Calls to support Bluff karate dream team
FKI Bluff Dojo's Shawn May, Lucas Ntomo, Kiara Pieters and Emily Olwage will be competing at the All Styles Championships.
A TEAM of four junior karatekas from the Funakoshi Karate International (FKI) Bluff Dojo has qualified to compete at the All Styles Championships hosted by Tebbutt’s Academy at the Primrose Wrestling Club in Johannesburg on 25 and 26 October.
The team displays both talent and potential in traditional kata, traditional kumite and creative kata from promising students Emily Olwage, Kiara Pieters, Lucas Ntomo and Shawn May, who will be competing in all three categories. They were selected at provincials as part of the KZN development team to go to the nationals where they will further develop and hone their martial art skills.
“As an instructor, it is so great to see such a young and diverse team because that is what the development tournament is all about. They show how wide and diverse the talent spectrum is in this sport and it gives me so much hope for our future and the sport,” said FKI Bluff Dojo instructor, sensei Shaun Miln.
Shaun added that he has been pleasantly surprised at how the young karatekas have developed in a short space of time.
“For example, Emily who is the youngest in the team and had a bit of a slow start, has blossomed and truly come into her own. Every time we have given her something to learn she has shown great effort and even came first in one of the divisions at provincials. I was stunned. Kiara and Shawn have grown from strength to strength. Lucas is very flexible and training him has been amazing.
“All four of them make me very proud of all they have achieved up to this point in their different levels. They inspire me to be a better instructor in order to achieve the best possible results,” said Shaun, who will be accompanying the team together with his daughter Abigail Sueltz as referees at the tournament.
Shawn, 10, is currently on his junior orange belt, Kiara, 9, and Lucas,7, are on their yellow belts and Emily, 7, is on her white belt. The four expressed that they are excited about the national tournament and are aiming for gold in their different divisions.
The tournament is self-funded and the team needs to raise R4 000 for each member to cover the costs of transport, accommodation, team kit and food. To sponsor or fund the hopeful karate champs, contact Shaun Miln on 079-270-1100.
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