SPORTS NEWS - The Graaff-Reinet Raptors Martial Arts Club is immensely proud to introduce its first student to obtain a blue belt.
A blue belt is considered a significant achievement in martial arts disciplines. It represents a level of skill and dedication indicating that the practitioner is making substantial progress.
Marlon Christoffels achieved this accomplishment during the Raptors' recent annual stand-up grading.
According to nymaa.com, a martial arts blog, blue represents the sky and the light that it provides to all growing things, so the blue belt is given to students at the stage of their studies when they begin to learn additional knowledge of the martial art that allows their minds and bodies to continue to grow and develop.
At this stage, the student is able to actually defend him or herself. Real sparring begins at this level if the student chooses and lessons stress being a leader and not a follower.
The recent Raptors' grading event, a highlight on the local martial arts calendar, also saw the following students advance to the next belt:
White to Yellow
- Mieke van den Bosch
White to Yellow 1
- Leeran Golaith (with distinction)
- Zaydon Joseph (with distinction)
- Marko Claasen
- George Phillips
- Dawie van der Merwe
Yellow 1 to Yellow 2
- Meglin Ferndale (with distinction)
- Lilly Brunette
- Dominique Kuhn
- Arné Oosthuizen
- Lize van Zyl
Yellow 2 to Orange 1
- Grace Kitching (with distinction)
- Akeem Christoffels
- Chloe-Anne Fourie
- Elizabeth Fourie
- AJ Prinsloo
- Handré Roman
- Leshandre Roman
- Skye van Loggerenberg
Yellow to Orange
- Febrezo Ferndale (with distinction)
- Darryl Tennant (with distinction)
Orange 1 to Orange 2
- Sinead Christoffels (with distinction)
- Darius Els (with distinction)
- Kemar Klasse (with distinction)
- Alexander Olivier (with distinction)
- Gert Theron (with distinction)
- Jean van Wyngaard (with distinction)
- Jaqwan Ahmed
- Matthew Christoffels
- Johannes Gildenhuys (Joe)
- Liam Pienaar
- Frederik Steynberg
- Saskia Strydom
- Jennavieve Woods
- Orange to Green
- Henri du Preez
- Phillip le Roux
- Renaldo van der Westhuizen
- Raymond van Zyl
- Orange 2 to Green 1
- AJ Cronje
- Mikha Enslin
Green 1 to Green 2
- Reaglin Maarman
Sensei Gerhard Coetzee and Sensei Aletta du Toit are proud of the Raptors' achievements.
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