Lenasia saw the karate tournament hosted by the Mohan Hira Karate Centre at the Alpha Primary School hall on Saturday, May 23 bursting at the seams. The venue, in fact, was too small. The Centre wanted to give the school exposure as a large number of children from Alpha Primary were participating in the tournament. The tournament started at 8am and finished at 6pm.
An excited Hira could not believe the enthusiasm participants had for the sport.
Three-hundred of them came from all over in Gauteng. Seniors from the African continent who reside in central Johannesburg flooded the venue, especially those from Congo, Malawi, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Nigerians and from surrounding areas of Lenasia.
Those as little as four years old also participated in the successful event.
Said Hira, “Foreigners want separate classes in the martial arts because they are now aware that others from Kenya, Congo and other African States will also be participating in this world championships. The World Fanakhosi Karate Championship will be held on South African soil at the Walter Sisulu Hall from Thursday, August 27 until Sunday, August 30.
They are all making plans to have separate training sessions in preparation for the championships. We are also expecting participants from India, Africa, Europe and other countries. Pakistan will also participate for the first time. Over 1 000 karateka are expected in South Africa.
The kindergarten classes as well as primary schools have also requested separate training classes in preparation for the world championships.”
I think the Mohan Hira Karate Centre will be very busy until the tournament.
At the tournament, the Lenasians who were strong in Kata and Kumite did not find it easy as many of the ones from outside Lenasia gave them a ‘run for their money’ but at the end they excelled; especially those from Little Folks, Busy Kidz, Kindergarten Kidz and Park and Alpha primary schools.
Sixty divisions were catered for at this grand event and this lifted the standard of the tournament to new heights.
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