Team SA braces for World Shotokan Cup
Although training was progressing well, sensei David Miller said team South Africa needed assistance with funding for the competition.
South Afican karate aces were training hard at the weekend in Pretoria for the third International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF) World Cup in the Cape Town International Convention Centre in August.
Sensei David Miller said they hoped to do the country proud in competing against countries like the United States, Germany, Russia, New Zealand and Egypt.
“These are some of the best in the karate world and that is why we are investing a lot of effort into training for the competition,” said Miller.
South Africa will be represented by a 150-member team which hopes to fly the South African flag high on home soil among international competitors.
Rekord spoke to Miller and other ISKF competitors during a training session at Glenstantia Primary School
South Africa’s team would comprise the developmental side (juniors) and the elite team (seniors).
Miller said: “It is quite significant that the developmental team will be competing. This is the first time children will be competing because the organisers felt that we had a large number of juniors in South Africa. These individuals are the elite team of the future and they have a lot of potential.”
Regular intensive training clinics were held by ISKF Pretoria to sharpen the athletes’ kumite fighting and kata skills.
Sensei Miller said for team South Africa it was not all about winning at the world cup.
“We will make friends but, most importantly, we will be exposing our team to the world and showing them the endless possibilities of being a karateka,” he said.
“We hope our young team will draw inspiration from the seniors who won some medals in the last world cup in the Philippines. The seniors know what it takes to participate on the world stage and are ready to give it their best shot.”
Though training was going well, sensei Miller said team South Africa needed assistance with funding for the competition.
“We are always raising funds and a few corporate players have come on board but more can still be done. We need to cater for the whole team for the entire competition. We welcome any help,” he said.
Sensei Karien Jacobsz said Shotokan karate had boosted the athletes’ confidence.
“They stay away from crime and drugs. It also helps [them] with social skills and the team is highly disciplined. More than that, we equip them with basic life skills that enable them to make the correct life choices. They are also excelling in their school work.”
For more information visit the 3rd ISKF Word Shoto Cup on Facebook.
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