On 16 April, two local fighters travelled to Cape Town for the interprovincial development champion-ships. Only the four top athletes per province competed in this event, receiving full provincial development colours from the Gauteng sports council. The competitors excelled and kept the town’s name high.
Minentle Khoza won two bronze medals in the female cadet division for kata (forms) and Kumite (fighting). Dylan Venter won gold for team Kumite, silver for kata and bronze for Kumite in the 8- to 9-year division.
“The students have grown so much since they have been training in the dojo and are gaining confidence and control. Now, they aim to be the best of the best,” says their coach, Sensei Enzo Pillay. The club then took its three elite competitors to the national Karate South Africa Championship in Bloemfontein on the weekend of 23 April. Only the 10 best fighters in the country competed in each category.
Shyenne Swanepoel held the club’s name high when she won bronze in the u.21 female Kumite division, while Samantha Maré won bronze in the female senior Kumite. Sensei Enzo won gold in the team Kumite event and bronze in the senior male Kumite event.
The club members ended the month by training with the three-time world champion and Japanese Master of Shotokan karate, Shihan Manabu Murakami. “This event was spectacular and over 150 students attended. It is a great opportunity to train with someone who has accomplished so much in the traditional martial art of karate. We look forward to hosting him again soon,” says Pillay.
