Date: September 7, 2019
Place: Hans Van Rensburg Hall, Mokopane Town, Limpopo Province
Organizers/host: WKO Branch Chief Phillip Khazamula Nkuna
The Limpopo WKO Shinkyokushinkai Karate branch hosted a very successful tournament, The 4th Limpopo Shinkyokushinkai Karate Championship on September 7, 2019. The tournament was hosted by Sempai Phillip Nkuna in Mokopane Town, Limpopo Province. It was the 1st WKO tournament in the town of Mokopane.
The tournament had registered over 150 competitors, participating in both junior and senior weight categories and the spectators packing the hall to capacity to witness this historic event in our town. The annual Limpopo Province tournament is growing, and has attracted fighters from different organizations across the country. It was attended by WKO Shinkyokushinkai South Africa teams from 5 provinces: Gauteng, Limpopo, North West, Mpumalanga and Kwa-Zulu Natal province; and teams from WKO Swaziland under sensei Musa Arnold Simelani, IKKF, Nakamura, Kyokushinkan, IKO Matsushima. This event had succeeded in reviving the spirit of full contact karate and kyokushin in Limpopo. Sensei Lechelele impressed the audience with a great powerful tameshiwari performance together with a Xitsonga traditional dancer group. The host, Limpopo province branch and the Matlosana branch performed very well, with Limpopo province winning the best female fighter award by Ms. Naledi Nkadime from the University of Limpopo dojo who also placed 3rd in the women’s open division. Black belts and certificates were also received by those who passed the dan grading exam in 2018 and previously.
Limpopo Province branch chiefs and the host, extend their gratitude to the sponsors for the support and Shihan Isaac Mashinini for honoring the invitation and blessing the tournament as a center referee for the senior division’s finals. They congratulated the fighters and the instructors for their commitment to the development and growth of the organization and the sport and expressed satisfaction with the performance of all fighters, for the great skills and determination they have showed on the tatami. The host, would also like to thank all those who came to support the event from different organizations, provinces and countries, including parents.
Kind regards;
Sensei Andronica Shonhiwa (nee Rakgantso)
Assistant to President Isaac Mashinini; WKO South Africa/Africa Region
On Behalf of Limpopo Province WKO Shinkyokushinkai
