Club awards finest karatekas

POLOKWANE – Karate students from Henri Eksteen’s Bushido Freestyle Karate Do were awarded for their hard work throughout the during the club’s prize-giving ceremony, which was held on Saturday.

Bricks Motshike walked away with some of the top awards, which were presented by the founder of the club, ninth dan grandmaster, Henri Eksteen.

Motshike received the Soke Henri Eksteen Best Overall Karateka of the Year Award and the Ark Printers Best Junior Participant of the Year Award.

Yudansha Khensani Mashela also received the top award, the Soke Henri Eksteen Karateka of Excellence Award, while the other top accolades were shared by six karatekas.

According to Eksteen, these students showed immense commitment throughout the year. The students managed to successfully complete all 18 of the extreme boot camps or gashukus, as it is called in the sport of karate.

The six karate students to receive the Marx floating trophy are:

• Edward Mokobela.

• Edith Maseko.

• Cian Brink.

• Stephen Andrew (only student to receive this award for the third consecutive time).

• Lebogang Mothapo.

• Cade Brink.

Other awards:

• Edith Maseko – 100% class attendance.

• Charlene and Lean du Toit – Ark Printers best family participant award.

• Cian Brink – most dedicated karateka of the year and 100% class attendance.

• Edward Mokobela – most up and coming karateka of the year.

• Lebogang Mothapo – Ark Printers best junior of the year and best competition kata participant of the year.

• Renier du Toit – most improved karate student of the year and Ark Printers best family participant award.

• Cade Brink – Ark Printers best peewee karate student of the year and 100% class attendance.

Numerous karatekas received certificates for their dedication by completing on average between 10 to 90% of the 18 gashukus this year, as well as going the extra mile to attend the gashuku, which was held on September 24.