Constantia Kloof’s karateka grade up during 24-hour challenge

Palm Court Karate Centre held a 24-hour karate challenge where close to 200 karateka attempted to train for 24 hours.

According to Mario Sequeira, a fifth dan black belt and the centre’s sensei, the challenge was held at Hoërskool Randburg and almost 40 students completed the challenge.

“The basic rules are that students train for one hour and have a five-minute break although we did break for meals. Students that completed the event got the equivalent of three months extra training which will massively assist them in their grading later this year,” explained Mario.

He continued that they had eight guest instructors assisting in teaching the students.
“We were challenged in the middle of the night when we were hit by an unplanned power outage which tested our students,” he recalled.

Students grading for their black belts had to complete the full 24-hour training and afterward grade for their black belts, according to him.

“This was a very difficult challenge but they all had a great attitude and all passed with flying colours,” he exclaimed.

The black belt grading was run over an eight-week period where students completed several assessments and then culminated in the 24-hour challenge where they graded in front of the provincial grading panel which consisted of eight senior instructors.

Congratulations to the following students who graded for first dan black belt:

• Kynan Attfield
• Kristen Baxter
• Paige Chappell
• Maria Crossling
• Jana du Plessis
• Ryan Esterhuizen
• Rogan Kelly
• Matias Maidana
• Amel Maistry
• Amiel Maistry
• Gabriel Naicker
• Ashreya Naidoo
• Kailesh Ramsewak
• Darien Schwarz
• Keegan Stranack
• Kanthum Subramoney
• Ane van der Westhuizen

And the student who graded for second dan black belt:

• Cleveland Crossling
• Orlando Crossling
• Jeanne Fourie

“This was an extremely hard grading as all candidates participated in the 24-hour challenge as well as their normal black belt grading,” concluded Mario.