Latest news with #JKA
The Citizen
28-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Horizon Karate Centre celebrates eight new black belts
Horizon Karate Centre is beaming with pride after eight of its students were successfully graded to black belts at the JKA Sub-Sahara Africa grading event, held at Ellis Park Arena on May 22. The prestigious event featured two highly respected Japanese masters from the JKA headquarters in Tokyo, bringing authenticity and high standards to the grading process. Five students – Ada Greyling, Austin Carolus, Tychael Harvie, Juliana Greyling and Aidan Louw – were graded to Shodan, earning their first-degree black belts. Also read: Horizon Karate Centre earns 77 medals at provincials Three students advanced to higher Dan levels: Omri Naude achieved Nidan (second-degree black belt), while Stefan van Niekerk and Aidan Marnewick attained Sandan (third-degree black belt). According to Sensei Wendy Wannenburg, the centre's head instructor, earning a black belt is a monumental accomplishment and is often regarded as the pinnacle of karate. Also read: Horizon Karate Centre earns 42 medals at nationals 'Karate is not just a physical discipline but also a way of life that fosters discipline, hard work and self-control. It moulds individuals, especially children, into responsible and focused people. Moreover, karate teaches valuable life skills, including self-defence and conflict resolution. 'I'm very proud of the students' dedication and hard work,' she said. For more information, visit At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hans India
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Hans India
70th All-India Kabaddi tournament from June 13
Jajpur: The 70th All-India Kabaddi tournament will be held at Khanditar village in Jajpur district from June 13 to 16. The Jajpur Kabaddi Association (JKA) is organising the National Kabaddi tournament at its own stadium at Khanditar like every year. The men's and women's National Kabaddi tournament will be played both in day and night. Addressing a press conference on Monday, JKA working president Pradeep Sethy said a total of 32 teams, including 22 men's and 10 women's teams, from across the country will participate in the tournament. National men's teams such as Nagpur (Maharashtra), Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh), Bhopal, Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh), South Eastern Railway, Eastern Railway, Kolkata Police, Chhattisgarh State team, Agra (Uttar Pradesh), JDU Academy (New Delhi), Nizampur (New Delhi), Gurgaon and Jind (Haryana), Kishore Club, Sree Jagannath Sanskrit University, Puri, Pipili, are participating, he said. In women's category, Eastern Railway, South Eastern Railway, Ashok Sangh (Kolkata), Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and State teams Cuttack, Kishore Club, Bhubaneswar, KIIT University, Kalinga Kabaddi Academy and JKA are participating, he added. All the matches will be conducted on two synthetic surface mat courts and flood lights have been installed for night matches.
The Citizen
30-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Young karateka earns South African colours
WARNER Beach Preparatory School's learner, Calin Chetty, represented KZN in the Japan Karate Association (JKA) Africa Cup karate tournament, which was held in Johannesburg over two days from May 23. Also read: Karate gold medallist earns provincial colours Calin was one of over 2 000 participants from all over Africa in the event organised by the SA JKA Karate Association, earning himself a bronze medal in kumite, as well as being awarded his South African JKA colours. Calin is also a double gold KZN champion. For more South Coast Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox. Do you have more information pertaining to this story? Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.
The Citizen
24-04-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
St Teresa's High School learner punches her way to nationals with double bronze win at Gauteng Karate Championships
When Kurhula Lehloka (14) began mimicking her father's karate moves at the age of nine, she never imagined it would lead her to the National Karate Championships. Now, a Grade 9 learner at St Teresa's High School, she is proudly heading to the nationals in May, after winning two bronze medals at the Gauteng Karate Championships – one in kata and one in kumite. 'It was exhilarating, because it meant I could compete in nationals for both events. Walking back up to my mom in the seating area felt so good, with the medals clanking around my neck.' Read more: No age limit on passion: 61-year-old karateka shares her story Kurhula trains in Japan Karate Association (JKA) karate at the Mark Wainman Dojo, based at the Jabula Recreation Centre in Sandringham. She trains twice a week, with a mix of warmups, kata practice, kumite drills, sparring, and fitness training. The dojo fosters a close-knit community, rooted in hard work, respect, and determination, values that Kurhula has embraced. Her journey to the podium was filled with nerves as the Gauteng championships tested her mentally, as much as physically. 'The hardest part was waiting,' she recalls. 'There's no set schedule, so you arrive early and wait, trying not to psych yourself out. I kept thinking: 'What if I miss my division's call? Or what if the other competitors are better than me?'' She credits music and conversations with her fellow competitors, whom she describes as kind and supportive, for helping her stay calm. Karate isn't her only commitment, she also plays netball at school and trains in gymnastics. She relies on a whiteboard planner to structure her week and balance everything, but when clashes happen, she knows how to prioritise. Also read: Elite performances propel Wanderers Karate to top of SA JKA Gauteng Championship Despite her busy schedule, Kurhula remains dedicated to karate, especially with nationals approaching. She's intensifying her training with extra fitness and strength work, aiming for her brown belt and a top-four finish at nationals to qualify for the World Championships. Competing internationally is her dream for the coming year. Her journey hasn't been easy. Starting karate during the COVID-19 lockdowns meant training over Zoom, often interrupted by load-shedding and poor Wi-Fi. 'Returning to in-person training was a big adjustment,' she admits, having never been in the dojo before. Despite her concerns, she it kept up and hasn't looked back. Kurhula credits her father for inspiring her to start karate and stick with it. 'He taught my sister and me katas when we were younger. We never remembered them, so, he had to show us again, but that early exposure made me feel comfortable, when I officially started.' She draws inspiration from legendary gymnast Simone Biles, admiring her confidence and boundary-pushing achievements. For Kurhula, karate represents a lifelong journey, with constant opportunities for improvement, teaching her discipline, respect, and conflict resolution. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! Related article: Wanderers Karate club ready to take on SAJKA Gauteng Championships At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
