Tinley Manor brothers Xander and Joshua Links were crowned KwaZulu-Natal karate champions at the Westville Civic Centre on Saturday.

Members of the national team, the Links brothers are already household names in South Africa’s karate scene.

Xander has earned multiple gold medals in both kata and kumite, representing KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa on international stages. His achievements include victories at the WKF World Championship 2024 in Italy, the Commonwealth Karate Federation Championships 2024 in Durban, and the Karate South Africa Senior Nationals 2025.

Joshua has mirrored his brother’s success, excelling both as an athlete and coach. In addition to his own competitive accolades, he was named KZN Karate Coach of the Year 2025 and KZN Karate Sportsman of the Year 2025, recognising his role in nurturing young talent and raising karate standards across the province.

The brothers attribute their success to years of disciplined training, mentorship and strong family support. Their father, Sensei Nicolas Links, and mother, Vivashne Reddy, have played key roles in developing their technical skill and values.

“Karate is more than a sport to us; it’s a way of life. The discipline, resilience and focus my sons have developed extend beyond the tatami into their academics and character,” said Nicolas.

The brothers also credit Renshi Brando Pillay (7th Dan WKF), Sensei Njabulo Khumalo and the coaching teams from SKISA, KSA and Protea for helping sharpen their competitive edge.

They train across elite SKISA FCKA dojos in KwaZulu-Natal, including Fit24 Durban North, Fit24 Ballito and Fit24 Oceans Mall Umhlanga, which have helped keep them performing at the highest level.

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