Karate and kung fu students secure gold medals at tournament in Norwood

Competitors from across South Africa showcased their skills at the UWMAFSA Open Martial Arts Tournament, featuring karate and kung fu as the day’s main disciplines.

6 hours ago

Thato Modopi 2 minutes read

Bohlale Ngakane and Riccardo Bonaretti battle it out on the mat during the karate fighting division on July 25, 2026. Photo: Thato Modopi — Bohlale Ngakane and Riccardo Bonaretti battle it out on the mat during the karate fighting division. Photo: Thato Modopi Description:

Martial arts students put their skills to the test at Paterson Park on July 25.

The 6th UWMAFSA Open Martial Arts Tournament, hosted by the United World Martial Arts Federation South Africa (UWMAFSA), focused on karate and kung fu, featuring divisions for different age groups, belt levels, and disciplines. Athletes competed in kata, kumite, kobudo, taolu, and san da.

Shihan Imtiaz Abdulla, UWMAFSA president, said the tournament continues to grow and create a space for people from different backgrounds to bond through martial arts.

“The townships, the cities, and the suburbs, all of them are coming together. Here, you are equal because you go onto the floor and perform what you have to perform.”

General secretary Roxanne Cassim said the goal is to grow the championship with each passing year. “The idea is to bring as many styles and as many martial artists together as possible. It is about bringing together sportsmanship and respect, and allowing students to connect and make new friends.”

Saifullah Chafeker, Sinawo Yola, Mohammed Junaid Chefeker, and Luqmaan Slarmie represent the South African Chin Whoo Kung Fu teams at the UWMAFSA Open Martial Arts Tournament on July 25, 2026. Photo: Thato Modopi — Saifullah Chafeker, Sinawo Yola, Mohammed Junaid Chefeker, and Luqmaan Slarmie represent the South African Chin Whoo Kung Fu teams at the UWMAFSA Open Martial Arts Tournament. Photo: Thato Modopi

From Cape Town and Johannesburg, traditional Chinese martial arts were represented by the Chin Whoo teams, led by Mohammed Junaid Chefeker, who said that martial arts disciplines can complement each other.

“It’s a good experience, to bring Japanese and Chinese martial arts together, because it shows unity in martial arts despite the fact that we have different approaches.

The intended goal is the same.”

Ethan Pretorius demonstrates his basa dai forms at the tournament on July 25, 2026. Photo: Thato Modopi — Ethan Pretorius demonstrates his basa dai forms at the tournament. Photo: Thato Modopi

Competitors got gold medals across multiple age groups and belt divisions in team kata, individual kata, kobudo/long weapons, shobu sanbon kumite, san da, and taolu, showing the depth of talent that was showcased throughout the tournament.

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Info Box:

Gold medalists
Team Kata:
• Hamzah Mohomed
• Ruhan Naidoo
• Tariq Valymia
Kobudo / Long Weapons:
• Ruhan Naidoo
• Ishana Soogreem
Shobu Sanbon Kumite:
• Ian Mzwakali
• Kayleigh Agar
• Bohlale Ngakane
• Tariq Valymia
• Ishana Soogreem

General secretary of UWMAFSA Roxanne Cassim at the 6th UWMAFSA Open Martial Arts Tournament on July 25, 2026. Photo: Thato Modopi — General secretary of UWMAFSA Roxanne Cassim at the 6th UWMAFSA Open Martial Arts Tournament. Photo: Thato Modopi

Kata:
• Kayleigh Agar
• Bohlale Ngakane
• Musa Nhlapo
• Hamzah Mohomed
• Ruhan Naidoo
• Ishana Soogreem
San Da:
• Muhammad Saifullah Chafeker
• Sinawo Yola
• Saneze Mpungutyana
• Abdullah Houtzhamer
• Daylin Leybrand
• Elethu Bacca
• Jihan Muchema
• Bashiru Hassan
• Carlos Virane
Taolu:
• Muhammad Saifullah Chafeker
• Saneze Mpungutyana
• Daylin Leybrand
• Elethu Bacca
• Muhammad Ali Chafeker
• Valentine Tashinga
• Edwell Chakwenya
• Saidi Saleem

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