Lowveld Karatekas victorious at district championships
The skills of local karatekas were brilliantly displayed at the Shotokan Karate district championships at Hoërskool Rob Ferreira on March 21, when the Lowveld district took home the trophy.
Dojos of Mbombela, White River, Hazyview and Skukuza took on competitors from the Eastern Gauteng district, as well as sub-districts like eMahlahleni and Pretoria.
Entries numbered 114, which is unusually good for a district competition, says sensei Piet Venter of White River. The standard of both competitors and judges were very high and some sparring matches had supporters chewing their nails and shouting encouragements from the sidelines.
Students of Hazyview’s Senseis Sandra and Danie Jansen van Vuuren won the club trophy and the group managed to win a total of 54 medals: 14 gold, 21 silver, 15 bronze and 4 fourth place.
Venter says the Lowveld district will have to work hard to keep their trophy next year, as they will be competing in Gauteng. Although the students did really well, Venter believes that every participant is a winner. “If we as instructors can help develop them to their fullest potential and have a positive effect on their character building, then we are winners as well,” he remarks. “Instructors witness daily how their students get emotionally stronger, focus better and increase their confidence. This is our reward, not trophies.” He adds that parents love the discipline that children learn and that become part of their lives.
The top students of the district will be chosen to participate in the National Shotokan Karate Championships in Cape Town on May 9.
See galleries of the championships here and here.
