Category Archives: Events

Club, Eugene Oosthuizen, Events, In the Dojo

Parents and Kids Theme 2019

Parent and kids training together

With life’s fast pace and demanding deadlines, spending quality time with our kids is a luxury these days.

For this reason Solis Ortus has a kids and parent evening once a year.

A picture tells a thousand words. Our parents tried everything with a smile. They found new respects for their karatekas and now know how hard their child(ren) works in the dojo.

Solis Ortus parents are OSS-some. Thank you for making quality time for your children and making ever lasting memories.

Oss

Eugene and the Solis Ortus team

Articles, Club, Eugene Oosthuizen, Events, Kata, Kumite, Results

SA JKA Nationals 2019

Congratulations on making the Gauteng team and keeping the Solis Ortus name high! Was once again a major success for Solis Ortus Students.

The Gauteng team included 78 Solis Ortus Students. They represented our Province on 24 & 25 May 2019 at the SA JKA Nationals event held at the Standard Bank Sports Arena in Johannesburg. The team was assisted by four Solis Ortus coaches – Veronica Myburg, Beatrix Lötter-Moolman, Johan de Witt and Ruan van der Westhuizen.

On Friday, 24 May 2019 the day started early with our junior White to Purple belt competitors, who already arrived at 06h30. They collected their tags and took their places with the rest of the Gauteng team. The march-on was magnificent. Gauteng rolled in on like a blue tsunami. The vibe was infectious! The tournament officially kicked off at 8h00 and the fun and games started. Two of our senior karateka – Sandy Oosthuizen and Marx van Eeden – officiated at the tables.

We were back for more on Saturday, 25 May 2019 when it was our senior Red to Black belts’ turn to enter the arena with tight nerves and high hopes. The top four in each division were chosen for the SA team that will travel to Germany at the end of year to prepare for the 15th Gichin Funakoshi Cup in 2020, which will be held in Japan.

Although not all Solis Ortus students received medals on the day, our karateka luckily know that no one is ever a loser: without a medal you become a learner!

From Solis Ortus’ side we want to thank all the parents, students, coaches, instructors and officials for your time, effort, energy, dedication and support leading up the SA JKA Nationals. It is a pleasure working with a positive team. Our students, from the youngest to the eldest, are absolutely awesome. You worked so hard, and hard work never goes unnoticed. If it was not your time to shine – never give up!

 

Articles, Club, Eugene Oosthuizen, Events, Grading

18 May 2019 SAJKA Pre-grading, National Gradings and International Qualifications

18 May 2019 SAJKA Pre-grading, National Gradings and International Qualifications

Senior Solis Ortus karateka have been preparing over several months for their Shodan and Nidan gradings. Some will attempt grading in October 2019, whilst others will have their opportunity in 2020. However, most of them attended the three hour pre-grading session at JKA HQ at th Wanderers in Jo’burg, as additional preparation for their Dan gradings.

Veronica Myburgh was the only senior karateka who attended the pre-grading as warm up for her Shodan grading on the same day. Veronica has walked a very long and sometimes painful road to grade to her first Dan. She attempted her Shodan 19 years ago, but unfortunately did not make it. Veronica though never forgot her true karate spirit and after life happened (work, marriage, children), she returned to the dojo again to work towards her Shodan dream. Sprained ankles, broken ribs and a low immune system never stopped Veronica from preparing well, training hard, learning non-stop and always bettering herself to such a point that she received her Shodan on 18 May 2019.

Congratulations Veronica on receiving your Shodan. Solis Ortus is tremendously proud of you. Enjoy this moment and wear your black belt with pride!

To all those continuing with their Dan preparations, work hard and never give up!

Oss

 

Club, Competition, Eugene Oosthuizen, Events, Kata, Kumite, Results

2019 Region 5 Championship in Swakopmund

Region 5 Championship in Namibia Swakopmund

Karate South Africa appointed Sensei Eugene Oosthuizen as Head Coach for the SA u21 and Senior Protea Teams that competed at the Region 5 event in Swakopmund, Namibia.

Sensei Eugene arrived in Swakopmund on Monday 20 May. 
The protea students arrived on Wednesday
On Wednesday he attended a course and seminar along with other referees and coaches. World Karate Federation Chief Referee presented the course and seminar, followed by a hour long exam to qualify as Region 5 Coach for kata and kumite. Sensei Eugene received the highest results, both for Kata and Kumite! Well done, Sensei! This is why Solis Ortus is one of the best karate dojos!

Kata eliminations and finals took place on Thursday, followed by Kumite eliminations on Friday and Kumite finals on Saturday. South Africa won the tournament, taking 31 gold, 25 silver and 21 bronze medals under Sensei Eugene’s coaching! We now rank 1st in the Region 5 list, followed by Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia and Angola.

From Solis Ortus’ and Sensei Eugene’s side – a big thank you to KSA for providing this opportunity to South African karateka, coaches and referees. Also, a big thank you to the organisers. And, most especially, the biggest thank you to all the parents, karateka and fellow coaches! Sensei Eugene said that this was one of the most memorable tours in his career so far.

South Africa is indeed fortunate to have such an OSS-some team showing their dedication to and love for karate! Go, Green and Gold!!

Articles, Club, Competition, Eugene Oosthuizen, Visitors

Solis Ortus Specialist Training and GKF Training Session

Solis Ortus is privileged to not only have wonderful students, but also great parents. Robbie Brazelle, former Cheetah Rugby Team conditioning coach and dad of one of our young Yellow belt karateka. Robbie offered his time and skills during a training session at the Menlyn dojo for all our All Styles karateka and parents on Saturday 9 March from 07h00 to 08h30, hosted by Sensei Eugene.

The training session focused on strengthening the feet and ankles to improve agility and direction changes. If Robbie’s advice is applied and our athletes use the exercises shown to warm up, strengthen and condition the ankles before competitions their performance can improve from 2% to 5%.

Thank you Robbie, from everyone who attended!

Later the same day, Sensei Eugene presented a GKF Coaching Seminar in Boksburg. He also coaches the GKF Team that will compete on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 March in Cape Town. This team includes several of Solis Ortus karateka.

Sensei Eugene’s aim with the seminar was aimed at building team spirit amongst the GKF Squad, preparing the athletes and getting them to know each other and their Coaches before the weekend’s event. As he said: good preparation is the key to unlock your true potential!

This session was a great success. With proper training, great spirit, excellent focus and good discipline, you cannot loose. Keep it up, Solis Ortus!

Oss!

Articles, Club, Eugene Oosthuizen, Events

SAJKA Standardisation Seminar – 2 February 2019

On Saturday, 2 February 2019, 233 black belts from across South Africa gathered for the annual SA JKA Standardisation Seminar.

Sensei Eugene pre-registered eight of his seniors in the week prior to the seminar.  Thank goodness, because that meant we did not have to be there at 07h00 for registration.

Sensei Johan le Grange, our chief instructor, opened the seminar at 09h00 with a group session for all attendees.  This session was fast paced, and I, for one, was completely out of my comfort zone.  But, I tried…and failed…and then I tried again.  The hall was abuzz with energy!  Sensei Johan explained that our hands, feet, arms and legs are our weapons: if you cannot effectively use your weapons, then why do you have them.  TING!!!!!  Lightbulb moment or me.

At 9:45 the dojo heads moved to a different hall, which gave us a little bit more space to train in.

The 10:00 slot was taken by Marina Valassopoulos , who grilled us on the technicalities of Empi kata.  Correct body posture, deep zenkutsu dachi and speed was practiced over and over and over, until our legs were weak and wobbly .  But, our spirits were anything but weak and wobbly, because we thrived on the new knowledge passed on.

After Sensei Marina , Sensei Jon Williams taught us how to make Kanku Dai kata your own.  As everyone knows, Kanku Dai has 65 moves .  Although we all understand the technicality and execution of the moves , Sensei Jon asked us to make this Kata our own: to make any kata, for that matter, your own.  Put your personality into a kata, demand attention, while being mindful of speed and technical execution.

By now we were sweating! Everybody had the look of “I’ve just been licked by a happy, drooling bull mastiff”.  Our seniors (above 50 years) kept up the pace, inspiring us all.

The 11:15 timeslot was taken up by Sensei Charles Beckenstrater Who taught us the art of Geri Waza.  We were paired with a partner and taught how to properly position feet with different kicks and execute the kicks effectively with your hips.  First sequence was Mae Geri-Kekomi Geri where the aim is to push your partner and kick right through him or her.  Pressure, execution, fast thinking (if you are on the receiving end of a killing kick).

Afterwards, Sensei Chris Seabelo broke down Tekki Nidan for us.  He taught the bunkai of parts of the kata, affording us the opportunity to practice the various applications on our partners.  At first, we were confused and went slowly.  But, as we got the hang of it you just saw bodies flying and falling on the ground.  It was great fun to do a kata and execute the bunkai effectively.

The SA JKA Karate Assciation held its annual Standardisation Seminar and AGM on Saturday 2 February at The Wanderers Club. 233 SA JKA black belts attended the training.

Posted by SA JKA Karate Association on Sunday, February 3, 2019

LUNCH – time to refuel very tired and drained bodies.

From 13:30 – 14:30 we were treated with a presentation by a Neurologist, who lost his leg in a terrible accident.  He explained to us how to use your mind set (observation) to change the outcome of your faith.  He also explained the science behind moving and thinking and training your brain to do what needs to be done.

Senseis Daniel Gombe and Gert van Niekerk took the final hour, working hard on our stances.  Sensei Gert combined stances, slow then fast.  Then, after one had mastered the sequence, you got to practice against a partner, including some take downs.  Again, you just saw legs in the air as partners went flying and falling all over the place.  But as soon we landed, we got up, switched and continued with the sequence.

This was a great way to end an awesome  six-hour training session.

As a black belt you will know that you never ever stop learning and, for this reason, we know that karate is a sport for life.

Written by – Sandy Oosthuizen

 

Articles, Club, Eugene Oosthuizen, Events

Solis Ortus Open Day 2019

Solis Ortis Karate hosted yet another very successful Open Day on 19 January 2019. Sensei Eugene Oosthuizen welcomed more than 80 potential new karateka and parents with a brief history of the dojo, now in its 41st year.

The day kicked off with a demonstration by Sensei Eugene and his Black Belts. These senior karateka demonstrated Tekki Shodan kata, juyi ippon kumite (semi free fighting) and a bought of dojo-style free fighting. The audience was in absolute awe, judging by the oohs! and aahs! that could be heard.

The Black Belts were followed by Sensei Sandy Oosthuizen’s minis. These are little karateka range from ages two-and-a-half to five years. The mini class focuses on fundamental movement skills and aims to develop gross motor skills. These skills are very important not only to excel in karata, but also to develop other sports as well as concentration.

The minis were followed by the coloured belt classes starting from white belts up. Sensei Eugene explained the Five Maxims, which all Solis Ortus karateka try to follow. The Maxims as explained by Sensei Eugene are:

  • Character – karate is perfect to build a person’s character. One must be develop humility in victory and grace in defeat.
  • Etiquette – there is a certain etiquette in karate, and especially at Solis Ortus. Etiquette teaches respect, towards yourself as well as others.
  • Sincerity – one’s actions must always be sincere. Karate therefore requires a person to always act honestly.
  • Perseverance – karate is hard, and Solis Ortus trains very hard. This teaches karateka to not only persevere in their karate career, but also that daily life, from school and exams through to work, family and friendships, requires dedication and effort. Always endeavour to be the best you can be.
  • Self-control – karate requires self-control. Self-control requires discipline in everything one does.

The highlight of the Open Day was when Sensei Eugene invited all the potential new karateka onto the tatami for a round of practice. Everyone was awarded with a crisp, brand new white belt to start their karate life.

Solis Ortus looks forward to welcoming everyone that attended to the formal classes, as well as anyone else who is interested.

OSS!

 

Articles, Club, Events, Visitors

Sensei Bernard Buys (JKA 5th Dan Instructor)

Solis Ortus has an invited instructor evening, 3 to 4 times a year, in our senior class.  This time around we were invited Sensei Bernard Buys on 7 November 2018.

Just to give a short introduction to this 44 year old sensei, who briefly pursued a lawyer career and soon realized that karate was his true passion, who swapped his suit and tie for his karate gi. Today, he is a full time JKA karate instructor to almost 200 students in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg, and declared: “I love what I do and wouldn’t change it for anything. I find it incredibly rewarding to teach JKA karate to students, see them grow and love to pass on my knowledge.”

His motto in life is to maintain a disciplined and focused outlook on life; and his quest is: to become fitter, faster, better, stronger and leaner each year.

Sensei Bernard presented a very traditional, down to the point basic class to teach us how to improve our kicks. Although basic….basics are the foundation of traditional karate….he broke it down into building blocks and then combined it to execute with speed, control and precision.

Sensei Bernard also concentrated how to loosen up the hips and stated that hips play an enormous roll in executing an effective kick. Traditional JKA karate depends on hip movement and that makes our karate more effective and different from other styles.

Hip movement, contraction and expansion was of the basics he concentrated on and made us realized how important it is to grade to higher gradings. In line with sensei Bernard’s training session, Solis Ortus is currently preparing for Shodan and up gradings in 2019.

After a hard session, Solis Ortus stood proud to know that our training in the dojo is on par with our current Veteran South African grand champion in both Kata and Kumite, sensei Bernard Buys. Thank you sensei for a great informative session you have presented. We wish you all the best for all your future endeavours and cannot wait to train with you again.

Thank you to Sensei Eugene who always go the extra mile to help us improve our karate. Thank you to the late class who always absorbs every little bit of extra information to excel and improve themselves. Also no one can make someone feel more welcome than a Solis Ortus Welcome….one way JKA, JKA one way….Solis Ortus!

Written by: Heilethe Calitz

Articles, Competition, Events, Kata, Kumite

JKA Gauteng North Qualification 2019

This weekend Solis Ortus hosted the JKA GN trials. The Tshwane region entered 180 entries of which Solis Ortus consisted of 110 karatekas of all ages. With a team like that we can only stand proud to announce that most of our athletes medalled and have the opportunity to compete in the JKA GN tournament to receive their colours.

As host, Solis Ortus strives to be on time with the events as scheduled and wrote a new page in their rich history of 40 years. New champions in the making couldn’t hide their overjoyed excitement of the medals and places they have achieved. Parents were ecstatic….and definitely indulged in the joy for their young champions with a treat afterwards. We as instructors, stand proud and wish each athlete only the best in their new karate journey.

In total Solis Ortus achieved 208 medals; 118 gold, 48 silver and 42 bronze medals. Awesome…awesome….oss-some!

For our more frequent and more experienced competitors, well done. Remember to take the hands of our new champions in the making, and help them grow the same love for the sport. Encourage them, praise them and be an ambassador for your club, your region, and your province…..and of course the ultimate, your country.

As the year reaches its end, we are busy preparing for grading the 1st December 2018, and wishing you all a fantastic and successful grading. For those who are preparing for exams, stay focused, breath, drink a lot of water, eat healthy and keep on training.

“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” Robert Collier

Congratulations and good luck to all your endeavours this month….see you all on grading day!

Written by: Heilethe Calitz

Articles, Club, Events

Solis Ortus Super Hero Theme

This week we invited all super heroes to Solis Ortus, not to reveal their identities but to come show off their abilities and strengths, mentally and physical.

And so we came to the conclusion that if we have so many super heroes in our dojo we MUST have a ton of super parents backing (and funding) all these heroes.

Quotes from famous superheroes

BATMAN – it’s not who I am underneath but what I do that defines me!

SPIDERMAN – with great power comes great responsibility

WONDER WOMAN – it’s about what you believe

Thank you for participating in this theme.

Articles, Club, Competition, Events

3rd Annual Coen Memorial Challenge

Wow, what an awesome event it was!  The day was filled with love and laughter, excitement and pride as our students from as little as 3 years old to much older, took part in the 3rd Annual Coen Memorial Challenge.

As commemoration to our late Sensei Coen, who started this extraordinary karate club 40 years ago, we can just stand in awe and celebrate our incredible history.

The Coen Memorial Challenge is a highlight in Solis Ortus’s calendar, where all our students take part to compete against each other.  At this tournament some students compete for the first time.

The day kicked off with our little ones doing an obstacle course and ended on a high note where our black belts concluded the day in outstanding karate.

It was amazing, overwhelming and too adorable to see how much raw talent there is in our club. Many students surprised our Instructors and showed unbelievable talent from normal class work to competitor.

Solis Ortus is extremely proud to have such amazing parents and awesome students. We are enormously proud to be part of such an amazing club full of raw talent and history. We are honoured to be part in the growth, development and character building in each student.

After a successful tournament we wish all our students good luck for the upcoming exams and of course prepare for our grading exam on the 1st December 2018. Stay focused! Work hard, but work smart! Keep on training!

Looking forward to see you all this week.

One way…JKA…ONE CLUB…Solis Ortus!

Thank you sensei Eugene for an awesome tournament…..

Written by: Heilethe Calitz

Articles, Club, Events

Africa Training with JKA WF senseis

Africa Training with JKA WF senseis

When sensei Okuma visits South Africa, we cannot wait to attend at least one of his sessions. We had the privilege to have trained with the best; Chief Instructor of JKA/WF: Shuseki Shihan Masaaki Ueki Sensei (9th Dan) and International Affairs Division JKA/WF: Shihan Koichiro Okuma Sensei (6th Dan). Both senseis’ presented morning and evening sessions at the Mandeville Sports Complex in Johannesburg, 28 – 31 August 2018.

As this was part of JKA’s 2nd Africa Cup for the Junior and Senior Karate Championship Tournament, on 1st September 2018, we had visitors from Mauritius, DRC, Angola, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Madagascar and Reunion. JKA also held a Technical seminar, Judge seminar, Dan examination and Qualification exam before the championship.

We are exceptionally proud of Sensei Eugene who was part of those who did the ABC international exam and passed all three (judge, examiner and instructor) and is now proudly on BCB level. Well done sensei. We are proud of you. You are really an inspiration for Solis Ortus and especially a role model to our young athletes.

Shuseki Shihan Masaaki Ueki Sensei and Shihan Koichiro Okuma Sensei were present at the Dan gradings as well.

The training with Masaaki Ueki Sensei and Okuma Sensei was well presented and concentrated on fundamentals such as hip movement, axis centre line, weight distribution, expansion and contraction, turning on the heel, turns and bunkais in katas Jion, Bassai Dai and Kanku Dai.

Solis Ortus was well represented at the seminars and we are definitely on par with JKA International. Thank you SAJKA HQ for the opportunity to have trained with the best.

“The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained in sudden flight.
But, they, while their companions slept, they, were toiling upwards in the night”.
Longfellow

Written by: Heilethe Calitz

Articles, Events, Kata, Visitors

Sensei Marina Valassopoulos

She is an elite athlete, 6th Dan, a Podiatrist, devoted about helping and healing people, a perfectionist and passionate about her karate.

She also had the honour and privilege to grade in Japan.

Solis Ortus had the pleasure to train with Sensei Marina in the beginning of August.

Her focus was plyometric drills, strength, endurance, muscle fatigue, legs and speed. Muscle fatigue is mostly our enemy. She focused on low stances and how to overcome weaknesses and replace it with endurance. Her philosophy is not to give up when your legs are tired but to overcome it with endurance and built strength into your legs. She cleverly combined plyometric and kata training to build strength and speed. Most of her techniques were built around Empi.

Because her passion resides more to kata, she especially helped the older generation to improve their way of applying their kata with more meaning. She indicated that if you are not fast, at least do your kata with feeling….fast is fast and slow is slow…do not rush.

Her patient, methodical, helpful way of teaching was an inspiration to improve ourselves in our karate journey. Class was hard and we definitely received a full body workout. Our senior class really appreciated and enjoyed a well-planned, hard class with Sensei Marina and we look forward to inviting her for another training session.

She admired Sensei Eugene as a top athlete and as an enthusiastic instructor; and complemented Solis Ortus as a well-organised dojo with good vibes.

We, as Solis Ortus karatekas, want to thank Sensei Marina for her dedication and contagious love for karate, and the honour to have trained with her. Thank you to Sensei Eugene for the opportunity to train with such incredible senseis.

Written by: Heilethe Calitz

Articles, Club, Events

Solis Ortus Parents-Kid Training

Kids are blessings, they are our future and everyone have unconditional love for kids because of their innocence and cuteness. All this is so true in our dojo. They are tomorrow’s treasures.

Solis Ortus parents are the greatest. As we all know, children are great imitators, so give them something to imitate. Last night roles changed.

Solis Ortus hosted a fun training session where kids invited their parents to train with them from the minis up to our senior belt group. How great is that! The atmosphere in the dojo was vibrant, full of joy and laughter. Both parents and kids had so much fun. It was so precious to experience the little ones trying to tell mom or dad how to stand, how to oss and of course to kiai. It’s adorable to see the unconditional love between parents and their kids. To experience how obedient the parent is in their kid’s territory and of course to the sensei. Precious moments!

Today we are living in the fast lane and this opportunity formed new memories and bonds of love, mutual respect and most of all positive involvement and time invested in their lives. Times like this are the ultimate joy of play in a child’s life.

Solis Ortus will definitely repeat this successful event in future. Both parents, kids and instructors enjoyed it immensely. We all trained hard, built positive new memories and shared with our children what they enjoy.

We salute all our brave parents who joined us, and invite all other parents who missed out to watch this space and join us next time.

“Your children only gets one childhood. Make it MEMORABLE.”
Regina Brett

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

Events

SA JKA Nationals 2018

What a weekend. Solis Ortus competed at SA JKA Nationals in Johannesburg, and at the Africa Union Sport Council (AUSC) Region 5 karate championships in Gaborone, Botswana.

This year’s SA JKA Nationals competition, featuring karatekas from all the Provinces in South Africa, was held at the Ellis Park Indoor Events Arena on 25 – 26 May 2018. All our karate athletes prepared well over the past months, and showed up in their masses to achieve greatness. SA JKA Nationals is a huge event every year, but this year it was massive with plus minus 3500 competitors.

The arena was vibrant with songs of the nation and provincial teams rivalling against the other in their numbers. The mornings were extremely early for our early birds attending meetings and to get ready before the masses arrive. Gauteng was well organised with their team sitting ready in their categories on the arena.

Expectations ran high for the day while watching the demonstration from our black belts from the Honbu, performing an immaculate Tekki Sandan, synchronized as one person. The kumite routine was coordinated to show the stages of a black belt. We all stood in awe and with goose bumps all over.

We as Solis Ortus karatekas, representing our provincial team Gauteng, are overwhelmed with excitement, enthusiasm, nerves and an expectancy to achieve our National colours and to qualify for the Africa Cup in September. For some of us, this will be the first time to represent our country on an International level.

As always, our club was well represented as coaches, referees, judges and table officials at this prestigious event. Solis Ortus entered into 153 events where some of our students qualified for their National colours in both kata and kumite, and others, one of the two.

On Friday our Novice team, White to Red belts, competed in their divisions where most of our karatekas medalled and achieved their National colours. Medal or not, you are a winner! You worked hard, walked the extra mile, by training week after week and came prepared for the battle. You showed your karate spirit on the floor and still persevered. That makes you a WINNER. Always remember what defines a winner.

“Winning doesn’t always mean being first. Winning means you’re doing better than you’ve ever done before.” —Bonnie Blair

For the first time in the history of SA JKA Nationals, our Special Needs division announced a free fighting division. With pride Solis Ortus also made history on the day as the only 2 karatekas in that division, was from our dojo. What a fight guys….well done! Click on the link to watch the fight.

“Gold medals aren’t really made of gold. They’re made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts.” Dan Gable

On Saturday our Elite team competed to be selected into the Africa Cup in September. This category was intensely huge and the competition extremely competitive. Most categories contained 3-5 different belt levels in one group for the selection. Some categories took hours to finish; and yet, we all waited with determination and good spirit our turn. Solis Ortus did extremely well and most of our students got selected to represent South Africa in the Africa Cup. Congratulations to those who got selected.

To all our medallists, well done and well deserved. Some of your categories exceeded 20 competitors and more. Yet, you prevailed and accomplished your dream to become a winner.

Ditto sensei Sandy; quote un-quote: “Our dearest students, how awesome are you all. You are all champions because you showed up for extra classes, you are all champions because you entered the arena with fear, nerves and excitement and you are all champions because you stepped onto the tatami  and you did YOUR best.

Congratulations for making us all tremendously proud!!!!!

Next year we do it again!”

Yes, yes and yes!

But first, we wish all our students the best of luck for grading on Saturday, 2nd June 2018. You worked hard to receive your next belt level. Stay focussed and do your best.

To all our students who are writing exams, best of luck for your exams. Stay focused, prepare in advance, sleep well, practice and stay healthy.

After all is done, rest well and get ready to start preparing for the Africa Cup in September.

One way, JKA! JKA, one way!

 

Written by: Heilethe Calitz

 

 
Events

AUSC Region 5 Karate Championship

Gaborone is an energetic and inviting city that is bursting out of a nutshell. The tolerant mind-set of Gaborone originated from the gathering of the many different cultures and the thousands strong individual minds. The beautification of the edginess inspires, provokes opportunities and creates an intersection where two extremes meet each other and therefore become inexpressible.

Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Angola, Zambia and Mozambique were the invited countries who participated in the AUSC Region 5 Karate Championship. Gaborone, capital city of Botswana, hosted the tournament on 24 – 26 May 2018 at the Boipuso Hall, Fairgrounds. The Boipuso Hall, also known as Botswana International Conference and Exhibitions Centre, is a multi-purpose arena and can accommodate 12 000 spectators. The Boipuso Hall can accommodate 2000 spectators.

Overall South Africa did extremely well. South African karate shone in Gaborone as our participants displayed a high standard, good karate and competitiveness throughout the tournament.

South Africa was represented by 51 competitors all over the country, and received a total of 6 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze medals in the kata division. In the kumite division we received 12 gold, 17 silver and 4 bronze medals. Overall South Africa received 44 medals and placed third in the AUSC Region 5 Karate Championship. Botswana, the overall winner won 95 medals and Namibia, who came second won 68 medals in total.

Out of the 51 competitors, Solis Ortus had 2 participants who represented South Africa in Gaborone. After getting on the City Liner on Wednesday late morning, they left for the border and got safe and sound in Gaborone after a long 9 hour trip.

Solis Ortus is extremely proud of Savannah Hauser who received a silver medal and Thirq du Preez who received a bronze medal in kumite. These two karatekas showed exceptional sportsmanship and good karate etiquette. This trip developed your character as karatekas, introduced you to the virtues of team spirit and teaches you to be humble in victory. All your hard work paid off and you came home victoriously.

Celebrate your successes, embrace it and grow into it as humble karatekas.

“Competing at the highest level is not about winning. It’s about preparation, courage, understanding and nurturing your people, and heart. Winning is the result.” —Joe Torre

You both reflected this quote excellently. Well done, and good luck for your next tournament.

 

Written by: Heilethe Calitz

 

 

 

 

Events

Arnold Classic 2018

The Arnold Classic sport and fitness extravaganza returns to South Africa for the third time and it promises to be an even more spectacular expression of the vision of its co-founder, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

It is an opportunity to participate, spectate or compete, with over 50 sports and their organising federations showcasing their top talent and creating opportunity for public participation across three energy-filled days; from Friday, 18 May to Sunday 20 May 2018 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. Interestingly Sandton is known as the wealthiest square mile in Africa. The Sandton Convention Centre is the leading, most esteemed convention centre and exhibition resource in South Africa.

With 12 floors and over 22 000 square metres of space available, the Sandton Convention Centre has a gigantic capacity to be the supreme hosting place for such a respected event as the ACA.

In a cold Johannesburg, Solis Ortus came prepared with our KSA athletes to participate in the prestigious Arnold Classic Sports Festival 2018. Our karatekas are passionate about their karate and without knowing it, are actually the leaders in creating a karate platform that can have a great influence in our country and the world to be a better place. Although karate is a global sport, over 200 countries, and affiliated to World Karate Federation (WKF); it finally is elevated to OLYMPIC status – Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018. What an honour and privilege to be part of such an opportunity.

On Friday our Solis Ortus champs weighed-in for their kumite divisions on Saturday. On Friday Solis Ortus received 2 bronze medals in the kata divisions.

Most of our karatekas competed on Saturday. “The kumite divisions were lethal, fast and furious”, as one parent described the event. Solis Ortus prevailed and achieved 4 medals; 1 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze.

Congratulations to two Solis Ortus karatekas who qualified for the finals on Sunday. Sunday started off with a training session where the top four KSA athletes and international athletes trained together. With the help of our coaches, sensei Eugene and other top coaches trained with the team and represented South Africa on an International level. Solis Ortus is proud of sensei Eugene and wish him all the success in his karate endeavours.

After a long, hard and competitive weekend, we can celebrate with our 7 champs a total of 6 medals.

Congratulations to all our karatekas. Solis Ortus is extremely proud and wishing you all a prosperous karate journey. You all worked so hard for this moment, embrace it, enjoy it and learn from tournament to tournament. Improve yourself to become the best of the best.

We salute you all!

 

Written by: Heilethe Calitz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Events, Uncategorized

Solis Ortus Road To Nationals 2018

Solis Ortus is in the process preparing for the SA JKA Nationals, 25th and 26th May 2018. Frequent practice during the past 4 weeks leading up to the event, greatly improved our karatekas’ abilities, form, skills, and confidence.

SA JKA karatekas will march up from all corners of South Africa to represent their Province. This week it will be our last training session as a dojo team to go out and represent our Province at Nationals.

Our karatekas revealed defined character practising every week improving themselves for the greatest upcoming event; SA JKA Nationals.

Remember what you have practiced over the past weeks and especially what sensei has taught us. Stay focussed and calm, but with determination.

Remember, when performing your kata, you need to demonstrate good technique, good stances and rhythm. Don’t rush to finish, show the judges you have good form and resonance in you kata. Slow is slow, and fast is fast. Kiai loudly.

Good technique is also required in kumite when trying to score against your opponent. Initiating the attack allows you to take control of the fight and is intimidating to your opponent. Take control and keep it. Also have a good guard. Don’t leave yourself open. Correct distancing enables you to attack your opponent, but also allows you to be just out of range of your opponent’s attacks.

Thank you to sensei Eugene who invested in us his time, knowledge and methodology in becoming a winner. Thank you to our parents believing in our karatekas, who consistently bring them every Friday afternoon to practice; and supporting our Solis Ortus Team preparing for the big day. Thank you to our students who persevered through the training, who gave their all to improve themselves, who sweat together and encouraged each other, and above all, who believed in themselves.

Sensei Eugene feel honoured to be able to have such a positive and stable club; and in reverse, us as karatekas are honoured to learn from the best.

You are ready, go out and do your best, never give up. Always push yourself a little further. If you keep going – you always have a chance to win.

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

So, we have come this far…preparation, done…prepared, YES!

On your marks, get set….GO!!!!

Written by: Heilethe Calitz

Events, Uncategorized

Solis Ortus out of TOWN

This weekend Solis Ortus karatekas represented the dojo all over Gauteng, attending the JKA Table Officiating Course, Dragon Warriors tournament and the Coloured belt seminar.

Three of our Black belt students attended the JKA Table Officiating Course with Sensei Karyn. At first everybody attending was unfamiliar with each other and sat quietly.  When the course started everybody listened attentively and had to determine in which category they see themselves (runner, scorekeeper, draws keeper).

Then sensei Karyn had the draws keepers “audition” for their roles.  The whole room was in stiches with the funny shenanigans and role plays various people embodied. After a whole lot of fun, each senior is happy with his or her respective position and cannot wait to give their time and effort back to JKA and be ready for the African Cup in September.

The Dragon Warriors tournament was hosted by Sensei Michelle Singh (4th Dan SKIF – Japan) at the Alberton Action Sport Centre. Some competed for the first time, others came to sharpen their skills, and some came to try out their higher katas for the first time.

The day was long but full of excitement especially the Team events. It was with awe to watch one of our youngest (6 years old) performing Jion for the first time. Too cute for words.

Solis Ortus did very well and everyone medalled. From 8 competitors we have received 16 medals; 8 gold, 5 silver and 3 bronze.

A special thanks to Sensei Lilian, our coach, for all her help and especially keeping our karatekas intact and ready for every event.

Sensei Eugene was also out of town and was invited by JKA to be an Instructor at the Coloured belt seminar, held at the Honbu Dojo, Wanderers Club, Johannesburg. SA JKA members from various dojos attended the seminar and trained together. It was packed with tons of fun and a great deal of information to improve our karate.

After a long successful day, Solis Ortus once again can celebrate victoriously and Sensei Eugene is immensely proud of everyone. It is remarkable to see how our karate kids grow and develop in their karate journey not only in the dojo, but in a competitive way as well.

It is also with pride to acknowledge our seniors for being involved with SA JKA courses and seminars to improve themselves and to be an asset to Solis Ortus and SA JKA.

Thank you to sensei Eugene who is always there to share his knowledge with the youth and help them to become great karatekas one day.

WELL DONE SOLIS ORTUS!!! This year is the year to celebrate our successes to excel into a professional yet BEST KARATE CLUB IN GAUTENG.

 

Written by: Heilethe Calitz