Dojo awards outstanding karatekas

The Dojo New World Shotokan (NWS) Benoni and Kempton Park held its year-end prizegiving ceremony in Rynfield on February 21 to award the karatekas for their outstanding achievements last year.

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Following a turbulent period because of the Covid-19 lockdown, which resulted in the club shutting its doors for some time, the easing and subsequent lifting of the restrictions saw the students return to training.

“It was the first full year back after Covid. We went back to full training, championships, gasshukus, gradings and seminars,” said dojo head and regional instructor sensei John Barnett.

“These karatekas were hungry after the two years that Covid-19 took from us. We are proud of them.

“They took our five maximums of karate – seek perfection of character, be faithful, endeavour, respect others and refrain from violent behaviour – which should be implemented in life, and came out tops,” added Barnett.

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The award winners were:

• Kaelab Staley – sportsman of the year

• Joanne Martins – most improved karateka

• Kelsey Szafranski – most dedicated senior karateka

• Melissa Schoeman – most dedicated junior karateka

• Mahi Rampershad – most outstanding karateka (yellow belt)

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• Otlotleng Moletsane – most outstanding karateka (green belt)

• Reynard Schoeman – runner-up: most outstanding karateka (orange/green belt)

• Zelmarie du Plessis – most spirited karateka (brown belt)

• Kairay Ramershad – runner-up: most outstanding karateka (blue/brown belt)

• Gabriella Lotter – most outstanding karateka (blue/brown belt)

• Gustav du Plessis – most spirited karateka (white/red belt)

• Adrienne Shortt – runner-up: Most outstanding karateka (white/yellow belt)

• Declan Young – most technical karateka (white/green belt)

• Nicole Potgieter – most technical karateka (blue/brown belt).

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