Final karate gradings for the year 2018

Several students of Wessel's Martial Arts Academy graded for their next levels during the final grading of 2018.

Sensei Wessel Wilms, a 4th dan with 32 years active self-defence, martial arts and weapons training experience, put together a grading panel that consisted of sensei Chandré Strydom (2nd dan, chief instructor for all children's classes), sensei Mick Pritchard (3rd dan), sensei Herve Fritz

(2nd dan), sensei Khia van der Meulen (1st dan, assistant instructor in Knysna), sempai The students who successfully graded for their black belts, with their instructors. From left: Edward Kay-Shuttleworth, Mick Pritchard, Chandré Strydom, Elbastian Jegels, Khia van der Meulen, Reynard Janse van Rensburg and Herve Fritz. Students involved in the white to orange gradings. Back, from left: sempai Sebastian Cook, sempai Elbastian Jegels, sensei Chandré Strydom, Matthew Petersen, Reinhardt Botha, Dudley Wolmarans and Alexander Barnard. Front: sensei Khia van der Meulen, Nathan Petersen, Barend Claasen, Katy Eland and Hester Coeries. Sebastian Cook (junior black belt assistant instructor in Knysna), sensei Edward Kay-Shuttleworth (1st dan), and sempai Elbastian Jegels (junior black belt).

The highlight of this grading was the successful grading of two students, senseis Khia van der Meulen and Reynard Janse van Rensburg, for shodan (1st black belt).

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These students graded for their green, blue, purple and brown belts. Back, from left: sensei Mick Pritchard, sempai Elbastian Jegels, Juan Kleinhans, Anthony Buck, Dalene Thuynsma, Kevan McDonald and Andrew Bezuidenhout. Middle: Ebuka Ntuntwana, Rebecca Zeelie, sensei Khia van der Meulen, sempai Sebastian Cook, EC Lohann and Ronan Shepherd. Front: Christopher Troskie, Tivon Buchalter, sensei Chandré Strydom, Nadav Buchalter and Brendan McDonald.

The Little Ninjas and Karate Kids who graded. Back, from left: Dominik Taylor, Olivia Maycock, Cody Jenkin, sempai Sebastian Cook, Daniel Botha, sempai Elbastian Jegels, Gideon Botha, sempai Khia van der Meulen and Arno Kleinhans. Front: Anthony Alkemade, Cori Singer, Henry Maycock, sensei Chandré Strydom, Nathan Pretorius, Hannah Zeelie and Raywon Kleinbooi.