Sen’sei’tional karateka team triumph

‘IF you want to be the best, work harder than the rest, If you don’t want to be the best, just work like the rest’ – Robert Stinson.

‘The five S’s of sports training are: stamina, speed, strength, skill, and spirit; but the greatest of these is spirit’ – Ken Doherty.

Six karatekas from the Brackenham Goju-Kai Karate Dojo represented Team South Africa at the 6th Karate Do Goju Kai (IKGA) World Championships during December in India.

The championship was under the guidance of Kyoshi Shihan Vispy Kapadia.

Selections for this prestigious event were based on results from the 2009 World Championships and the 2010, 2011 and 2012 National Championships.

A total of 32 countries participated in this event.

This was the second time that students from Sensei Sonny Kisten’s Karate Dojo participated internationally.

Previously, four students: Sensei Rekha Govender, Sensei Renaldo Varden, Sensei Jessica Varden and Nikita Pillay were selected to participate in the 5th World Championships, where Goju Kai South Africa took first place out of 28 Countries.

The solid and unremitting training paid off, when all six competitors competed phenomenally, doing SA proud.

Jason-Lee Naidoo was placed third in fighting (Kumite) in the Cadet Boys Division, Waaliha Bux took bronze in the Junior Girls Division in Kumite and Senior Instructor Sensei Rekha Govender fought her to attain fourth place in the Senior Ladies (18-44 years) 3rd Dan Black Belt and above Division for her Kata.

Jayden Govender managed to win the first round of both the Kata and Kumite against India.

The event inspired students to keep training hard and prepare to compete at the next National and International events.