Trophies and medals galore at Goju-Ryu Karate Namibia National Championship
Black Belt winners: Gold: Jürgen van Wyk, Silver: Fritz Venzke, Bronze: Rowan Carstens and fourth Shaun Fobian with Sensei Carl van der Merwe on the left.
The Goju trophy winners are from the left, Sam Ekandjo, 20 years training; Brown Belt Grand Champion: Shaun Halgreen; Sensei Carl van der Merwe, 30 years training; Black Belt Male Grand Champion: Jürgen Van Wyk; Best Sport Performance Girls: Riona Pillay; Best Sport Performance Male Under Brown Belt: Thomas Mechnig; Black Belt Female Grand Champion: Shirleen De Wee; Special Award for Achievements at the World Goju-Ryu Karate Federation Championships: Phortune Tjivikua; and Best Sport Performance Boys: Reino Hansen.
The event doubled as trials to select a Namibian Goju-Ryu Karate team that will represent Namibia in South Africa in August this year at an International Karate Championship.
The Goju-Ryu 6th Dan chief instructor and style head, Sensei Carl van der Merwe said a demonstration of the basic principles of Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate was presented as an interlude to the championship. Hojo Undo (traditional strengthening exercises) and Kata Bunkai (applications from Kata as self-defence techniques) were demonstrated by the seniors of the organisation.
Sensei van der Merwe said “the performances at this competition once again displayed the international standard of this Karate Club. Goju Ryu Karate Namibia is well known for its good organisational skills and strict discipline” adding that he is very proud of the performance of his students.
Sponsorships for this event were received from PricewaterhouseCoopers, Namibian Airconditioning and Refrigeration, Trident Cooling, Alexandra Bergh, Mini Movers and Wayne Rall. The Goju-Ryu Karate Association of Namibia expressed their sincere appreciation for this financial support.
Goju-Ryu Karate Namibia is a member of the International Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate Federation (IOGKF). The IOGKF is the largest Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate Federation in the world with more than 50 member countries.
Several trophies were awarded at an awards ceremony after the championship. Long-term training awards went to Senseini Carl van der Merwe, Nico Maritz, Sam Ekandjo, Peter Cunningham, Rowan Carstens, Sandro Richter and Shirleen De Wee.
