Five talented karateka from Horizon Karate Centre will proudly represent South Africa at the second Indo Pacific Cup, an international Japan Karate Association (JKA) tournament in Mauritius from September 21 to 28.

Alyssa van der Merwe, Francois van Duyker, Ampfa Phaswa, Kgosi Motsatsi and Gabo Mogotsi, together with their sensei, Wendy Wannenburg (7th dan), will represent the country at the prestigious event. More than 20 countries are expected to compete, including two top Japanese karateka — Hidemoto Kurihara Sensei, the 2026 All Japan men’s kata champion and kumite runner-up, and Kyoko Akiyama Sensei, the 2026 All Japan women’s kumite champion and kata runner-up.

“The programme will include intensive training seminars led by internationally respected senior instructors. Participants will have the rare opportunity to learn from two senior Japanese masters, Naka Shihan and Okuma Shihan, whose technical excellence and decades of experience have earned them worldwide recognition.

“South Africa’s JKA Chief Instructor, Johan La Grange Shihan, has also been invited as one of the seminar instructors,” said Wannenburg.

Wannenburg will also take part in the seminars and has been selected to serve as an official judge during the three days of competition, highlighting the calibre of South African karate officials on the international stage.

She said the tournament will provide a valuable opportunity for the team to test their skills against international competitors while gaining experience ahead of the JKA World Championships in Japan in October 2027.

“The Horizon Karate Centre community is proud of every representative and we wish them every success as they fly the South African flag in Mauritius. Their participation is not only a personal achievement but also a testament to the dedication, discipline and high standard of karate being developed within the club,” she said.