Tebbutt’s Mixed Martial Arts Academy held a special ceremony on Thursday, where 22 dedicated members received either their national, presidential or development colours. Cole Pretorius, LK van Coller and Landie van Niekerk received their full South African National colours from kanchu Alex Tebbutt (centre). The trio will travel to Blackpool, England, in November to compete in the FCMA (Full Contact Martial Arts) World Championships.
The Tebbutt’s Mixed Martial Arts Academy dojo in Lambton was filled with smiles, laughs and well-wishes on Thursday evening.
Twenty-two dedicated Tebbutt’s members were presented with either national, presidential or development colours ahead of the Woon-A-Tai Challange in Durban, where seven countries will compete for top honours, during the special occasion.
The evening started with some special thanks from Susan Scott, who also presented her father, kanchu Alex Tebbutt, with his national jacket.
“Instead of mentioning him last, as we normally would, I would like to mention him first,” Scott said.
“It is a privilege to stand here surrounded by this large crowd of students and supporters and see them receive their national colours.
“This is the first time in 46 years that we have had such a big team receiving their national colours.
“We would normally have two, maybe three, people a year, but this year we have 22, including my dad, which is amazing.
“Thank you to my dad for his passion.
“His passion for his sport and the passion for the students he teaches.
“Though we will stand at the championships in our green and gold and not in our usual red Tebbutt’s colours, we are still going to stand tall in our Tebbutt’s way of doing things.
“That is why I am honoured to give my dad’s jacket to him.”
Tebbutt took to the floor, calling each member of the club receiving their colours forward and personally helping them into their jackets.
Teaghen-Lee Joubert, Jesse Joubert, Benjamin Spies, Caleb Dennewill and Heinu Vermaak received development colours.
Tebbutt’s Mixed Martial Arts Academy members received their development colours from kanchu Alex Tebbutt at a special ceremony at the Lambton-based dojo on Thursday. They are, back: Heinu Vermaak, Teaghen-Lee Joubert and Jesse Joubert. Front: Benjamin Spies and Caleb Dennewill.
Casey Stadler, Vicki Basham, Petra Spies, Fausto Aramu, Ludic Wessels, Marno Kitshoff, Martin Reinhardt and Divan Fourie received presidential colours.
Presidential colours were handed out to a number of members of Tebbutt’s Mixed Martial Arts Academy, including (back) Casey Stadler, Martin Reinhardt, Vicki Basham, Petra Spies, (front) Marno Kitshoff, Fausto Aramu, Ludic Wessels and Divan Fourie. They were handed out by kanchu Alex Tebbutt (centre).
While sensei Cassie Stadler, sensei Ismail Pandor, sempai Logan Stadler, sensei Tiffany Knoop, Johann Duarte, Christina Pretorius, Monique Scott, Landie van Niekerk, Cole Pretorius and LK van Coller received full national colours.
Tebbutt’s Mixed Martial Arts Academy’s sensei Cassie Stadler, sempai Logan Stadler, Christina Pretorius, kanchu Alex Tebbutt, Johann Duarte, sensei Ismail Pandor, Monique Scott and sensei Tiffany Knoop received full South African National colours at a special ceremony held at the dojo on Thursday.
In addition to their national colours, van Niekerk, Pretorius and van Coller were also selected to compete at the FCMA (Full Contact Martial Arts) World Championships in Blackpool, England, in November.
