Karate grows in Grahamstown

The annual All-Shotokan Karate Championships took place in the Thomas Pringle Hall at the Monument last weekend. This Championship hosted more than 150 karateka, from Grahamstown and from across the Eastern Cape - East London, Uitenhage, Port Elizabeth and Port Alfred.

The championship displayed a rage of skill levels ranging from novice to intermediate and advanced and ages ranged from 5 to veterans over the age of 35.

Thanduxolo Royi of the Joza Karate Club took gold in the men’s brown and black belt kata category, as well as the kumite category.

Linolonwabo Makana (Joza) took second place in the kata, while third place was awarded to Xolani Madlabathi (Joza).

Lonwabo Sandi finished second in the kumite and Makana third.

Kayleigh Chamberlain from the Western Suburbs Karate Club in Port Elizabeth was the women’s winner of both the brown and black belt kata and kumite categories, while Tanya de Villiers from the Kase-Ha club based in PE and Michelle Du Plessis belonging to the Algoa Bay Karate Academy, placed second and third respectively in kata and kumite.

Gary Grapentin, tournament organiser, said, “The Championship was an ideal warm-up event for next month’s United World Karate South Africa’s (UWKSA)” which will take place at the Fish River Sun Hotel on 31 March and 1 April.”

Grapentin said karate is growing in popularity in Grahamstown.

“Grahamstown karate clubs, the Joza Karate club and the ECSR, have experienced an increase in the numbers of beginners joining their dojos this year,” Grapentin said.

“The art of karate is also expanding in numbers alongside the ECSR in Alicedale, where the club runs a community based karate project."

Grapentin put the growth down to more and more parents realising the long-term benefits that can be derived from the practice of karate for children. Rhodes Shotokan Karate Club will hold a mass demonstration at next week’s Sports Sign-Up at the Alec Mullins Hall on Tuesday, 28 February starting at 6pm (weather permitting).

For more information about karate in Grahamstown and Port Alfred, contact Grapentin at 073 3460 059 or at geenet.co.za.