4th WUKF South African National Championships & Afro-Asia Open
The 4th WUKF South African National Championships & Afro-Asia Open was held over the 4th to the 6th of April at the prestigious Boardwalk Hotel in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape Province.
This event continues to be significant for the development of WUKF in the region and was attended by guests, including Roy O’Kane (WUKF Chief Operating Officer), Essam Shreif (Vice President of the WUKF Referee Commission), Master Louise Viviers (President of Martial Arts South Africa), and Shihan Norman Robinson (Head of JKS South Africa).
Ahead of the Championships, a Referee Seminar was delivered by Essam Shreif, attracting more than eighty South African referees. In addition, Alta Venter, provided online training in the weeks leading up to the competiiton, ensuring that referees and judges were fully prepared.
The event was delivered across eight tatami floors and achieved a record entry of 822 competitors with a total of 1,990 category entries. Eighteen South African WUKF-affiliated federations participated, alongside two South African guest federations. International representation included Kanzen Karate from Scotland and Adekash Côte d’Ivoire. Senior referees from England, Northern Ireland, and Namibia also officiated throughout the event.
The 4th WUKF South African National Championships & Afro-Asia Open was a celebration of Karate and friendship.