Alberton Cobras Shotokan Karate Club hosts singles competition
After many years of hoping to host a karate singles tournament, Alberton Cobras Shotokan Karate Club finally hosted the competition that saw them bag 54 medals.
Alberton’s Cobras Shotokan Karate Club recently held the inaugural Team Events Only Karate competition.
Unlike all other karate tournaments, which typically only accommodate individual kata and kumite events, this competition exclusively featured team event divisions.
Participants entered teams into three categories: rotation team kumite, Bunkai (kata application presentation), and unison team kata. Teams competed in their respective age groups, and each comprised three karateka.
In anticipation of this karate competition, Cobras Dojo’s head instructors, senseis Laurent and Nicholas Gaston-Bellegarde, expressed their delight. According to them, they had mulled this notion for a long time and decided on actioning their plan in 2024.
Although karate is usually an individual martial art, this team-only competition allowed all karateka to train and compete as a cohesive team, enjoying the advantages of teamwork and the team spirit it generates.
Many other karate styles and dojos from across Gauteng supported the competition held in the Bracken Park Community Hall.
According to Laurent and Nicholas, the competition was a huge success, and everyone who attended the dojos loved how special it was. Because of this response, the event will now become an annual event.
They felt this event had a bright future and would grow stronger with time.
The Cobras Shotokan Karate Club students gave it their all, taking home 54 medals.
Medal winners are:
Camden Koekemoer (bronze), Sebastion Vermaak (bronze), Keithon Greeff (bronze), Tyler Sherriff (gold), Blake Kleynhans (silver), Yuakshar Ramduth Goli (silver), Nkosinathi Shange (silver), Ivy Griffin (gold and bronze), Christiaan Fouche (gold), Lisakhanya Tuswa (gold), Litha Mbube (silver) and Ethan Morgan (silver), Owen Naidoo (gold), Riley Gouws (gold and bronze), Erinique Moodley (gold and bronze), Bijon Loots (gold and silver), Ntokozo Mfandelani (gold and bronze), Alexcia Andrade (gold and silver), senpai Dario Gouveia (two gold), Keana Truscott (gold), Kajal Dhanpat (gold), Nicole Marneweck (bronze), Payton Watson (gold and bronze), senpai Bokamoso Makhene (two gold and silver), sensei Vuyelwa Qayiso (silver), Darshal Chinia (silver), Hayley Peel (two gold and silver), Fabio Watson (two silver), Hazel Marneweck (silver and bronze), Isha Sing (bronze), Liana Gouveia (silver), Quintin Marneweck (silver and bronze), Carla Campher (gold and two silver) and Tyron dos Santos (two gold and silver).
The club operates on Mondays and Wednesdays from 17:30 to 18:30 at Ascot Mews Conference & Wedding Venue (19 Heidelberg Road, New Market, Alberton).
Call Laurent on 082 494 2704 or Nicholas on 082 302 8637 for further details.
Alternatively, visit www.albertonkarate.co.za
