Date: September 11/18 & October 2/30, 2021
Place: Polokwane, Mokopane and Phalaborwa regions/districts, Limpopo Province, South Africa
Organizers/host: WKO Branch Chiefs; Sensei Medupi Robert Lechelele, Sempai Phillip Khazamula Nkuna and Sempai Sydeck Ngwako Monyela
Event Summary
The Limpopo Province WKO Shinkyokushinkai branch usually hosts one big provincial kyu grading event where all dojos in the province comes together for the kyu grading under the same venue. However, the 2021 provincial kyu grading was held as separate regional events due to COVID-19. This was to ensure that COVID-19 regulations such as social distance can be maintained and observed at all the times with a small group of attendees to fill up 50% capacity of indoor venues as per government regulations.
Following the new dojo opening and kyu grading at Seshego Zone 5F in Polokwane on August 29, the Limpopo Province WKO Shinkyokushinkai held other kyu grading in different regions. Mokopane WKO Shinkyokushinkai karate, in Waterberg district, hosted their kyu grading on September 11 at the Apex Fitness Gym. The grading was attended by 20 students in order to keep the number of participants within a certain limit as per venue capacity (less than 50 participants). This was followed by the Capricorn district grading at the University of Limpopo, Turfloop campus in Polokwane on September 18, which was attended by 32 students and on October 30 at Morgan Fitness attended by 30 students. The kyu grading in Phalaborwa took place on October 2 at Namakgale, Phosphate Hall in Mopani district. It was attended by 14 students taking part in the grading exams.
The grading events were successful, even though most students could not participate as they were not ready due to insufficient training time as a result of the pandemic. Nevertheless, the students showed high spirit and commitment from kihon, katas and kumite sessions and the standard were great, with satisfactory performance regardless of the few number of days they train during the week as part of COVID-19 restrictions. The hosts were grateful and expressed the gratitude to the parents for their supports, to Mr. Ussein of Apex Fitness Gym in Mokopane, to Phosphate Hall management in Phalaborwa and to the University of Limpopo sports office for allowing karate students to utilize their venues to conduct the kyu grading events. Special acknowledgements to Sensei Lechelele, Sempai Nkuna and Sempai Monyela for their great teamwork in organizing and leading the grading processions as a united front and showing great leadership in the province.
Kind regards.
Sensei Andronica Shonhiwa (nee Rakgantso)
Assistant to President Shihan Isaac Mashinini;
WKO South Africa/Africa Region.
On Behalf of Limpopo Province WKO Shinkyokushinkai
