Sensei receives shihan title
She obtained the rank of shihan after grading to her sixth black belt.
Sensei Catherine (Linakis) Venter was honoured to become the first woman in Africa and Europe in the Tenshinkan karate style to obtain the rank of shihan (master) after grading to sixth dan.
Venter graded to her sixth black belt in June under the guidance of Tenshinkan Karate South Africa (TKSA) deputy chief instructor, kyoshi Attie Coetzer (eighth dan) and member of the TSA shihankai, shihan Andries Oelefse (seventh dan).
“It has been a fabulous journey all these 28 years in the sport. I’m pleased that I’ve achieved one of my goals in being a shihan,” she said.
The sensei, who teaches at the Honbu dojo at the World Lifestyle Centre in Rynfield, was introduced to martial arts by her father, who taught her and her sisters wrestling and boxing in their formative years.
“I enjoyed it, and that’s when the bug bit,” said Venter.
She joined Tenshinkan karate in 1995 at Springs Indoor Centre under shihan-dai Robby du Preez as a 25-year-old, receiving her first black belt in 2003.
She explained since stepping inside the dojo, she developed a deep interest in all forms of martial arts, including jiu-jitsu, kickboxing and kobudo (weapons).
In addition to her six black belts in karate, the 54-year-old is a first dan in both kickboxing and kobudo.
She has trained, graded and competed in Japan, Denmark, Scotland and the USA and has served on the TKSA parent committee since 2002 while serving in the shihankai main committee since 2005.
“Martial arts is my passion. It takes dedication and discipline. The beauty of martial arts is that there’s no age limit. I will continue with Tenshinkan karate. I will be 61 when I can grade for seventh dan,” she said.
Venter recommends that young girls and women should attend self-defence classes, given the high rate of GBV and sexual assault on women in the country.
“I started the pink belt ladies, a two-hour course where I teach basic self-defence classes. We also have a one-hour anti-kidnapping class.”
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