NEWS

1. The central regional Gashuku with Sensei Johan Roets on 10 Oct was a great success and several karate students of the central region (N Cape, Free State and N Free State) attempted for black belt Gradings. Both Sensei's Piet and Ian le Roux comments were that the required standard set to pass was high which is a good sign for SA JKA Karate and surely the way to go. Obtaining any black belt grading must be a great challenge and a great honour and should be for only those who are willing to sacrifice themselves to train extra hard in order to achieve the required standard. Thank you to Sensei Johan Roats for visiting Bloemfontein and entertaining us with a great class and like always with his friendly and sparkling personality. The central JKA karate region salute you as a great new leader of the SA JKA!!! Fotos of the event below:

2. A group of five Kovsie karatekas took part in the Raphael Aghayev and Haldun Alagas Seminar in Fatih IBB Sport Hall on 5‑7 October 2009 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Sensei Ian le Roux
Bruno Schwalbach
Danie Lienbenberg
Ulrich jonk
Rui Schwalbach

The four competing karatekas also participated in the very competitive Turkish Open Karate championship from 10 to 12 October in Istanbul in which most of the top European contestants participate. Bruno Schwalbach performed well in the senior men kata division by losing 1st round to a finalist and then he won his first round in the repercharge and lost the second round. Bruno lost narrowly in his 1st kumite match against a Turkish player with 1‑0 in the last few seconds of the match. Danie Liebenberg won his 1st round kunite match and then lost in the second round. Ulrich Jonk lost 5‑3 to the champion of his cadet kumite division in the 1st round and then lost again in the repercharge.

It was an unbelievable experience for all these karateka to train with currently the best karate athletes in WKF World karate. Sensei Ian le Roux describes both Raphael Aghayev and Haldun Alagas as exceptional and the best exponents of sport karate that he ever trained with.

2.The following Kovsies took part in the Commonwealth Championship in Jhb:

• Amorie Jonk
• Ansunel Schutte
• Bruno Schwalbach
• Danie Liebenberg
• Deidre West
• Elsabe le Roux
• Jaco Lups
  
• Luther van Zyl
  
• Natasha Johnson
  
• Nechodemus Banyane
  
• Roelof Schutte
  
• Rui Schwalbach
  
• Ulrich Jonk