Karatekas have three days left to enter the fifth annual Saska East Coast Karate Open Championships. The highly anticipated annual event, which will take place at the Fish River Sun on 6 August, attracts more than 300 competitors from more than 20 clubs across the Eastern Cape.
Karatekas have three days left to enter the fifth annual Saska East Coast Karate Open Championships. The highly anticipated annual event, which will take place at the Fish River Sun on 6 August, attracts more than 300 competitors from more than 20 clubs across the Eastern Cape.
“We ensure that all the participants subscribe to the highest standards of karate-do,” says organiser of the event, Gary Grapentin. “All categories will be held on world-class tatami mats, and computerised scoring systems with visual display units will ensure the spectators and competitors are informed at all times.”
This is the fifth consecutive year that the event will be held at the Fish River Sun resort, near Port Alfred. Besides the well-equipped conference centre for the event, the resort offers a wide range of fun activities for the friends and family of competitors.
“We are very pleased to be one of the main sponsors for the karate championship again this year,” said Fish River Sun operations manager, Wessel Benson. “This is a great sport for people of all ages and we’re proud to be part of it.”
The event is open to karateka of all ages and grades. “We hope that the championship will serve to showcase the principles, integrity and standards of karate-do as a noble sport and a disciplined way of life,” said Grapentin.
There are medals for the top three competitors in each category. The winner of each category will receive a scroll to wear on their karate suit or tracksuit. “The instructor of the overall winning club, as well as the winners of the women's and men’s individual brown and black belt kumite (fighting) categories will each receive a high quality Japanese katana (samurai) sword replica,” said Grapentin.
There will also be lucky draws throughout the day. The cut-off date for entries is Monday. “We have limited space,” says Grapentin. The entry fee for competitors is R100 for one event, or R140 for both individual kata and kumite. Spectators will be charged R20 for adults and R10 for children. For more information, or to enter, call Gary at 073 346 0059.
