Junior karateka excels at the coast

A very successful karate development project has just been completed by the Namibian Shotokan Karate Academy International (SKAI). The SKAI karateka from Windhoek, Omaruru, Tsumeb and Walvis Bay all gathered in Walvis Bay on the weekend of 6 October to attend the 16th SKAI Development Championship, which was hosted by sensei Wikus Oberholster and his wife Belinda. This annual prestigious event is aimed at the exposure and development of children of eight years and younger in the lower grades of traditional competition.This year the more senior grades were developed by exposing them to the World Karate Federation (WKF) rules. This championship has been taking place annually for the past 16 years and has gone from strength to strength with more than 200 karateka from all over Namibia attending the competition this year. A new format was introduced this year: the senior karateka, who in previous years only acted as officials, also had a chance to compete in the WKF division. Saturday morning started with a march and a welcoming speech by sensei Willem Burger, chief instructor of SKAI.Burger welcomed all and thanked parents and karateka for their spectacular attendance. According to him one more championship is planned for November in Windhoek, which will conclude this year’s competitions for SKAI. Highlights for SKAI members to look forward to include the championship to be hosted in August 2019 in South Africa. Parents, as well as karateka, will travel in two buses to attend this championship, which will allow junior grades to participate internationally. What followed was an extremely well-run competition, with karateka partaking on four floors. As the WKF division is the only route to national karateka colours in Namibia, this division provided karate of the highest quality and had spectators on the edge of their seats throughout the day. The tournament ended at 15:00, which indicates the competence of sensei Wikus Oberholster and his team. The event was a successful development initiative presented by SKAI. Participants left with new enthusiasm and ambition. Recognition, pride, team spirit and a sense of belonging to a bigger fraternity all contribute to the development of the young karateka. Shotokan has training centres in Windhoek, Walvis Bay, Swakopmund, Omaruru and Tsumeb. Burger can be contacted on 081 129 2519, Oberholster (Shihankai, Walvisbay) on 081 258 2000, sensei Valdemar Swart (Shihankai, Swakopmund) on 085 124 2938, sensei Marvin Mbari (Dojo Head, Omaruru) on 081 255 1510, and sensei Rudolph Barnard (Dojo Head, Tsumeb) on 081 129 0162.

Junior karateka excels at the coast

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Republikein 2026-08-24

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Junior karateka excels at the coast

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