Erika Vorster obtains fourth-degree black belt
Obtaining her fourth-degree black belt was not easy due to the current pandemic.
HIGHVELD – Dedicating 20 years to martial arts, nothing will stand in her way of achieving top levels and black belt rankings.Recently obtaining her fourth black belt, Erika Vorster is the first certified female instructor in Mpumalanga and the first woman in Mpumalanga to obtain her fourth-degree black belt.Vorster’s family located from Secunda to a farm in Dullstroom when she was nine years old.
Her cousins who stayed in town, were part of the Taekwondo dojo.
A curious Vorster wanted to see what Taekwondo was all about and had not turned back since.
She took time off from the sport when her mother died in 2006, however, she needed a coping mechanism and felt an urge to get back into the sport.
“I made contact with one of my instructors in Pretoria and told him my need to get back in the sport,” said Vorster.
This led her to compete in the first tournament in Secunda.
“I was late, I ran into the hall to line up, stood tall and as I looked up, I made eye contact with JP, who in return winked at me and made my knees weak,” said a laughing Vorster.
It was love at first sight for Sabumnim JP Vorster and the couple had seen their relationship grow from MixIt to them now being married for 10 years and having a daughter, Sasha-Lee (7).
The whole family share the same love for the sport and all three competed in SA and abroad.
In 2018 the family went to America to compete at the ATA World Championships held in Little Rocks, Arkansas.
Sasha-Lee came back with the biggest medals; she was only four years old at that stage.
“Our whole curriculum is based on relative things. It is not just about kicking and punching.”
“The life lessons and everything that goes with it is far deeper.
“Every belt has a meaning. It is a beautiful story,” said Vorster.
Obtaining her fourth-degree black belt was not easy due to the current pandemic.
“Even after 20 years, when you do grading or a tournament, the nerves are just as much as the day you started.
“There are so many factors in play.
“The day you walk onto the tatami and you are not nervous, then there is something wrong.”
She said one would think that doing a grading via Zoom would be easy, however, it had an opposite effect as it was just her on this side and a phone screen with a grandmaster and various other high-ranking instructors on the other side of the world.
“It was gruelling, the worst thing I have ever experienced.
“You have all these eyes on you which you can’t necessarily see; you can’t feed off their reactions. I had to just give it my best,” said Vorster.
She went on to say that even the “vibe” was not the norm.
“You normally have all this activity and people chanting but everything this time around was so quiet.
“On the other hand, Zoom has opened up doors, otherwise I would have had to go over to America to do my grading.”
She talked about all the belts she had obtained and how she motivated herself and set herself small goals to not only receive specific belts along the way, but ultimately two meaningful black stripes on the sides of her dobok pants.
“Your colour belts are what prepares you for the black belt ranks.”
She received her first-degree black belt in 2005 when she was still in matric.
“I don’t think there is ever an end. It must not feel like work or something that is exhausting to accomplish.
“Twenty years down the line it has become a part of whom I am; my next big goal is to begin my mastership journey” said Vorster.
Traditional forms and combat weapons are what Vorster enjoys the most of the sport.
“It is the one chance you get to legally hit someone with a combat weapon” said a laughing Vorster.
Vorster is a qualified International level 3 chief judge. She is also an international ATA Legacy Instructor who also obtained her Protea colours in 2018.
Vorster said that competing in America is a huge eye-opener and can be intimidating as these athletes compete on a much larger scale than in South Africa.
“Where we would have 300 fighters competing at a tournament here in SA, that side it is like 3 500 athletes competing over three days.”
Despite experiencing a medical setback, she persevered and continued her training for her testing and is still doing what she loves best.
“Being healthy is a priceless gift and your mindset and positive attitude play a major role in getting better and in life in general.”
Sabumnim JP Vorster said he is extremely proud of what his wife has achieved.
“It has been a journey for both of us.
“I think to be the first woman in Mpumalanga to also be the first female international certified instructor and also being the first female fourth-degree black belt in Mpumalanga -one of only three high ranking women in South Africa, is a huge achievement.
“I am very proud of her.”
Vorster said that although it is a huge honour, it does not change who she is now.
“Helping people is what keeps me going. There are children and grown-up’s who need my guidance and counseling. It is a great reward to see my students reach their goals, in this sport and in their lives” concluded Vorster.
