East dojo soars to new heights
The dojo has had a successful seven months into the year so far, with their members achieving notable progress throughout all competitions.
Kriritsu Karate Dojo in Pretoria east, continues to soar to new heights, reaping the rewards of their relentless dedication, hard work and perseverance.
The dojo has had a successful seven months into the year so far, with its members achieving notable progress throughout all competitions.
The dojo has classes in Menlyn, Moreleta Park, Atterbury, Olympus and Faerie Glen and was founded in 2014. It has been helping students kick it up a notch in the sport of their choice.
Karatekas under the baton of Sensei Justin du Plooy train weekly.
“We have weekly training camps at Kiritsu Karate that focus on competition scenarios and conditioning training to help students adequately prepare for tournaments under the guiding eye of Sensei Justin du Plooy,” said Adelei Geldenhuys from Kriritsu Karate.
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She said moreover, in the classes they focus on instilling discipline, respect, teamwork, fostering a positive attitude and strong character.
Geldenhuys said beyond the physical activity, karate offers numerous developmental benefits for children.
“Karate helps enhance motor skills, balance, and co-ordination, and is crucial for children’s overall physical development.
Additionally, the structured nature of karate helps improve concentration and attention span, setting a solid foundation for future learning,” said Geldenhuys.
Geldenhuys said parents and the sensei are happy with the results achieved by students.
She said 14 students participated in the Karate South Africa National tournament which was held in Durban on April 27 and another group participated in the Sunfest competition from May 17-19 in Roodeplaat.
“All students achieved amazing results. One of our best results was with Chane Kruger placing first at the Karate South Africa Sunfest league in Kumite (fighting). She is also currently at the KSA National Championships in the girls u.12/13 +57kg division and aiming to obtain her Protea colours,” she said.
Geldenhuys said the karatekas are in preparation for more competition.
She said apart from karate, they have also been involved in charity drives this year.
Embracing the spirit of Madiba, the warriors of the Karate dojo launched a charity challenge event, uniting the community in a concerted effort to help 46 underprivileged children.
She said the club collected canned food, blankets, shoes and sanitary products to be donated to a children’s home.
Geldenhuys said she witnessed the ripple effect of their kind deeds, which will bring smiles to the children who had faced hardships.
“We set out to make a difference, and that is precisely what we achieved,” she said.
“Our team’s united effort to collect important necessities for these underprivileged children not only forged an unforgettable connection with the community but also sowed the seeds of hope in the lives of those most in need.
“It was a huge success and we had a challenge of six exercises of 10 minutes each in groups of 3 and 4.”
The team with the most points after 60 minutes was declared the winner.
“We were blown away by the support from our community, students and supporters who all donated food, blankets and clothes for our worthy cause,” she said.
“We are so grateful for the generosity and spirit of our dojo members and we can’t wait to do it all again very soon.”
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