Solis Ortus was a busy dojo this weekend. Five of our karatekas competed at the KSA Junior and Elite Tournament held at the Tongaat Indoor Sport Centre in Kwa-Zulu Natal.

The weather was as cold and wet as in Gauteng. We are proud to have had Sensei Eugene there as Head Coach for our Gauteng Team.

Sensei Eugene flew to Durban on Thursday morning to attend a Coach and Referee briefing session. With pride he is one of four coaches nominated as National Senior coach for the Protea Team, representing South Africa in Zone 5 and other international events.

The competition was tough and of a very high standard. Many who used to medal first or second had to bow down for third and fourth place. 

Weigh-in was conducted on Thursday and the Tournament commenced on Friday morning until late afternoon. Both our kumite boys got bronze medals on Friday. On Saturday the other 3 boys participated in their divisions and Solis Ortus received a Gold medal. Unfortunately the other 2 boys fell out and did not medal.

Sensei Eugene is extremely proud of all of you. You have worked so hard, and “A brave man, a real fighter is not measured by how many times he falls, but how many times he stands up.” – Rickson Gracie

Keep on believing in yourselves; never ever quit, stay focussed and be diligent in your karate, and you will reap the results.

Will Durant wrote in his book of philosophy: “Excellence is an art won by training and habituation: we do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but rather have these because we have acted rightly; these virtues are formed in man by doing his actions”. To make it simpler, you develop a talent for the things you repeatedly practice. The same goes for the reverse: problems, failure, and other issues, they can become habits too. Therefore, choose your habits wisely, or you may achieve excellence in something that doesn’t matter to you.

Well done Solis Ortus, we are extremely proud of each one of you.

Written by: Heilethe Calitz

This weekend was a huge success FOR our competitors who competed at the Standard Bank arena to qualify for Nationals in May. On Friday we were 1200 competitors in the Novice divisions and 600 in the Elite divisions on Saturday. What an honour and privilege it is to be part of such a huge organisation.

Our journey to the City of Gold was through heavy rains, streams of water and mist. Our early birds arrived safely in a cold Johannesburg to face our fate at the JKA Gauteng trials. We would like to thank JKA Management and the organisers for a well-planned and successful tournament. There is only one way, JKA! JKA one way!

Solis Ortus confirmed 69 competitors into the JKA Gauteng Trials, who bravely faced every round. You all have prepared for this moment, you worked hard and with determination you have aroused your greatest fears and uncertainty. Well done to you all!

For some it was overwhelming and the first time competing; and for some it was a new battlefield all over again. Like they say, “There is no comfort in the growth zone and no growth in the comfort zone.” Unknown

Divisions were huge and the competition was of high standard. Always remember to never ever give up. Keep on working for what you want to achieve. Stay positive and work harder but smarter. The harder you work the luckier you get.

“Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labour does the body.” Seneca

Always remember you are only defeated when you did not have the guts to put your feet on the tatamis. We solute you because you were all brave enough to show up for the battle. That makes you a WINNER! Winners never give up!

Teddy Roosevelt wisely affirmed: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” (Teddy Roosevelt was a wise man who served as a New York assemblyman, the New York City police commissioner, lieutenant colonel in the Spanish-American War, assistant secretary of the Navy, the governor of New York, and then President William McKinley’s vice   president. After McKinley was assassinated in 1901, he became the country’s youngest president at age 43.)

Solis Ortus entered 49 competitors into the Novice division, and 20 competitors in the Junior, Elite and Veteran divisions. Sensei Eugene is extremely proud to announce that all 69 competitors achieved their Gauteng colours and will represent their Province at Nationals in May. Solis Ortus achieved over 75 medals over the 2 days.

Well done Solis Ortus, we as coaches are immensely proud of each and every competitor showing character, sportsmanship and etiquette. It is an honour to be part of the Solis Ortus team. Thank you Sensei Eugene and our Team Managers and coaches for helping our karatekas with such care and pride. Solis Ortus karate club – ROCKS!

Written by: Heilethe Calitz

Congratulations to Sensei Eugene who has been appointed as a KSA coach, amongst 12 other coaches, to represent the South African team for international duties at various karate tournaments around the globe during 2018.

This announcement was made on the 2nd day of the KSA Senior Nationals Tournament, 3 March 2018.

We, as Solis Ortus students are immensely proud of you Sensei and wishing you good luck to fulfil your international duties successfully.

Written by: Heilethe Calitz

Congratulations to all our champions in the making for achieving their Gauteng colours and qualified for KSA in Durban.

Our juniors; GKF Children/Cadets and Junior Champs, competed 24 February and exceled in their quest to be the best karate kid they can be. Solis Ortus has extremely dedicated young karatekas that work very hard to achieve their goals. Sensei is particularly proud of the juniors and wishing them all to never give up and always explore and reach their dreams.

Solis Ortus is proud to announce that our juniors received 1 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze medals; whereas 6 of our karatekas achieved their Gauteng colours and succeeded to participate in the KSA championships’ 23-24 March in Durban. Well done to everyone.

Remember, even if you did not succeeded this year “Karate is not about winning over others. It is about winning over one’s self. Ultimately, the most challenging opponents we face reside from within our hang-ups, our insecurities, our prejudices. Overcome these and you will have truly won.  (David Walker)

This weekend, five Solis Ortus karatekas participated in the KSA U21/Seniors/Veterans divisions; kata and kumite.

“Endurance is one of the most difficult disciplines, but it is to the one who endures that the final victory comes.” (Gautama B.)

This is so true and it proved to be exactly that, what helped us to succeed this weekend. Some of the divisions were large with 5 to 12, 15 competitors. The competition was hard, the standard was high and all the sweat, blood and tears were flowing this weekend.

Solis Ortus’ senior competitors had tough, hard and determined opposition and above all that demonstrated their dedication and persevered with honour. From the five competitors our seniors brought home 1 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze medals, which means all five seniors achieved their Gauteng colours and succeeded to participate at the KSA championships 22-23 June in the KSA Elite & SA Open Champs, Durban.

In total Solis Ortus is privileged and honoured to announce that from 17 competitors, 10 karatekas achieved their Gauteng colours and in total brought home 12 medals overall (2 gold, 5 silver and 5 bronze).

OSS-some, Solis Ortus is a proud karate club! Well deserved to you all.

Remember: “The difference between winning and losing is most often not quitting.” (Walt Disney)

Work hard, but smart!

Written by: Heilethe Calitz