A GROUP of 47 students from Goju Ryu Karate Namibia represented Namibia at the IOGKF Africa Karate Championships in Stellenbosch, South Africa, on May 23.
The competition was extremely tough as South Africa used the event to select three teams to visit Namibia in August for a tournament to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate in Namibia. The Namibian team also used this event as preparation for the upcoming 30th anniversary tournament as well preparation for the IOGKF World Championships in November 2010.Under these tough circumstances, the Namibian Goju Ryu Karate team obtained 10 gold, six silver, five bronze and eight fourth places. Karateka have to win both the Kata and Kumite disciplines in order to win a medal. A true fourth place is also determined by die winners/losers pool draw sheet system.Winners were as follows: Gold: Riona Pillay, Birte Kessler, Sylvia Maritz, Axel Zirzow, Berrie Snyman, Michellé Lewis, Wayne Rall, Opomanga Kafidi, Tuundja Martin, Jürgen Keil.Silver: Reino Hansen, Ricardo Richter, Chad Hansen, Stephen Haythornthwaite, Sascha Becker, Willie Viljoen Bronze: Cossandra Ehlers, Maike Hoffmann, Ryan Kritzinger, Luziano Jacobs, Jaco Vermeulen, 4th Places: Kaushitwa Kafidi, Renate Potgieter, Kelao Uiras, Sandro Richter, Shaun Halgreen, Björn Bergendahl, Johann Van Rooyen, Rowan Carstens.For more information on Goju Ryu Karate, visit www.goju-ryu-karate-namibia.com.
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