Grade 8 learner at Curro Rivonia Taneka Visser has continued to excel in karate, raking in various prizes since she began the sport in 2012.
Taneka has medalled in regional, provincial, national and international competitions and is currently ranked in the top 10 in South Africa in all disciplines. As part of Team Kata, she is ranked number one in the country by Karate South Africa (KSA) alongside teammates Erin Ford and Thea Langenhorst. She is ranked ninth in kumite and eighth in kata by KSA.
Taneka’s mother Yolanda Visser explained that her daughter currently holds a brown belt in G?j?-ry? karate and will be grading for her black belt next year.
Taneka received regional and provincial colours in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2012. She represented South Africa at the Commonwealth Karate Championships in 2018 for Team Kata, Kumite and Kata, where the Team Kata girls placed third.
While it has been a quiet year for Taneka as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, she has kept active by taking part in a number of online competitions.
She competed in the Ronin Cup International e-Tournament where Team Kata girls made it through to the finals but came second to Italy by 0.3 points. She also competed in the Elite e-Kata Gauteng Championships where she placed second.
Sensei Stef Biagioni from the Fourways Martial Arts Academy said, “Her constant effort and discipline to improve in all competitions has been demonstrated. I believe that Taneka will succeed in future competitions and shows great promise for all future endeavours.”
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