Sensei’s Emile and Penny van Heerden, instructors at the Honbu Dojo in Okinawa travelled to South Africa to hand over the official Shibo certificate on behalve of sensei Hiroshi Akemine, chief instructor, to sensei Jannie le Grange local chief instructor.
Also in attendance were sensei’s Effi Schelenen from Israel and Stephan Coetzee Gauteng.
They all formed part of the grading panel together with sensei Jannie le Grange as six local kobudo ka graded for a Dan ranking in Kobudo after a three day extensive training camp. This is a very rare achievement as they now hold dan grades in both kobudo and Goju Ryu karate.
They are Nina Reinach and Damian Belcher (1st dan in kobudo and Goju karate), Karin Fouché and Maree Weyers (1st dan in kobudo, 2nd dan in Goju karate), sensei’s Rocher le Grange (1st dan kobudo, 4th dan Goju Ryu karate) and Betsie le Grange (2nd dan Kobudo, 5th dan Goju karate).
The George Kobudo dojo is open to any person who is interested to study and practice Kobudo irrespective of karate style or martial arts back ground. Classes are conducted in a fully equipped kobudo dojo and students will be taught in various Okinawa weaponry such as Nunchaku, Bo, Sai, Tunfa, Tekko, Rochin and Tinbe, Kama and Eku.
Contact details can be found in the George Herald sports diary or visit www. ryukyu-kobudo.co.za.
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Ryukyu kobudo grading candidates with the Gashuku group are from left (back) Karin Fouché (1st dan), André Slabbert, Rocher le Grange (1st dan), Damian Belcher (1st dan), Dallas Fell, and Maree Weyers (1st dan). Middle: Sensei’s Effi Schleyen (Israel), Penny van Heerden (Okinawa), Stef Biagioni, Stephan Coetzee (Gauteng), Emile van Heerden with daughter Sahratia (Okinawa), Betsie le Grange (2nd dan), Jannie le Grange. Front: Michael McLennan, Corné Calitz, Nina Reinach (1st dan), Leighton Prins, Ashford Marx, Robert Pollicutte. Absent: Hennie de Ridder.
