Karate club racks up the medals at national championships

Karate is an art form that turns beautiful, very precise body movements into dangerous and sometimes fatal physical strikes. It takes many years of training, a lot of intense concentration and a mind–body connection which sits at the peak of human capability.

The Krugersdorp Karate Club (KKC) has been training top karate students for years, and has helped them to triumph over all competitors who might cross their path. On 17 and 18 March this year, several club members participated in the South Africa Japan Karate Association (SAJKA) Gauteng Championships, and 17 of them received their provincial colours. The club, as a whole, also walked away with four gold, six silver, and nine bronze medals.

Having qualified in March, the KKC students went on to compete in the SAJKA South African Championships, which were held in the Standard Bank Arena in May. Each of them had to face off against mammoth opposition, but not one among them showed fear in the face of their challengers, and the club took home five gold, four silver and three bronze medals overall.

Sensei Leon van Niekerk, sixth Dan in JKA, said, “I see a bright future ahead for all our students. The JKA World Championships is held every three years and will be hosted by Japan next year. Hopefully our students will do just as well at trials next year and be chosen to represent South Africa at the Funakoshi Gichin Cup in October 2020.”