Catherine Linakis Venter has achieved her 6th dan in karate and jujutsu.
Seven years after she was graded for her 5th dan, the sensei is ecstatic about the new chapter in her sporting career.
She was graded in June with kyoshi Attie (8th dan) and shihan Andries Oelefse (7th dan).
“They sent my results to Kancho and my grading was approved. I received my certificate from Japan.
“My father taught my sisters and I wrestling and boxing at a very young age.
“The bug bit and I have been interested in any form of martial art since,” she explains.
Catherine joined Tenshinkan Karate in 1995 at the Springs Indoor Centre and has never looked back.
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She is now the chairwoman for Tenshinkan Karate, since April 2002.
“It has been 28 years. It is my passion. I especially love the jujutsu.
“You must have discipline and dedication,” she added.
She appreciates that in martial arts one can start at a young age and continue for as long as you want.
“There is no age limit. The knowledge and skill does not stop; you keep learning and improving,” she said.
In fact, some start at an older age.
“The journey has been wonderful. I had hard training.
“I went to Japan twice, where we had a gashuku (training seminar) where we trained for six hours a day,” explained Catherine.
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She said they had championship and grading with kancho Miwa, a world chief instructor (10th dan).
“I also went to Denmark, Scotland and America for training and grading,” she added.
The experienced karateka received her Eastern Gauteng and South African colours in 2022 and 2023.
Catherine has a 1st dan in kickboxing and a 1st dan in Kobudo.
“Now I start with my 7th dan training. I can grade in 2030 for it.
“I will be 61 years old,” she added.
Catherine said she would encourage girls and women to do some form of martial arts, with GBV, rape and murder being sky-high in South Africa.
“Bullying is a major problem in our schools, to the extent that children commit suicide,” she said.
She started ‘The Pink Belt Ladies’ to offer self-defence, anti-rape and anti-kidnapping classes.
