GRAAFF-REINET KARATE NEWS - On Saturday, 1 September, students from the Karoo OGKK (Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate Kyokai) dojo based in Graaff-Reinet attended the 35th Annual Southern Cape and Eastern Cape Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate Tournament held in the picturesque town of George in the Western Cape.
The tournament hosted by Jannie Le Grange Sensei (7th Dan) saw teams from George, Uniondale, Port Elizabeth and Graaff-Reinet compete across 26 different divisions based on age, gender and rank in elimination stages.
The categories for this tournament were Kata (detailed pattern of movements) and Kumite (freestyle sparing).
Having never attended a karate tournament before, the six students ranging in ages from 9 to 23, elected to compete in the individual Kata category with approximately 110 other entrants. They returned home with two Gold and three Bronze well-deserved medals.
Jamé Mdudumani, the youngest local competitor was awarded a special certificate for bravery by Neville Sensei.
Jamé with only six months training, faced seven other competitors in his age group with far more training and experience than him and against these odds even won his first bout.
Neville Jones Sensei said he was extremely proud of the students who all flew the Graaff-Reinet dojo flag very high and that he was still receiving nothing but compliments from the various judges and officials who hoped to see a Graaff-Reinet team attend future interprovincial events.
For more information on Goju Ryu Karate, Neville Jones Sensei can be contacted on 079 527 0365.
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