A strong contingent of karatekas from Mohan Hira’s Karate Centre are in full swing in preparation for the forthcoming 17th World Funokoshi Shotogun Karate Association Championships to be held in South Africa from Friday, August 28 to Sunday, August 30.
One-hundred karateka from the Lenasia Centre and thousands from all over the world will converge on the Walter Sisulu Hall in Randburg for this world championship.
On Friday, August 28, the championship will host team events. The next day it will be Kata (individual) and Sunday, Kumite (fighting).
Already training is at its peak for members of the Centre who come in many sizes; from as young as three-year-old Yojo Ndanme to 67-year-old, Veronica Van Der Heifer from Alberton. Many of the students come from Lenasia’s Little Folks, Kindergarten Kidz, Park Primary and Igugu Nursery in Soweto. Others come from Western Areas Mines.
Lenasia has many members who are expected to do well in the world championship. They are, amongst others, Rahul Dullabh (20), 2nd Dan Black Belt, Varun Garg, also a 2nd Dan Black Belt, Meshaan Lutchman and Tasneem Osman, a third year medical student and 2nd Dan Black Belt.
Training takes place three days a week in Lenasia, and on weekends in Lenasia South. Seniors train every Sunday at the Mohan Hira Karate Centre.
South Africa boasts a 1 000 strong karateka for the championships who hail from Klerksdorp, Pretoria, Natal, Rustenburg, Bloemfontein and the Cape. The national team is likely to upset the applecart in many divisions as many were previously exposed to international competition with Mohan Hira.
Says Hira, “We are full force in training and as the host country we need to impress the judges and take the championships very serious. Our Karateka is well respected throughout the world and many of the smaller countries look up to us for inspiration and motivation.
Lenasia is very strong on the world stage and I am confident that many will do better at this world event. The level of our training has also risen. Our members must go out there to enjoy the competition, make friends with participating countries and bring back fond memories.”
At the time of going into print it was reliably learnt that Pakistan will also be sending down a team for the first time in Karate History.
- The All Africa Games will be held from September 20 in Senegal. Thereafter the Burmingham United Martial Arts Organisation will stage a championship on October 12 and 13.
Mohan Hira’s students will participate in both the games.
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