Senior instructors of the Cobras Shotokan Karate Club in Alberton senseis Laurent and Nicholas Gaston-Bellegarde, who are father and son, are proud to announce the recent achievement of them being graded to their next black belt Dan grades.
Sensei Laurent was awarded his seventh Dan black belt and sensei Nicholas his sixth Dan black belt by Hanshi Koos Burger, style head of the South African Shotokan Karate Academy (SASKA).
Hanshi Koos Burger is a world-renowned karate figure, currently a ninth Dan black belt and also the vice-president of the World Union of Karate Federations (WUKF). He is also a technical director of the International Shotokan-Ryu Karate Shihan-Kai (ISKS).
After their minimum waiting periods since their last Dan grades, both Laurent and Nicholas were invited to attend the national black belt grading held at the end of March 2021.
It was a tough grading where both individuals were put to the test, mentally and physically, and where their 33 years of karate training experience, together with 25 years of teaching and coaching karate, helped them pass this tough examination.
The Cobras Shotokan Karate Club is very proud of its senior instructors on this achievement, and as it celebrates 25 years of karate in Alberton this year, it looks forward to welcoming all new members, both young and old, to join it and learn from the wealth of knowledge, experience and skills, which its senior instructors have to offer.
For more information on the Cobras Shotokan Karate Club, visit their website www.albertonkarate.co.za or contact sensei Laurent on 082 494 2704 or sensei Nicholas on 082 302 8637.
