Monthly Archives: June 2018

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Solis Ortus shone at KSA Opens and Elite Championships Tongaat 2018

Solis Ortus shone at KSA Tongaat 2018

With a great entourage, our Solis Ortus athletes arrived in eThekwini, meaning “bay/lagoon” to participate in the KSA Elite & SA Open Championship in Tongaat. Mention the name ‘Tongaat’ and the next word on the average South African’s lips is ‘sugar’. Tongaat is a sugar-producing town with a characteristically English colonial flavour that lies on the banks of the Tongati River, about 37 kilometres north of Durban. Tongaat is also the oldest Indian community in South Africa.

Seven of our top athletes, competed in this tournament the past weekend. As usual weigh-in is a day before and took place on the Friday. On Friday, Sensei Eugene attended a coach’s course and examination at the Tropicana Hotel in Durban on the Marine Parade. It is with pride to acknowledge our sensei on being one of only 3 people to pass both the kata and kumite coaches accreditation.

Saturday all kata divisions, except the Veterans and Masters; Opens and Elite kumite up to 14 years took place. Sunday all kumite divisions continued for 14+ years old as well as the Veteran and Masters divisions. Solis Ortus wants to congratulate the following athletes who competed and received their medals.

KSA Opens: Milan Kruger – Kumite (Gold); Drew Dupuy – Kata (Fell out) and Kumite (Silver); and PW Pentz – Kata (Fell out).

 KSA Elite: Pieter Jordaan Kata (Bronze) and Kumite (Silver); Savanah Hauser – Kata (Bronze); PW Pentz – Kumite (Gold); Thirq du Preez – Kumite (Fell out); and Hanelore Constable – Kumite (Gold).

Karate South Africa honoured all the Protea athletes who have represented the country internationally (July 2017- Botswana tour 2018) to attend a Gala dinner banquet preceding the Elite /SA Open Championships on Friday evening. Chief guest of honour for the Annual event is Mr Gideon Sam President of SASCOC.

All our athletes representing South Africa came dressed up in their green and gold to receive their trophies. Savannah, Hannelore, PW and Thirq, Solis Ortus salute you with pride and wish you all the best for 2019.

Some came home after the Championship and some stay behind to enjoy the warm sun alongside the Dolphin coast. Some collected seashells, some brought home a fresh spirit of enthusiasm and some can’t wait to see you all again.

It is an honour to be part of such a successful and proactive dojo. Thank you to sensei Eugene who is always hands-on with our athletes and all the rules and regulations of the sport. Thank you for being such an inspiration to our athletes, young and old. Especially thank you for your time and effort you put into our athletes to become the greatest they can be.

“When it comes to performance standards, it’s not what you preach, it’s what you tolerate.” Jocko Willink

Benjamin Disraeli said: “Seeing much, suffering much, and studying much are the three pillars of learning.”  So, the more you sweat the luckier you get.

Written by: Heilethe Calitz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Grading

78th Solis Ortus Grading – 25 November 2017

This weekend Solis Ortus celebrated its 78th grading, since 1978, and carved a new chapter in its history book. Grading day was a successful, positive and fruitful experience for our karatekas. We had 189 graders who succeeded their grading to the next belt level. Solis Ortus stand proud to acknowledge each individual exceled in their karate, but also how abundantly they enjoy their karate.

For some karatekas it was their first grading, for others the experience was more nerve wrecking, and of course for our senior belts, grading was an emotional roller coaster.

We started bright and early with our Mini graders (3-5 years old). They looked too cute in their karate Gi’s (suits). The minis outshined themselves in their grading course and did everything with precision, determination, loud kiais and good spirit. Oh my goodness, did they know their terminology! It is so adorable to hear them count and repeat the Japanese terminology. We are so proud of our little ninjas growing up to become great karate stars one day.  The minis are developing in a strong and well-designed karate foundation to eventually support their abilities in their karate journeys. With bliss they graded to mini yellow, mini orange and mini blue.

Our junior gradings, Yellow 1 to Blue, showed good progress and express a promising individual succeeding to higher belts. It was impressive to observe some of our white belts showing great potential as newbies on their new karate journey. Well done to all our junior graders, you have shown great growth and good spirit. Keep on growing but above all keep on enjoying your karate!

The standard of our more senior belt levels, Purple 1 to Brown, were exceptionally high. They showed more power, strength, precision and understanding what karate is all about. The 3K’s are forming a well-developed foundation as you are becoming more mature and understand the why of karate. This group have great form and stances. Well done, we are immensely proud of you all.

And then, the emotional roller coaster of nerves, excitement and pride step onto the floor. Eight karatekas graded to Kuy 3 and Kuy 2; Junior Black 2 and Junior Black 1. This grading was tough and the graders needed to prove their character and spirit to be able to pass this grading. With persistence, they all persevered. It was incredible to be an observer on the panel, as it reminded us how intense and privileged it was to grade in this group. The cream of the crop emerging to become the next Black Belt generation in Solis Ortus. Two karatekas graded to Junior Black 1 and had their last grading in the dojo and achieved the status of our next generation. We have four new Junior Black 2 karatekas. Remember: “A black belt is a white belt who never gave up!”

To all our karatekas we congratulate you on a well-deserved and brilliant grading. Without you, Solis Ortus cannot build a heritage and we are extremely proud to have you part of our club.

Thank you to our parents who dedicated their time to our karate students, who helped them to enjoy and love karate as a sport. To all our Instructors and assistant Instructors, thank you for your dedication in teaching our karatekas. Thank you to Sensei Eugene for being our role model, we look up to you and will follow your lead. There is only ONE WAY, JKA! JKA, ONE WAY!

Solis Ortus sending warm wishes to you and your family during this Christmas Season. May your home be blessed with love and happiness. If you are going away, please drive safely. See you all 8 January 2018!

Written by: Heilethe Calitz

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GKF awards evening 2018

GKF awards evening was held Saturday evening at the Libanon Rec Club Glenharvie, Westonaria. This prestigious evening event honoured our top athletes in Gauteng Province. With more than 250 guests we had a three course dinner, live dancers, the GKF executive board members, VIP guests, of which sensei Eugene and Sandy was amongst them, and of course all our athletes.

It was overwhelming to see all athletes in one room, most dressed up for the evening and others dressed up in their green and gold. Some were our rivals once but soon we united as one team representing our Province with pride.

From west to east, north to south, Gauteng encompasses a world where everything is available. Although the smallest province in South Africa, the City of Gold did extremely well in their boundaries and therefore achieved the most medals in the country; especially gold medals.

Our Gauteng Karate President, Mr Kruben Pillay, opened the ceremony by congratulating all the athletes who have worked hard, persevered and achieved. Our honourable guest, Secretary General (CEO) at Gauteng Sports Confederation not only honoured the athletes but also stated the importance of keeping all our achievements as it will benefit us one day when applying for employment or even to get admittance at University. He also mentioned that Gauteng is the first Province who got approval for our sport places in the country, signed, approved and published on Sports data by the Minister of Sport. Soon the rest of the Provinces will follow.

He also explained how hard our Gauteng Karate President, Mr Kruben Pillay works behind the scenes to promote karate in South Africa.

Amongst those who qualified in Solis Ortus, four of our athletes namely Thirq du Preez, Savannah Hauser, Lilian Mynhardt and Heilethe Calitz were there to receive awards.  We as athletes, feel extremely proud and honoured to have achieved our rankings, and want to thank our Sensei for his time, effort and dedication he invested in us to enable us believing in ourselves and therefore reaped our rewards.

“Respect is earned.

Honesty is appreciated.

Trust is gained.

Loyalty is returned.”

HpLyrikz.com

 

Written by: Heilethe Calitz

 

 

 

 
Events

First Grading at Solis Ortus 2018

First Grading at Solis Ortus 2018

Congratulations to all our karatekas who graded this weekend. It is extremely rewarding to see how our karatekas improved and succeeded to their next belt level. Our karate standard is high and Solis Ortus stand proud to each and every one of you.

Traditionally we always start with our mini karatekas. All dressed up like little polar bears they arrived bright and early to come and show their skills to our grading panel. Adorable, sweet and with great spirit they concurred their fundamental skills examination with loud kiais and immense pride.

Well done to our future little champions, we are so proud of you!

After intense and hard training preparing for the grading, you all arose from all your fears and came prepared with determination to earn your next belt. To all our white belts who graded for the first time; well done! You all came with the utmost karate etiquette and perseverance to overcome your uncertainty of what is expected. With goose bumps and awe we solute you all. Keep up the good work, always remember the basics of your karate and you will grow into a good karateka as you grade to higher belts.

Our coloured belt groups also accomplished a higher standard in their grading and presented their karate skills with flying colours. Grading is a good measurement to improve yourself and to understand that karate basics; Kihon (basics), Kata (form) and Kumite (sparring) are the foundation of good karate in the future. During grading you get measured of how you have developed in your current belt, and then be recognised for your progress, and the reward is to succeed to the next belt level.

The higher belt groups, brown and up gradings are much more intense and on a different level as for the coloured belts. Endurance, competence, technique, fitness and perseverance are key to this level grading. Solis Ortus is immeasurably proud of the standard of our senior belt groups. You earned every stripe on your belt and deserved to be promoted to your next level. Solis Ortus is building a strong history in developing good karatekas for the future.

This year Solis Ortus is celebrating a rich history of 40 years. We have added to this history the first free fighting event in our Special needs division at SA JKA Nationals. To top this achievement we have graded one of our special needs karatekas, James van Zyl, for the last time in the dojo to Junior Black. His next grading will be Shodan. James, we are extremely proud of you. You have excelled in so many ways as a karateka, and achieved the highest ranking in Solis Ortus history. We wish you all the best and luck on your karate journey and are looking forward to celebrate with you your Shodan grading.

As always, Sensei Eugene and his team of instructors and assistance were well prepared and on schedule with the grading program. Thank you to all our parents for your support and to all our karatekas for your loyalty, etiquette and performance on grading day.

Be proud, frame your achievements, not everyone has a karate belt. Never ever give up. The more we learn, the more I realize how much we have to learn. Remember karate is a journey, black belt is not the destination, it is the start.

Karate builds our character, and with a strong character you can achieve anything in life.

We cannot wait to see you all in your new belts!

Written by: Heilethe Calitz