More black belts for Goju Ryu karate

THE annual Black Belt Grading of Goju Ryu Karate was held in Windhoek recently, with five students testing for Shodan (1st Dan Black Belt) and one for Junior Shodan.

They did their tests in front of a panel headed by Sensei Bakkies Laubscher, 8th Dan Black Belt, Chief Instructor of the IOGKF (International Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate Federation) for Africa . Due to the severe physical test performed no spectators were allowed. The Namibians did well under the tough circumstances and Sensei Bakkies Laubscher expressed his satisfaction with the standard of the Namibian Black Belts.He said the standard in Namibia equals and in many cases exceed the international standards set by the IOGKF. Laubscher performs many gradings each year all over the world. The students had to attend an eight-hour Gasshuku (training camp/seminar) before the physical grading test of more than two hours. They also had to pass a written examination to test their knowledge of the history and technical aspects of Goju Ryu Karate.The students who were graded are Falko Wittneben (Junior Shodan); Sascha Becker (Shodan); Alistair Dieterich (Shodan); Jürgen Keil (Shodan); Roland Walder (Shodan) and Armand Möller (Shodan). For more information about Goju Ryu Karate call (061) 24 1879 or visit the website at: http://www.goju-ryu-karate-namibia.com