Goju Ryu excels in South Africa

A group of 56 students from Goju Ryu Karate Namibia represented Namibia at the recent IOGKF Africa Karate Championships held in Stellenbosch, South Africa The Namibian Goju Ryu team almost doubled their medals of last year by winning 36 medals – 16 more than last year.

This year they won 11 gold, 16 silver and nine bronze, as well as eight fourth places, in comparison to last year’s 20 medals. Last year the Namibians won eight gold, five silver, seven bronze and seven fourth places.The standard of the Namibian team was extremely high, which was proven by the Black Belt team who won silver medals this year.Stefan van der Merwe won his division for the fifth consecutive year.Karateka have to win both Kata and Kumite disciplines in order to win a medal.A true fourth place is also determined by the winners/losers pool draw system.The medal winners were (from Windhoek unless indicated otherwise): Gold: (11) Stefan van der Merwe, David van Niekerk (Gobabis), Tegan Sham (Walvis Bay), Andy Burkhardt, Chad Hansen, Arista Geldenhuys, Kelao Uiras, Hanjo Luehl, Tulinawa Muatunga (Walvis Bay), Chamaé Diergaardt, Renate Potgieter (Walvis Bay) Silver: (16) Fabienne Rauter, Nhika Vassallo, Naftal Akweenda, Tjitumuzuva Tjiuoro, Luziano van Wyk, Johann van Rooyen, Michellé Lewis, Chrisley Kapp (Gobabis), Kai Brockmann, Mufaro Nhundu, Maximilian Meyer, Gerda Lewis, Johan Lewis and the Black Belt team Sam Ekandjo, Willie Viljoen & Juergen van Wyk.Bronze: (9) Birte Kessler, Angelique Malan, Daniela Jentsch, Faustinus Wakudumo, Ono Akweenda, Lorraine Stander, Jaco Vermeulen, Philipp Uhrich, Helder Miranda 4th places: (8) Johanna Akweenda, Lyoopala Mthoko, Kuaakuje Tjiuoro, Chris-Hani Amadhila(Walvis Bay), Lenishwa Engelbrecht, Shirleen de Wee, Dave Uirab, Michael Haythornthwaite For more information about Goju Ryu Karate, phone (061) 24 1879 or visit their website at: http://www.goju-ryu-karate-namibia.comLast year the Namibians won eight gold, five silver, seven bronze and seven fourth places. The standard of the Namibian team was extremely high, which was proven by the Black Belt team who won silver medals this year.Stefan van der Merwe won his division for the fifth consecutive year.Karateka have to win both Kata and Kumite disciplines in order to win a medal.A true fourth place is also determined by the winners/losers pool draw system.The medal winners were (from Windhoek unless indicated otherwise): Gold: (11) Stefan van der Merwe, David van Niekerk (Gobabis), Tegan Sham (Walvis Bay), Andy Burkhardt, Chad Hansen, Arista Geldenhuys, Kelao Uiras, Hanjo Luehl, Tulinawa Muatunga (Walvis Bay), Chamaé Diergaardt, Renate Potgieter (Walvis Bay) Silver: (16) Fabienne Rauter, Nhika Vassallo, Naftal Akweenda, Tjitumuzuva Tjiuoro, Luziano van Wyk, Johann van Rooyen, Michellé Lewis, Chrisley Kapp (Gobabis), Kai Brockmann, Mufaro Nhundu, Maximilian Meyer, Gerda Lewis, Johan Lewis and the Black Belt team Sam Ekandjo, Willie Viljoen & Juergen van Wyk.Bronze: (9) Birte Kessler, Angelique Malan, Daniela Jentsch, Faustinus Wakudumo, Ono Akweenda, Lorraine Stander, Jaco Vermeulen, Philipp Uhrich, Helder Miranda 4th places: (8) Johanna Akweenda, Lyoopala Mthoko, Kuaakuje Tjiuoro, Chris-Hani Amadhila(Walvis Bay), Lenishwa Engelbrecht, Shirleen de Wee, Dave Uirab, Michael Haythornthwaite For more information about Goju Ryu Karate, phone (061) 24 1879 or visit their website at: http://www.goju-ryu-karate-namibia.com