Karateka strike at podium positions
Four Newcastillians received eight podium positions at the conclusion of the championships.
A small contingent of Newcastillians made an emphatic statement at the Peter Viljoen All Styles Karate Championships last weekend.
Amid a competition of very high standard at Centurion’s Matsport Centre on February 22, four students of Butokukan Newcastle excelled in their respective divisions.
This, despite the presence of several of the current national champions of the sport.
Hugo Strydom, Eduard Millin, Damiksha Annathan and Zarina Khan earned eight podium position victories between them, including three first place finishes in kobudo and kumite disciplines.
The results were as follows:
Hugo Strydom – second in kata; Eduard Millin – third in kata, first in kumite; Damiksha Annathan – third in kata, second in kumite, first in kobudo; Zarina Khan – second in kata, first in kobudo.
“I am very proud of all my students who competed,” said Sensei Frik Willemse after the championships.
Mentioning the hard work and preparation put in by his students, Sensei Frik said the tournament also demonstrated to him the underlying spirit of karate.
His revelation came when a physically and mentally challenged man faced the senior men’s kata division.
“He clearly did not have the skill to compete at this level, but had the courage to try. Although this is remarkable in itself, what really touched me was the manner in which his able-bodied opponent treated him during their bout.”
Sensei Frik said the karateka, who ended up winning his division, treated his opponent with ample courtesy, respect and kindness, fighting to win but never to bully someone with far less skill.
“To me, this is the sign of a true champion and the embodiment of the true spirit of karate.”
The tournament also served as a warm-up event for the South African Traditional Karate Council’s National Championships, to be held from March 28 to 30 at the Emerald Casino in Vanderbijlpark.
A Traditional Karate KZN development team will be selected to represent KZN at these championships.
For additional information, contact Sensei Frik on 079 585 1181.
