GEORGE NEWS - Five members of the George Ryukyu Kobudo Shibu recently received their dan certification from Okinawa Japan, issued and endorsed by Hiroshi Akamine sensei, who is rated as one of the world's leading masters in the kobudo martial arts.

Together with karate, kobudo has been practised in Okinawa as traditional martial arts since the oldest times and the two disciplines cannot be separated. 

It is even believed that kobudo has an older history than karate.

Many students at the George Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate school hold a dan ranking in both karate and kobudo, an achievement seldom met in the various karate organisations in South Africa.

Sensei Rocher le Grange (fifth dan, left) with his students who were awarded their first dan in Ryukyu Kobudo. They also hold a first dan in Okinawa Goju Ryu karate. The students are, from left: Pierre van Loggerenberg, Tjaart Helberg and Jody Tarloff. Absent: Melanie Mittendorf

'We bring you the latest George, Garden Route news'