The 2009 Saska East Coast Karate Open (Secko) Championship took place over the weekend at the Fish River Sun Hotel.
This year saw a record number of 350 karateka from the age of 5 to 69 participating in what has become one of the Eastern Cape’s most popular annual karate championships.
The 2009 Saska East Coast Karate Open (Secko) Championship took place over the weekend at the Fish River Sun Hotel.
This year saw a record number of 350 karateka from the age of 5 to 69 participating in what has become one of the Eastern Cape’s most popular annual karate championships.
It is an open karate event, and this year, attracted 26 clubs from across the Eastern Cape. A highlight of this year’s championship was the participation of a team from KwaZulu-Natal.
Organiser, Gary Grapentin, the head instructor for East Cape Shotokan-Ryu, believes that the popularity and interest in karate is growing.
“An increasing number of parents with young children and teenagers are realising the advantages of karate as a discipline for fostering the development and improvement of coordination, concentration, confidence and self discipline.
Furthermore a large number of adults are turning to karate as an alternative form of exercise, as well as a practical form of self-defence.” he said.
The overall winning club was Hillside Goju-Kai from Port Elizabeth. JKS Jeffrey’s Bay and Dragon Suburbs (also from PE) was placed in joint second.
Sensei Clayton Thom, the instructor for Hillside Goju-Kai was presented with a Japanese katana sword for his club’s overall victory at the championship.
