Local karatekas collect medals at national championships

Goju Kai Ekurhuleni Karate Academy in Bedfordview bagged 40 medals at the South Africa League Championships held in Cape Town between April 14 to 15.

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The dojo members won 22 gold, eight silver and 10 bronze medals bringing home 11 national titles from the first league champs of the year.

Shihan Russell Sim, the head instructor of the academy, said, “That makes us one of the most successful dojos in the country in terms of medal count, and it is a testament to the hard work put in by the athletes and their coaches to prepare for this championship.

“This was an important tournament for the students as it was the final selection for the South African Protea team which will compete in an international against the best karate-ka from Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Angola.

“They all did very well and a number of them are now in line to earn their national karate colours. This is the highest honour for a South African karateka, and having so many qualify is amazing.”

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Individual results were as follows:

Sensei Jesse Sim – gold medals for kata and team kata

Sensei Bongi Ngwenya – gold medal for team kata

Sensei Brad Ho-Tong – gold medal for team kata

Senpai Tayla Murray – gold medal for team kata

Senpai Mikayla Alves – gold medals for kumite and team kumite

Senpai Connor Hundermark – gold medal for team kata

Suzaan Botha – gold medal for team kata, silver medal for kumite and bronze medal for kata

Kate Ward – gold medal for team kata

Jazmin Turton – gold medal for team kata, silver medal for kata and bronze medal for kumite

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Chloe Keartland – gold medal for team kata, silver medal for kumite and bronze medal for kata

Gabriella Toweel – gold medals for team kata and kata, and bronze medal for kumite

AJ van der Merwe – gold medal for team kata and bronze medal for kumite

Mathew Soares – gold medal for team kata and bronze medal for kata

Stefan van der Merwe – gold medal for team kata, silver medal for kumite and bronze medal for kata

Tyler Kabali-Kagwa – gold medals for team kata, kata and kumite

Praneel Ramjee – gold medal for team kata and silver medal for kumite

Cristiano Coelho – silver medals for kata and kumite

Izabella Turton – silver medal for kumite and bronze medal for kata

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Lilly Loots – gold medal for kumite

Gugu Ndebele – bronze medal for kumite

Aidan Falls – bronze medal for kata

This tournament was the final selection for the South African national team which will compete in an international tournament against the best karate-ka from Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Angola.

The following members of the dojo have been selected for the South African karate team to compete in the

Region South Southern African Championships to be held in Zimbabwe in June: Sensei Jesse Sim, Sensei Bongi Ngwenya, Sensei Bradley Ho-Tong, Gabriella Toweel, Chloe Keartland, Jazmin Turton, Stefan van der Merwe,

Praneel Ramjee, Tyler Kabali-Kagwa, Cristiano Coelho, Lillian Loots, Izabella Turton, Gugulam Ndebele and Senpai Mikayla Alves.

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Connor Hundermark, Suzaan Botha, Giancarlo Ferrante, Mathew Soares and Nomthandazo Ndebele were selected to compete for the Karate South Africa B-side at the same tournament.