Karate wins
PARKTOWN NORTH – Two karate legends accepted an invitation from Dorfman Karate to visit SA which enthused members.
It was an amazing boost for the Malcolm Dorfman (Parktown North Dojo) and Shane Dorfman (Melrose and Norwood Dojo) last year, when the greatest living bujutsu karate legend, Karatenomichi World Federation (KWF) grandmaster Mikio Yahara accepted the invitation from Dorfman Karate to come to South Africa.
Malcolm organised seminars in both Johannesburg and Potchefstroom, the two major areas where the bulk of the members of KWF South Africa, the organisation headed by Malcolm, reside.
The technical value and motivation for the members of Dorfman Karate, who were privileged to attend grandmaster Yahara’s dynamic and enlightening instruction, was evident by the enthusiastic response during the sessions given by him and his excellent and renowned assistant, Masamichi Otsuka Sensei, the KWF Japan headquarters chief instructor. This enthusiasm continued in the dojo even after their departure back to Japan.
Malcolm ensured that all the members of Dorfman Karate were exposed to the knowledge imparted by this great master, not just the senior members. All levels were given an opportunity to learn from him, including wide-eyed young children who, due to his kind mannerisms to them, immediately became ardent fans.
After the completion of the seminars, prior to them leaving South Africa, Malcolm and Shane hosted the two guests at a game lodge to show them the wonderful wildlife of South Africa, something they certainly do not have back home and which they enjoyed and appreciated immensely.
The relationship of grandmaster Yahara and Malcolm goes back 45 years with both having trained together year after year in the renowned Japan Instructors Class, known worldwide for its ferociousness by the appropriate epithet, the ‘Hornets’ Nest’.
Several of the members received another chance to train under grandmaster Yahara, when they accompanied Malcolm and Shane to Japan in November to attend the KWF International Seminar and KWF World Cup in Tokyo. The Dorfman Karate members of the KWF SA National team certainly shone, returning home with three gold medals, three silver medals and five bronze medals.
The year 2019 was a great year for Dorfman Karate and the link with Japan on both occasions ensured major highlights and treasured memories.
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