On Monday, 16 Jun 2025, we presented the SZA team, who will be attending the 13th WUKF World Karate Championships in Sweden (09-13 Jul 2025), with their new kit, which included their KSA shirts. This team will travel to Sweden under the auspices of KSA!

We also received the following message of support from the KSA President:

“To the Leadership Management & Athletes 

As the President of Karate South Africa (KSA)  I wish to extend my sincere good wishes to the delegation of KSA Athletes & officials travelling on an International Tour to Sweden for a Major Karate Event 

May I urge you, The Management & athletes to Represent our “Rainbow Nation “ South Africa with Pride  

“BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE “ success I believe is within your grasp 

Best sporting regards

Sonny Pillay Hanshi 

President: Karate South Africa (KSA)”

Congratulations to all the students who competed and placed in their categories at the WUKF Egypt Open International  Karate Championships, which was hosted in Cairo, Egypt on 21-22 Feb 2025!! You were all great ambassadors for your organisation!

Our team of 8 competitors brought back 13 medals!

RESULTS:

GOLD

• Cayllum Roestorff (Kata)
• Lisel Steyn (Inclusive Kata)

SILVER

• Ashmithi Moodley (Kumite)
• Zahra Klassen (Kata & Kumite)
• Zahra Klassen, Gabriella Vieira-Pasley & Nuha Minty (Team Kumite)

BRONZE

• Ashmithi Moodley (Kata)
• Cayllum Roestorff (Kumite) 
• Gabriella Vieira-Pasley (Kumite)
• Ketara Pillay (Kata & Kumite)
• Nuha Minty (Kata)
• Tyler Roestorff (Kumite)

REFEREES

• Sensei Elmarie van Zyl
• Sensei Lisel Steyn

COACHES:

• Sensei Mari du Preez
• Sensei Morrie Swart

The 10 member Shotokan-ZA National Karate Team competed at the 2023 WUKF World Karate Championships in Scotland from 13-16 July 2023, accompanied by Shotokan-ZA coaches, Mari du Preez and Morrie Swart.

“The WUKF Karate World Championship is the biggest karate tournament of its kind, as over 1500 competitors participated this year,” explained Sensei Mari du Preez, Shotokan-ZA National Coach, WUKF Athletes & Coaches Commission Member.

The national team was selected in October 2022 and has been preparing for the championships since then. Despite being an inexperienced international team, they managed to excel on the international stage!

Jordan Trow (11), won gold in Kata and bronze in Combat, and we are extremely proud of his dedication, hard work and stellar performance at the World Championships!

Of the remaining team members, 5 placed top ten, which attest to their commitment to their preparation and skill level. Christos Prokas (12) placed 4th in Kata,  Beau Kruger (13) placed 5th in Kumite, Schuyler Booysen (16) placed 6th in Kumite, Zahra Klassen (12) and Petra Smit (60) both placed 10th in Kata.

The 2 officials, Senseis Elmarie van Zyl and Petra Smit, who accompanied the team, received their international WUKF judging qualifications. Sensei Elmarie van Zyl, Shotokan-ZA Federation Head, received her international Referee B qualification, which makes her the 2nd highest WUKF qualified official in South Africa!

TOGETHER WE CAN DO THE BEST KARATE IN THE WORLD!

#WUKF #proudtobeWUKF #karateforall

Read the Fourways Review’s article: Local team rakes in karate medals. 25 Aug 2023

Read the Mossel Bay Advertiser’s article: Local boy, Schuyler Booysen outstanding at World Karate Champs, 17 Aug 2023

Yet again our Team had great success at the 2023 WUKF SA National and Africa Open Championships!

We are extremely proud of our 58 competitors who gave us 100% everyday and who were fantastic ambassadors for our organisation at the Championships!

The team brought home 65 inidvidual medals and 6 team medals!

The team was accompanied by the following Referees, Judges and Table Officials: Elmarie van Zyl, Petra Smit, De Wet Saaiman, Kay Prinsloo, Debbie Schoombee, Louise Schönborn, Drienie Swart and Anneri Saaiman.

A huge thank you to our amazing coaches, Mari du Preez, Morrie Swart, Eurika van der Watt, Sharlé Vermaak, Robyn Petersen, Nico jacobs, George Modikwe and Stefan Schönborn; our team managers, the supporters, parents and sponsors who contributed to the success of the tour.

TOGETHER WE CAN DO THE BEST KARATE IN THE WORLD!

#WUKF #proudtobeWUKF #karateforall

The Results are as follows:

GOLD

Joahin Hendricks (Kata) Mossel Bay

Ketara Pillay (Nihon Kumite), Kyalami

Joshua Mynhardt (Kata), Kyalami

Olivia Mcneill (Nihon Kumite), Kyalami

Jordan Trow (Kata), Kyalami

Jordan Trow (Combat), Kyalami

Olerato Maleho (Sanbon Kumite), Kyalami

Viksha Mistri (Sanbon Kumite), Kyalami

Matthew Koeberg (Ippon Kumite), Kyalami

Rudolf Botha (Kata), Rayton

Keenan Rothe (Nihon Kumite), Rayton

Derick Botes (Kata), Rayton

Michelle Botes  (Kata), Rayton

Michelle Botes  (Combat), Rayton

Zahra Klasen  (Kata), Roodekrans

Morgan Briggs (Nihon Kumite), Roodekrans

Morgan Briggs (Ippon Kumite), Roodekrans

Petra Smit  (Kata), Roodekrans

Orion Poulter (Nihon Kumite), Samurai

Chante Grobler (Sanbon Kumite), Samurai

Lisel Steyn (Kata), Samurai

Siyabonga Mabelane (Sanbon Kumite), Gee Karate

SILVER

Marjoelein Lewis (Kata), Kyalami

Ethan de Bruin (Kata), Rayton

Ethan de Bruin (Nihon Kumite), Rayton

Ethan de Bruin (Long Weapons), Rayton

Rudolf Botha (Nihon Kumite), Rayton

Henco du Preez (Kata), Rayton

Henco du Preez (Combat), Rayton

Keenan Rothe (Kata), Rayton

Amelia Piper (Kata), Rayton

Amelia Piper (Sanbon Kumite), Rayton

Nico Jacobs (Short Weapons), Rayton

Zahra Klasen  (Nihon Kumite), Roodekrans

Reuven Aucamp (Kata), Samurai

Nianza Tshabalala (Kata), Samurai

Siyabonga Mabelane (Kata), Gee Karate

BRONZE

Ketara Pillay (Kata), Kyalami

Sizwe Moyo (Ippon Kumite), Kyalami

Viksha Mistri (Ippon Kumite), Kyalami

Matthew Koeberg (Sanbon Kumite), Kyalami

Ashmiti Moodley (Sanbon Kumite), Kyalami

Kyle Allchurch (Kata), Rayton

Maree Duvenhage (Nihon Kumite), Rayton

Derick Botes (Sanbon Kumite), Rayton

Tyler Michau (Long Weapons), Rayton

Amelia Piper (Long Weapons), Rayton

Amelia Piper (Short Weapons), Rayton

Nico Jacobs (Kata), Rayton

Blake Cronje (Nihon Kumite), Roodekrans

Kamve’Lihle Twala (Kata), Roodekrans

Cebisa Twala (Kata), Roodekrans

Cebisa Twala (Nihon Kumite), Roodekrans

Nuha Minty (Ippon Kumite), Roodekrans

Raylene-Grace McKinley (Sanbon Kumite), Roodekrans

Katlego Thebyane (Kata), Roodekrans

Johan Van Zijl (Kata), Roodekrans

Johan Van Zijl (Sanbon Kumite), Roodekrans

Eurika van der Watt (Sanbon Kumite), Roodekrans

Eurika van der Watt (Ippon Kumite), Roodekrans

Orion Poulter (Kata), Samurai

Henri Saaiman (Nihon Kumite), Samurai

Jason Davies (Combat), Samurai

Reuven Aucamp (Combat), Samurai

Lezario Louw (Kata), Germiston

TEAMS

SILVER

Team Kata : Matthew Koeberg, Thea Gouden, Viksha Mistri), Kyalami

Rotational Team Nihon: Keenan Rothe, Rudolf Botha, Maree Duvenhage), Rayton

BRONZE

Team Kata : Rachael Jacobs, Ketara Pillay, Joshua Mynhardt), Kyalami

Team Kata : Aiden Fleuriot, Sizwe Moyo, Kritvi Mistri), Kyalami

Rotational Team Sanbon: Olerato Maleho, Morgan Briggs, Nuha Minty), Kyalami & Roodekrans

Rotational Team Sanbon: Thea Gouden, Viksha Mistri, Kritvi Mistri), Kyalami

A huge thank you to all the Dojos and Organisations who participated in the Shotokan-ZA National Open Invitational Championships, which took place on 01 October 2022 in Krugersdorp!

We had over 500 entries! Thank you for your support!

To the Table Officials, Judges and Referees who officiated, we thank you for your hard work during the day!

Congratulations to all the students who competed and placed in their categories!!! You were all great ambassadors for your Dojos!

RESULT TABLES

Dojo Results

Individual Results

We had a fantastic karate tournament on Saturday, 17 Sep 2022, as part of the Mossel Bay Sport & Recreation Festival!

Thank you to all the Dojos who participated in the tournament and to all the Table Officials, Judges and Referees who officiated on Saturday!!!

Congratulations to all the students who competed and placed in their categories!!! We are very proud of everyone and you were great ambassadors for your Dojos!

We were very honoured to have Mayor Dirk Kotzé stop-by and to have Deputy Mayor Cliffie Bayman open the tournament!

Thank you to the Mossel Bay Municipality who provided the venue and the certificates, we are truly grateful!

A big thank you to Sensei Vernon Petersen, his wife Rene and the rest of his team for all your hard work!

TOURNAMENT RESULTS

KATA Female

KATA Male

KOBUDO SHORT WEAPON

KOBUDO LONG WEAPON

NIHON KUMITE

SANBON KUMITE

We are also very proud of Sensei Elmarie van Zyl who received her Judge A qualification at the Championships. Debbie, together with coach Mari du Preez, who both also judged at the Championships, receive their Judge B qualifications!

TOGETHER WE CAN DO THE BEST KARATE IN THE WORLD!

#WUKF #proudtobeWUKF #karateforall

It was a great pleasure to meet the WUKF Leadership, Liviu Adrian Crisan, Roberto Perri and Essam Shreif again and an honour to have them at the competition!

A big thank you to Gary Grapentin, Maureen De Jager & their team for all the hard work organising the event!

Thank you to Alta Venter for spending hours presenting the ZOOM rules course with us and being an excellent WUKF Chief Referee at the event!

It was also fantastic to have met Alexandra Talbot and her father, Rodger Talbot, from Kanzen Karate and to have the privilege to be one of two countries (Scotland and South Africa) competing as one WUKF team during a rotational team kumite match at the event!

It was great to see our fellow WUKF SA Federations again and to meet the new family members!

We are EXTREMELY proud of our fearless leader Elmarie van Zyl who always leads by example and with passion!

Congratulations to our referees, Werner Schnetler, Lisel Steyn, Gee M George and De Wet Saaiman who were awarded their #WUKF Continental Judge B qualifications after the tournament.

Then, last but not least, a huge thank you to our amazing coaches, Mari du Preez, Morrie Swart and Lisa Schnetler; our managers, Martie Duvenhage, Steven Botha and Althea Louw; our table officials, Louise Schönborn and Samantha Smit Palm and the supporters, parents and sponsors who contributed to the tour.

TOGETHER WE CAN DO THE BEST KARATE IN THE WORLD!

The Results are as follows:

GOLD

Adriaan De Wet (Ippon Kumite)
Casey Holwe, Shannon Olivier (Rotational Kumite)
Casey Howle (Kata)
Casey Howle (Sanbon Kumite)
Franco Palm (Nihon Kumite)
Lerato Bekizulu (Kata)
Lerato Bekizulu (Nihon Kumite)
Lezario Louw (Kata)
Michelle Botes (Inclusive Kata)
Mkkano Harilal, Sizwe Moyo, Baraka Zando (Rotational Kumite)
Morgan Briggs (Sanbon Kumite)
Nicolas Nieman (Kata)
Nicolas Nieman (Sanbon Kumite)
Raylene-Grace McKinley (Sanbon Kumite)
Schyler Booysen, Nicholas Nieman (Rotational Kumite)
Shannon Olivier (Sanbon Kumite)
Shannon Olivier (Ippon Kumite)
Stefan Schonborn (Kata)
Stefan Schonborn (Sanbon Kumite)
Stefan Schoonborn, Busangkgotla Mkhehlane, Burger Nieman (Rotational Kumite)
Tshepo Mokoteli (Kata)
Wiehan Botha (Kata)

SILVER:
Aiden Fleuriot (Kata)
Aiden Fleuriot (Rotational Kumite)
Burger Nieman (Kata)
Casey Howle (Ippon Kumite)
Charlsea-Bell Scholtz (Kata)
Chepa Abraham Kgomokae (Sanbon Kumite)
Chepa Abraham Kgomokae, Patrick Tchonke, De Wet Saaiman (Rotational Kumite)
Christos Prokas (Kata)
Danelle Botes (Kata)
Danelle Botes (Kumite)
De Wet Saaiman (Kata)
Lezario Louw (Nihon Kumite)
Maree Duvenhage (Kata)
Olerato Maleho (Kata)
Schyler Booysen (Kata)
Schyler Booysen (Sanbon Kumite)
Shannon Olivier (Kata)
Sizwe Moyo (Sanbon Kumite)
Sizwe Moyo, Baraka Zando, Tristan Gomes (Team Kata)
Thando Mathibe (Kata)
Viksha Mistri (Rotational Kumite)
Zahra Klassen (Kata)

BRONZE:
Adriaan De Wet (Kata)
Adriaan De Wet (Sanbon Kumite)
Baraka Zando (Sanbon Kumite)
Christos Prokas (Nihon Kumite)
Edwin Rademeyer (Kata)
Franco Palm (Kata)
Patrick Tchonke (Sanbon Kumite)
Patrick Tchonke (Ippon Kumite)
Rudolf Botha (Kata)
Sizwe Moyo (Kata)
Tristan Gomes (Nihon Kumite)
Viksha Mistri (Kata)

#WUKF #worldkarate #teamSZA #ShotokanZA

Congratulations to the following students who have been selected for the Shotokan-ZA WUKF 2022 Training Squad! This list only includes selection for kata and/or kumite, not kobudo. The kobudo selection for the squad will be made at a later date.

We will start preparing for the 2022 competition year in November and we are looking forward to the WUKF SA Nationals (25-26 Mar 2022), the WUKF Afro-Asia Algeria Championships (May 2022) and also the 10th WUKF World Karate Championships for All Ages will be held over 23rd to 27th June 2022 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

WUKF – Together we are stronger