NWS host successful club championship in Rynfield
The competition was held to prepare the students for the upcoming regional championship next month and nationals in August.
It was like the christening of a new karate dojo as hundreds of karateka and fans of the sport filled the Dojo Benoni in Rynfield and the crowd even overflowed into the parking lot outside the facility.
The huge outpouring of community support from residents and local learning centre, Easy Learning, created a festival atmosphere as karateka immersed themselves on the mat during the New World Shotokan (NWS) Karate Club Championship on March 18.
On hand ensuring proceedings ran smoothly, sensei Janien Potgieter explained the tournament presented the students with an opportunity to display the skills acquired in the past year.
“This tournament is there for the karateka to put to practice the skills learned in the dojo. This teaches them to defend themselves and their families should they find themselves in that position,” Potgieter said.
Kitted in their whites and belts of various colours on their waits and buoyed by the presence of dojo head and chief instructor sensei John Barnett, they entertained the crowd to bouts of kata and kumite in different categories, which were received with delight by the crowd.
“The competition teaches them vital life skills. The close combat teaches them to face the fear of somebody invading their space and them having to defend themselves.
“It also teaches them that it’s not always about winning but it’s also okay to come second and third,” Potgieter added.
Spurred on by photos of the Shotokan style’s founding fathers, including senseis Gichin Funakoshi and Nigel Jackson which decorate the room, and a mural detailing the dojo’s black belts rankings, the shouts of the kiai shot through the roof as the students executed their moves with passion.
The winners were presented with gold medals while the runners-up received silver and bronze for those placed third.
“We hope to take our karateka from strength to strength. We have our regional tournament in April in Nelspruit, which will be followed by our national championships in August.”
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