Goju-Ryu Karate tourney produces suprises

Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate Namibia, last weekend had its 36th annual karate championships at the DTS Sports Hall.

According to Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate Namibia, Chief Instructor: Sensei Carl van der Merwe the championship was very successful as it produced a few surprises when the defending champions of 2014 were beaten.
The championships were opened with a mass kata demonstration. Self defence demonstrations by the Senior Black Belts against multiple attackers were one of the highlights. An Okinawan Kobudo Doushi Rensei Kai (traditional Okinawan weapons) demonstration was also presented.
130 karateka from the Windhoek and Walvis Bay clubs participated on the day. Said Sensei Van der Merwe, “The unique rules whereby a participant must win both the Kata, pre-arranged fighting sequences and the Irikumite, a one minute continuous fight, again ensured that the best balanced karateka walked away with the medals and trophies.”
“A Namibian team was selected on the day to participate at the Africa Goju-Ryu Karate Federation Championships in South Africa in May. This prestigious event will test the abilities of the Namibians to the maximum,” Sensei Van der Merwe added.
The trophy winners on the day were as follows:
1. Best sport performance for children for the year – Girls: Kiora McClune
2. Best sport performance for children for the year – Boys: Sergio Duchaine
3. Best sport performance for adults for the year – Ladies: Shirleen de Wee
4. Best sport performance for adults for the year – Men: Jürgen van Wyk
5. Best sport performance for Brown Belts for the year – Girls: Riona Pillay
6. Best sport performance for Brown Belts for the year – Boys: Princeton Langendorf
7. Brown & Junior Black Belts Champions of the day – Girls: Ndapewa Nendongo
8. Brown & Junior Black Belts Champions of the day – Boys: Sandro Richter
9. Black Belt Champion of the day – Ladies: Shirleen de Wee
10. Black Belt Champion of the day – Men: Jürgen van Wyk
Sensei Van der Merwe thanked Southern Business School for their generous contribution of N$10,000.
The business school teamed up with Goju-Ryu-karate club in support of their championship that took place last weekend. “This N$10,000 donation will help to organise these important championships. It will also inspire young Namibians to be active and healthy. Through the Business School’s donation the championships can reach a higher level of professionalism allowing participants the chance to participate on a national and potentially international platform.” Sensei Van der Merwe also thanked the other sponsors at the championship event which included: PwC, Muatunga Family, Namibia Airconditioning and Refrigeration, Trident Cooling, CCS Logistics, Namibia Ship Chandlers, Namibia 24 Transport, BJ Groenewald Trucking, Terblanche Family, Absolute Logistics, Mini Movers, Pentech Support and Prestige Building Products.