KNYSNA NEWS - Six students from Wessel's Martial Arts attended the recent Yudansha (black belt) grading of the South African Goju Ryu Karate-Do organisation under the leadership of Shihan Andre van Vuuren (6th dan). The senior panel that oversaw the grading was Shihan Andre (6th dan), Shihan Graham (5th dan), Sensei Wessel Wilms (4th dan), and Sensei Kobus Klue (4th dan).

Dojos from George, Mossel Bay, Grootbrak, Hartenbosch, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Sedgefield, Hoekwil, Wilderness, Oudtshoorn, Uniondale and Port Elizabeth attended this big event.

The black belt gradings that were received carry the stamp of approval from Karate-Do International Renmei, a world-wide organisation of Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate-Do practitioners, which is known by and carries the accreditation and certification of the Dai Nippon Butokukai in Kyoto (Japan), the Sho Honbu Jundokan dojo in Okinawa (Japan), the International Budo Academy, the World Union of Martial Arts Federations, the WKF and WKC .

Although there are many established and highly accredited Goju Ryu organisations in the world today, the Sho Honbu Jundokan of Okinawa, Japan is historically the headquarters of Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate-Do as it was taught to Eichi Miyazato O'Sensei by Chojun Miyagi Sensei, and is still an active dojo in the teaching of classical Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate-Do.

Wessel’s Martial Arts students at the Yudansh grading were Joshua Fair and Balvindra Walter, who received Shodan (1st dan), Danie Botes and Francine Ruben, who received Nidan (2nd dan), and Elrie Bosman and Paula Viljoen who received Sandan (3rd dan)


From left are Sensei Wessel Wilms, Balvindra Walter, Joshua Fair, Sensei Elrie Bosman, Francine Ruben, Paula Viljoen and Danie Botes.