In a remarkable display of skill and dedication, four students from the Horizon Karate Centre have been selected to represent South Africa as part of the SA JKA National team set to compete at the 16th Gichin Funakoshi Cup in Gunmna, Japan in October.
Aidan Marnewick, Amani Hoosen, Kgosi Motsatsi, Tristan Ferris, and their junior team manager, Mohammed Hoosen, have exactly four months to prepare for the world’s greatest karate event.
The selection of these students comes after their impressive performance at the SA JKA National Championships that were held at the famous Ellis Park Arena over two days in May, and some had to further attend trials on June 1 to secure their spot in the SA team.
“Making the SA JKA Junior team to Japan means the world to me. It makes all the hard work and time put into my karate worth every minute. Karate makes me feel confident, powerful, yet disciplined and respectful towards everyone,” said Kgosi.
Tristan said this is the first time he will be travelling out of the country, and this will be a thrilling experience for him, especially since Karate’s birthplace is Japan.
Their head coach, Sensei Wendy Wannenburg, will be a referee at the World Championships as well as participating in the JKA World Federation training camp taking place at the JKA Head Quarters in Tokyo before the tournament, and the Gichin Festival taking place in Okinawa after the tournament.
