Tenshinkan Karate Dojo, owned by sensei Leon Gagiano, has made Nigel proud on the international stage.

The dojo, which also offers karate classes in Delmas, Balfour, Heidelberg, and Mackenzieville, continues to build a strong reputation for excellence and discipline in martial arts.

Affiliated with SARMAF All Styles, the dojo’s talented students have consistently demonstrated their skill. Earlier this year, after qualifying for the East Gauteng and South African All Styles Nationals for the third consecutive time, several students were selected to represent South Africa at the ICO International Combat World Championships in Swansea, Wales.

Before departing, the athletes received their KSA Weapons colours and senior Protea Weapons colours – a recognition of their dedication and mastery.

The team left South African shores on October 13 as the first KSA Protea and KSA Weapons team. They returned home on October 23 with six medals for the Nigel dojo and a total of 75 medals for Team South Africa, securing eighth place in the top 10 worldwide.

Sensei Leon Gagiano said, “Standing on the world stage, watching our South African flag rise as our students’ names were called was one of the proudest moments of my career. What makes this achievement so special is knowing how much dedication, sacrifice, and discipline went into it.

“Many of these students come from small towns like Nigel and Heidelberg, yet they train with the heart and spirit of world champions. Their success proves that talent knows no boundaries. With focus, respect, and perseverance, our youth can compete and excel anywhere in the world. This is the beginning for us. Our goal is to inspire more young people to step onto the mat, discover their potential, and carry the legacy of South African martial arts even further,” said Gagiano.