16th Skai Development Championships

A very successful karate development Projects 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 this weekend (6 October) in attendance of the 16th SKAI Development Championship, hosted by Sensei Wikus Oberholster and his lovely wife Belinda, in Walvis Bay.  This annual prestigious event is aimed at the exposure and development of Kiddies (children 8 years and younger), lower grades in traditional competition, and this year development of the more senior grades by providing them exposure to World Karate Federation (WKF) rules.  This Championships has been held for the last 16 years and has gone from strength to strength with more than 200 karateka from all over Namibia, attending the competition this year. This year a new format was introduced to this popular championship in that the “senior karateka” who in prior years only acted as officials, also had a chance to compete in the “WKF” division.

Saturday morning started with a march-on and a welcoming speech by sensei Willem Burger, the Chief Instructor of SKAI. Sensei Willem welcomed all and thanked the parents and karateka for the spectacular attendance.  He also said that there is one more championship planned for November in Windhoek, which will conclude this year’s competitions for SKAI.  Highlights for the SKAI members to look forward to would be the championship that will be hosted in August 2019 in South Africa. Parents as well as karateka will travel together in two busses to attend this championship which will allow even junior grades to participate internationally. What followed was an extremely well-run competition, with karateka partaking on 4 floors.

As the WKF division allows the only route to obtain National colours for karateka in Namibia, this division provided karate of the highest quality and had the spectators on the edge of their seats throughout the day with exciting and spectacular karate. The tournament ended at 15:00, which is indicative of competence of sensei Wikus Oberholster and his team.

This was an outstanding successful development initiative by SKAI. Those that participated have new enthusiasm and direction, which affects even those that have not participated. The recognition and associated pride, the team spirit and sense of being part of a bigger fraternity, all contributes to growth of the young karateka. Well done Shotokan Karate Academy Inter-national, it was a mission well accomplished with remarkable success.

Shotokan has training centres in Windhoek, Walvis Bay, Swakopmund, Omaruru and Tsumeb.

The following contact numbers apply:

• Windhoek – Sensei: Willem Burger (Chief Instructor) +264 81 129 2519
• Walvis Bay – Sensei: Wikus Oberholster (Shihankai) +264 81 258 2000
• Swakopmund – Sensei: Valdemar Swart (Shihankai) +264 85 124 2938
• Omaruru – Sensei: Marvin Mbari (Dojo Head) +26481 255 1510
• Tsumeb – Sensei: Rudolph Barnard (Dojo Head) +264 81 129 0162