Japan Karate Shotokai National Black Belt Grading at the Springs Civic Centre
The purpose of the yearly seminar is not only to build relationships amongst karateka’s from South Africa and our neighboring countries, but also to standardize the organizations syllabus, goals as well as development of JKS Karate amongst less privileged communities.
This Springs Civic Centre hosted the International Japan Karate Shotorenmei (JKS) Karate Seminar this weekend.
The hall was abuzz with the voices of highly graded martial artist from all over South Africa, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.
Over 150 senior karateka’s gathered at the Springs Indoor Civic Centre, for a two-day technical training session, under the leadership of Norman Robinson Shusheki Shihan (9th Dan) and Andre Kok Shihan (8th Dan).
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The purpose of the yearly seminar is not only to build relationships among karateka’s from South Africa and our neighboring countries, but also to standardise the organisation’s syllabus and goals, as well as development of JKS Karate among less privileged communities.
JKS South Africa is busy with intensive preparation to send a strong national team to the 2019 JKS World Championships in Ireland later this year.
In preparation for this, the style head Robinson traveled to Japan in December for the annual international seminar, examinations, gradings and competitions.
In addition, Kok, Lourencia Kok Shihan, Kobus Prinsloo Shihan, Jan Badenhorst, Brendon Parker, Quentin Rourke, Hein Engelbrecht and Mervin Gounden went along on this journey.
“The JKS federation of South Africa aims to send its instructors and members to Japan annually in order for JKS South Africa to uphold a standard of the martial art as true and as up to date to the Japanese way as possible.
“Along with the extremely technical information brought back to South Africa about the art of karate, the instructors shared their first-hand experience of how the
Japanese karateka train.
“The Japanese karateka have exceptional dedication and discipline in the art and the sport.
“They show a spirit of vigour and determination in their training that is awe-inspiring.
“With its members thirsty for the great amount of knowledge acquired from within the heart of Karate, it is the hope that more seminars and training sessions can be held in future to further grow karate in South Africa,” says Kok.
The day ended with an awards evening to honour members’ achievements in the past year, including Protea colours, black belt graders, and instructor and referee examiners.
JKS South Africa would like to thank the ward members of Springs Hannes Gouws Sensei and all participants in making this day a great success.
For more events and information on joining karate, please visit www.jkskarate.co.za.
