The JKS National Championship of 2018,
held in Johannesburg, was a huge success with the overall level of
competing showing an all time best, especially in the elite divisions. This was the general statement from our organisers,
officials, athletes and spectators alike.
JKS South Africa is closer to the world standard than ever before.
Numerous work sessions were held for the referees and judges leading up to the JKS
National Championship to ensure knowledge and like-mindedness on the rules and
recent changes of the rules. An informal competition was held in Pretoria prior to the National
Championship to familiarize the referees, judges and table officials
with a new tournament recording software.
The N Pro Tournament Software was implemented to allow for smoother proceedings than any of our previous tournaments.
We would
like to extend a big thank you to Jacques Pretorius Sensei, who took the
initiative with the software and devoted himself to
managing it. The value of the informal competition was also noticeable in
the level of competitor skills, especially with the lower grades. JKS South Africa
is planning on having several more of these competitions for the
improvement of both competitor and official.
The Shihankai and Kyoshikai worked closely together in the planning and execution of the
proceedings.
Parents
and other volunteers fulfilled the much needed roles of managing warm-up areas, getting
competitors ready for each bout and generally short-handed tasks. Almost all floors found themselves ahead of schedule. With
the
new software the results were immediately published to a screen on each
floor and to the central database as the day progressed. The final
results were available as soon as the last division ended.
The
Senior Ladies and Senior Men Kata and Kumite divisions showed an
enormous improvement in
standard with exciting final rounds in all these divisions. The
highlight of the tournament was the final round of the Senior Male Kata
division between the upcoming Rickus Weihmann (2017 Kata Champion) and
Ian Booyens, past JKS Grand Champion. Spectators
gasped in awe when Ian Booyens clinched to the title once more with an ever
rising jump in Unsu, landing with perfect positioning and finishing
with style. He narrowly beat Rickus Weihmann's skillfully executed Gangaku and high
Yoko Geri.
For the first time in JKS South Africa's history we had brother and sister combinations as Grand Champions of 2018 in the senior finals - Meghan Smit and Ian Booyens as well as Minet Uys and Jaco Uys. Meghan took gold for kata and kumite, Minet took silver for kata and kumite, Ian took gold for kata and kumite and Jaco took silver for kumite.
More photos on Bethlehem Karate Facebook Page, thank you Kosie Weihmann for the amazing shots.
