Fighting fit fundi kicks-up a bronze

JOHN Ross College academic achiever and karatika, Waaliha Bux (16) returned home from the karate world champs in India clutching a bronze medal.

Bux recently claimed bronze for her Kumite (junior division, girls 16-17 years) at the Sixth Gojukai Karate World Championships in Mumbai, India.

This prestigious result now places her third in the world after she competed successfully, representing team South Africa.

Waaliha has been studying and training this form of martial arts under Sensai Sonny Kisten for 10 years now at the Brackenham Gojukai Karate Do Dojo.

There were 40 countries competing at these championships, including six fighters from the Brackenham dojo.

Local student and team mate Jason-Lee Naidoo was also placed third in the boys 14-15 years division for his Kumati.

To get selected for these championships students had to compete in Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth for three years and be placed in the top three at all events.

Bux, who is in Grade 11 this year, was top of her grade in 2013 proving she is also book smart. She does not do sport at school concentrating on her karate.

She started karate at age six after her dad came home one day and asked her if she wanted to try it.She attended her first session and the rest is history.

‘If I look back at this tournament, I see it as a learning experience for me. The other fighters have inspired me to improve my skills. My dream is to become a sensai and own my own dojo where I can instill the five disciplines of karate: character, discipline, effort, respect and self control onto my students. I would like to make Team SA for the next World Championships in 2017 to be held in Canada where I aim to win gold,’ said Bux.

When not busy studying or practising karate, Bux likes to draw, bake, go to the beach, pray and, most importantly, put smiles on other peoples faces.

When setting goals she certainly raises the benchmark, hoping to study medicine or architecture one day, receive her black belt, be top of her grade and become a prefect.