By ROSS ROCHE
A fiercely competitive 10th anniversary edition of the SECKO Karate Championships took place at the Fish River Sun Hotel over the weekend, as karatekas from across the country competed in the popular tournament.
Over 350 participants representing 23 dojos were out in force to compete for the spoils.
The various styles of karate were well-represented with Shorin-Ryu, Goju-Ryu, Shito-Ryu and Shotokan-Ryu practitioners all participating in the competition.
“I think we had a very good day, we had a number of new clubs taking part and in terms of representation from the different styles, it was just incredible and bodes very well for the future of the event,” organiser Gary Grapentin said.
In the fight for overall honours, The South African Shotokan Karate Academy (Saska) affiliates East Cape Shotokan-Ryu (ECSR), comprised dojos in Grahamstown, Port Alfred, Kenton-on-Sea and Fort Beaufort, and Joza Karate Club from Grahamstown, fought it out for the honour of being announced top club at the championships.
ECSR emerged as champions by a slim margin of 40 points after they finished on 775 points, with Joza just behind on 735 points.
“It was an extremely close battle between the two clubs and went down to the wire, we even had to confirm the count just to make sure we had the correct winners, but it was a fantastic effort from the two clubs,” Grapentin said.
In the main events of karate action, the senior divisions showed the rest the standards needed to compete at the highest level.
In the senior ladies, black belt kata (form) category, Kayleigh Chamberlain from the Western Suburbs Karate Club in Port Elizabeth, came out on top, with Rienie van Anraad of Griffins Karate Club in Pretoria placed second, while third place went to Michelle du Plessis of Algoa Bay Karate Academy in Port Elizabeth.
The ladies kumite (fighting) category then saw Chamberlain and Du Plessis into the final, with Chamberlain triumphing to seal the double and win the 2016 SECKO kumite title.
Ann von der Decken of Shotokan Circle Karate in King William’s Town placed third.
In the senior men’s black belt kata category, Reiner van der Marwitz of S&K Karate Club in Port Elizabeth, successfully defended his 2015 title with a convincing win, and made history in the process by claiming the title for the fourth consecutive year.
Conrad Lloyd from the Rising Sun Karate Dojo in Gauteng and Athenkosi Tshaka from Kiumra Shukokai International in Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, placed second and third respectively.
The men’s kumite final was won by the popular and dynamic Mandlakhe Ngula from Private Entry in Port Elizabeth, while Simphiwe Mni and Wandile Kaspile, both from Kimura Shukokai International, ended in second and third respectively.
East London dojos and karateka also faired extremely well.
In the highly competitive men’s veteran black belt kumite category, Riaan Dercksen and Sean O’Connell, both of Shotokan Circle of Karate, demonstrated superb skill, control and timing to place first and second respectively.
“This was much to the delight of a highly appreciative audience,” Grapentin said.
East London-based dojos, ISKF EL and Shotokan Circle karateka, gave a good account of themselves by placing seventh and eighth overall at the championship.
The Saska National Championships and WUKF Africa Invitational will take place at the Fish River Sun Hotel between October 6-9.
Karateka and dojos interested in competing, may contact Gary Grapentin at garyg@geenet.co.za for further details.
For any accommodation enquiries at the Fish River Sun venue, you should contact (040) 676-1101 or -e-mail patricia.thole@suninternational.com.
EC contingent excel at karate champs
A fiercely competitive 10th anniversary edition of the SECKO Karate Championships took place at the Fish River Sun Hotel over the weekend, as karatekas from across the country competed in the popular tournament.
Over 350 participants representing 23 dojos were out in force to compete for the spoils.
The various styles of karate were well-represented with Shorin-Ryu, Goju-Ryu, Shito-Ryu and Shotokan-Ryu practitioners all participating in the competition.
“I think we had a very good day, we had a number of new clubs taking part and in terms of representation from the different styles, it was just incredible and bodes very well for the future of the event,” organiser Gary Grapentin said.
In the fight for overall honours, The South African Shotokan Karate Academy (Saska) affiliates East Cape Shotokan-Ryu (ECSR), comprised dojos in Grahamstown, Port Alfred, Kenton-on-Sea and Fort Beaufort, and Joza Karate Club from Grahamstown, fought it out for the honour of being announced top club at the championships.
ECSR emerged as champions by a slim margin of 40 points after they finished on 775 points, with Joza just behind on 735 points.
“It was an extremely close battle between the two clubs and went down to the wire, we even had to confirm the count just to make sure we had the correct winners, but it was a fantastic effort from the two clubs,” Grapentin said.
In the main events of karate action, the senior divisions showed the rest the standards needed to compete at the highest level.
In the senior ladies, black belt kata (form) category, Kayleigh Chamberlain from the Western Suburbs Karate Club in Port Elizabeth, came out on top, with Rienie van Anraad of Griffins Karate Club in Pretoria placed second, while third place went to Michelle du Plessis of Algoa Bay Karate Academy in Port Elizabeth.
The ladies kumite (fighting) category then saw Chamberlain and Du Plessis into the final, with Chamberlain triumphing to seal the double and win the 2016 SECKO kumite title.
Ann von der Decken of Shotokan Circle Karate in King William’s Town placed third.
In the senior men’s black belt kata category, Reiner van der Marwitz of S&K Karate Club in Port Elizabeth, successfully defended his 2015 title with a convincing win, and made history in the process by claiming the title for the fourth consecutive year.
Conrad Lloyd from the Rising Sun Karate Dojo in Gauteng and Athenkosi Tshaka from Kiumra Shukokai International in Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, placed second and third respectively.
The men’s kumite final was won by the popular and dynamic Mandlakhe Ngula from Private Entry in Port Elizabeth, while Simphiwe Mni and Wandile Kaspile, both from Kimura Shukokai International, ended in second and third respectively.
East London dojos and karateka also faired extremely well.
In the highly competitive men’s veteran black belt kumite category, Riaan Dercksen and Sean O’Connell, both of Shotokan Circle of Karate, demonstrated superb skill, control and timing to place first and second respectively.
“This was much to the delight of a highly appreciative audience,” Grapentin said.
East London-based dojos, ISKF EL and Shotokan Circle karateka, gave a good account of themselves by placing seventh and eighth overall at the championship.
The Saska National Championships and WUKF Africa Invitational will take place at the Fish River Sun Hotel between October 6-9.
Karateka and dojos interested in competing, may contact Gary Grapentin at garyg@geenet.co.za for further details.
For any accommodation enquiries at the Fish River Sun venue, you should contact (040) 676-1101 or -e-mail patricia.thole@suninternational.com.
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