Karateka from the East Cape Shotokan-Ryu underwent more than 12 months of intensive training for grading in Port Elizabeth last weekend.
Karateka from the East Cape Shotokan-Ryu underwent more than 12 months of intensive training for grading in Port Elizabeth last weekend.
Among the grades awarded were first kyu brown belt and various dans.
The grading was conducted by Shihan Koos Burger (8th dan black belt). Burger is the style head for the South African Shotokan Karate Academy (Saska), the vice president of the World Union of Karate Federations (WUKF) and a technical director of the International Shotokan-Ryu Karate-do Shihankai (ISKS).
East Cape Shotokan-Ryu (ECSR) instructor, Gary Grapentin, said the candidates had spent more than 12 months preparing for the grading.
The grading tests the candidates’ endurance, as well as their technical and fighting ability. As part of the third dan examination, the candidates were also required to submit a written thesis. Kevin Aitchison (ECSR, Port Alfred) was awarded his first kyu brown belt, while Xolani Mahala (Fingo, Grahamstown) and Tanya Poole (ECSR, Grahamstown) were awarded their second dan black belt.
Awarded third dan black belt were Travis Dell (ECSR, Grahamstown), Zwelakhe (Elvis) Sinam (Makana, Grahamstown), Mzwandile Matebese (Joza, Grahamstown) and Trevor Van Eyk (ECSR, Fort Beaufort). Grapentin said some of the successful third dan candidates had dedicated more than 20 years of their lives to the practice of karate-do.
He also said ECSR had one of the largest bodies of active yudansha (black belt karateka) within the Eastern Cape. Since its inception in the 1990s, ECSR has produced more than 40 dan (black belt) grades.
ECSR will host the World Union of Karate-Do Federations (WUKF) Africa Invitational and South African Shotokan Karate Academy (Saska) National Championships at the Fish River Sun Hotel and Country Club Resort from 26 to 29 September.
Email Grapentin at garyg@geenet.co.za for further details.
