Fighters from Spartans Karate dojo dominate big competition
These fighters know what they are doing.
Fighters from the Spartans Karate dojo excelled at a big competition in Johannesburg recently.
The club’s public relations officer, Martin Venter, says that the Spartans Karate dojo had 23 athletes who attended the Japan Karate Shoto National Championship at the Portuguese Hall over the weekend of 24 May.
“The competition was stiff, and we had to battle hard to come out as one of the top three clubs in South Africa,” says Venter.
The athletes performed extremely well, bringing back 11 gold, 14 silver, and 11 bronze medals.
Tihan Barnard won silver for kumite (fighting) in the 11-year male division and competed in the 11-year male and female kata division.
Precious Nyakeni won silver for kumite in the 12 to 13-year female division and competed in the 12 to 13-year male and female kata division.
Professor Nyakeni won gold for kumite in the 12 to 13-year male division and competed in the 12 to 13-year male and female kata division.
Lourens Seitz won bronze for kumite in the 17-year male division and competed in the 17-year male kata division.
Logan Jacobs placed fifth for kata in the nine-year male and female division and competed in the nine-year male kumite division.
Wiaan Roodt competed in the 12-year male and female kata division and in the 12-year male kumite division.
Dylan Venter competed in the 10 to 11-year male kumite and 10 to 11-year male kata event. He won silver and silver, respectively, and competed in the team kata event.
Alyssa Cruywagen competed in the 14-year female kumite and 14-year female kata event. She won silver and silver, respectively, and competed in the team kata event.
Samantha Maré competed in the 18 to 39-year female kumite, 18 to 39-year female kata, and team kata events, where he won silver, bronze, and silver, respectively.
Enzo Pillay competed in the 18 to 39-year male kata and team kata events. He won bronze and Silver in the respective events.
Mark Bothma competed in the 18+ year male kumite and 18+ year male and female kata events, where he won bronze and bronze, respectively.
Joshua Thulo competed in the 12-year male kumite and 12-year male and female kata events. Joshua also won gold and silver, respectively.
Reinhardt Roodt competed in the eight-year male kumite and eight-year male and female kata events, where he won silver and bronze, respectively.
Sensei Enzo said that the dojo is producing athletes for the future and that the caliber of student that comes out of the Spartans Dojo is able to Rival anyone in the World. He added that the students are not just good at karate, the lessons they learn prepare them for the rest of their lives.
“The students feel extremely proud of themselves and their team knows that what they have accomplished is due to the Hard work they put in. They are looking forward to improving themselves for the future,” says Venter.
