world.

“I could have stayed in Japan and pursued my love for karate. I could have been a ninth dan. But I had a job and family. I still achieved what I wanted here at home.”

The shihan earned his Springbok colours in the 1970s. He was a kumite and full-contact karate national champion and was honoured with the national trophy for kumite for going undefeated seven times. He was undefeated five times in full-contact karate.

“Karate taught me focus, commitment and respect. I didn’t face any obstacles. The good outweighed the bad, and this helped me to become the man I am.”

He thanked legendary karatekas, including Wessie Warren, Peter Brandon and Arnold de Beer, and Stanley Khoza and Edward Mtshali, for their valuable contribution to his development.

Also Read: Karatekas to arm community with self-defence techniques

Also Read: Karateka do well at regional champs