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SPECIAL LEN BARNES MEMORIAL EDITION JULY 2008
On Saturday 28th June 2008 we honoured the 5th anniversary of Shihan Len Barnes’s death, with an international youth tournament, held in Cape Town South Africa. Our Japanese honbu; THE ALL JAPAN KYOKUSHIN UNION , under the present directorship of Shihan SHIGERU TABATA send a delegation of Shihan YOSHIKASU KOI, technical director of the Union and Sensei JIYU SHIBATA , chief instructor with Shihan DAIGO OHISHI.
On the 26th June Shihan Koi and Sensei Shibata were fetched from CT International Airport by Shihan Bas van Stenis and Sensei Samson Muripo and were immediately thrown in the deep end, by having to take a training session, only a few hours after their 24 hour journey from Japan. The interest was great and we hired a school hall to accommodate all the students wishing to benefit from training with our Japanese visitors. We even had students from Goju, JKA and Ashihara karate participating. The training was great and no doubt our students benefitted from the Japanese expertise. After dinner the visitors were taken to their hotel for a deserving good night sleep.
Friday morning the 27th, our guests went on a guided tour of Cape Town, with lots of pictures being taken. In the afternoon Shihan Bas’s young students, 7 to 10 year olds, were treated with a training session conducted by Sensei Shibata, something they will not forget for a long time.
That evening Shihan Koi conducted a thorough referees seminar which was well attended by the referees and judges adjudicating in next day’s tournament. That evening our guests were treated to dinner at Cape Town’s only revolving 5* restaurant, The Top of the Ritz and served indigenous springbok fillet steaks. At dinner a lot of constructive Southern Africa Kyokushin issues were discussed.
SATURDAY 28th June: Tournament Day.
We had an original 145 entries, however the Zimbabwean team, led by Sensei Samson Muripo, was decimated due to political and financial restrains, whilst the Swazi and Gauteng teams failed to arrive. A total of 103 fighters contested the tournament, mainly Kyokushin students, but it was wonderful to have fighters from Goju, Ashihara and a team from the ex IFK organisation under Shihan Steven Helm participating. We started at 09.00 hrs, with the verification process (ages and weights divisions) of the under 8 and 10 year olds. At 11.00, with the arrival of Shihan Koi and Sensei Shibata, we started as scheduled using two tatamies.
From the outset the under 8 year olds set a high standard, with good techniques. The boys final was contested by Zachary Solomon, Kyokushin Cape Town Stephen and Mhlembasoja, Zimbabwe. The much lighter Zachary tried hard, but had to concede defeat to Stephen, whose techniques reminded us of his mentor Sensei Samson. Third place was achieved by Matthew Abrahams from Kyokushin Cape Town, almost causing his mother, Sensei Charmaine Abrahams, to have a nervous breakdown in the process.
The girls under 8 was fiercely contested with the final being decided between Chanelle Visser, Goju karate and Sarah Symons, Kyokushin Cape Town. This was a ding-dong affair with Sarah, the lightest and smallest fighter in this division narrowly losing in extra time. Third place went to Mishtah Booley Goju karate. Well done Sensei Leon Abrahams from Goju.
In the heavier girls division, gold was won by Milla Peerutin with silver going to Jenavieve Utian both from Kyokushin Cape Town. Both mothers needed a strong cup of coffee after the fight, to calm their nerves.
The final of the boys under 10 L/Wdivision was contested by Nathaniel Bent, Kyokushin Colorado Park, Sensei Haroun Trim, and Stephen Dirkse, Kyokushin Meiyo Sensei Primo Abrahams. These two were the elite of the 16 contestants in this weight group with Stephen obtaining 1st place by a split decision. Third place was gained by Daigo Benjamin, Kyokushin Rachmatolie Salie. All winners being Kyokushin students.
The under 10 H/W Division was also shared by three Kyokushin Groups. 1st place Matthew Johanisen, Hanover Park Sensei Rachmatolie Salie, 2nd placeRyan August, Colorado Park Sensei Haroun Trim, 3rd place Romano Fillies, Meiyo Sensei Primo Abrahams. Well done Senseis
The girls under 10 division again showed that Kyokushin girls are tough. 1st place Shameen Jaffer, Hanover park Sensei Rachmatolie Salie, 2nd Sherry-Lee Rhoda, Meiyo Sensei Primo Abrahams and 3rd place Demi Caldis, Kyokushin Cape Town . Demi participating for the first time in full contact competition.
L-R: Training with Sensei Shibata, Shihan Van Stenis and Shihan Koi
The official opening of the tournament commenced at 13.00 hours, with a speech by the Japanese consul to South Africa,Mr KENJI MIYATA, which was warmly received by the audience. This was followed by a speech by Shihan YOSHIKASU KOI, bringing warmest greetings from Japan. The spectators were than treated with a demonstration by children of Cape Town honbu led by Sensei CHARMAINE ABRAHAMS followed by a superb Tai Chi demonstration conducted by Sifu Renate Jacobs from the International Tai Chi Soceity Cape Town.
The “gloves” and head gear came off for the older contestants and the under 12’s was a fiercely contested division. Boys final in the L/W was between Faldie Hanslo, Kyokushin Colorado Sensei Haroun Trim and Milton Petersen, Kyokushin Meiyo Sensei Primo Abrahams with Lance Rhode, Kyokushin Belhar Sensei Rachmatolie Salie.
Faldie gaining 1st place with a fiery display. 3rd Place went to The final H/W’s was between Maurizio Fillies, Kyokushin Meiyo Sensei Primo Abrahams and Jonathan Chikoko, Zimbabwe. Chikoko, kast years gold medalist was narrowly defeated by Maurizio. 3rd Place went to Mog.Zaid Fredericks, Kyokushin Colorado Park Sensei Haroun Trim.
Girls L/w division was won easily by Kashan Wright, ex IFK Shihan Stevan Helm with Nadia Willemse , Kyokushin Colorado Park coming 2nd.
Girls H/W division was won by Michaela Stevens, Kyokushin Meiyo Sensei Primo Abrahams in a hard and uncompromising contest with Justine Wright, Gauteng Shihan Steven Helm coming second.
Under 14 Divisions had the largest contingent of fighters and the L/W div final was contested between Ntsikelelo Neelani, and Buhlali Ngcokonfi, with Ntsikelelo gaining gold. In 3rd place was Abdull Razaak Lamera. All three athletes are students at Kyokushin Karate Colorado Park with Sensei Haroun Trim; WELL DONE SENSEI!
The H/W division was always going to be a grudge contest with last years champion Klidakwashe Djangeng , weighing in at 100kg, from Zimbabwe, wanting to prove his dominance in the under 14’s. His first fight was against Gherswin Strachan, Kyokushin Cape Town weighing 86 kg. Gherswin, arguably the more technical fighter, run out of steam and Klidakwashe scored an ippon with a powerful chudan tsuki. The most exciting fight was the semi’s between Shakeel Busby, Kyokushin Hanover park and Jacques Bagraim, Kyokushin Cape Town. Both scored with wasaaries, but Shakeel managed to score a 2nd wasa ari as time was being called. The final between Shakeel and Klidakwashe was a David and Goliat affair, Shakeel weighing only 50kg had to concede defeat to the Zimbabwean. In 3rd place was Jacques Bagraim.
The girls under 14 .was won byRa-Eesha Bassier, Kyokushin Meiyo, 2nd place Samantha Jessiman, Gauteng 3rd placeAttiyah Rodrigues, Gauteng the last two being ex IFK members Shihan Steven Helm. The Boys under 16 L/W was almost a clean sweep for Shihan Steven Helm with first and third place going to his students from Gauteng. 1st placeKenneth Rodrigues , 2nd place Lindsey Oliver Kyokushin Colorado Park , and 3rd Yasveer Chahhan , Well done Shihan. The H/W division was won by Smabious Viyano, Zimbabwe with silver going to Deshin Subramoney, Gautteng
The Girls division was won by Angelica Zuzie, Zimbabwe with silver going to Chavonne Mathys, Kyokushin Belhar Sensei Rachmatolie Salie.
Girls under 18 was won by Murendeni Ramuthaga, Gauteng with silver Gouwa Hendricks, Kyokushin Belhar.
The under 18 division was very tough, the final being contested between Justin Petersen, Kyokushin Cape Town and Kyle Saddington, Goju. Kyle the current provincial Goju champion participated in his first full contact tournament. The bout went into extra time and Justin’s international experience eventually proved too much for Kyle, having to concede a Wasa ari. 3rd Place went to Mukesu Harrilial Gauteng.
SAYONARA PARTY:
The tournament finished as per schedule and at 19.00 hours we gathered for our traditional Sayonara party in which Sensei Shibata entertained us with a Japanese song. Speeches were held and Shihan Koi thank us for the hospitality shown to him and Sensei Shibata. The food was excellent and the beer was cold. The Zimbabweans entertained us with an African dance routine in which Sensei Shibata showed us his Kyokushin moves! Shihan Koi finished the party with the traditional Kyokushin greeting. On Sunday our visitors were taken on a extensive tour of the Cape including the National Park and the Cape of Good Hope. This was followed by dinner at the same restaurant were Sosai Mas Oyama on his visit to South Africa had a steak in 1980.
On Monday the 30th, we unfortunately had to say goodbye to our guest, but hopefully the Union will again honour us by sending a representative next year. Finally, thank you to our advertisers, sponsors, members of Cape Town Honbu, referees, helpers, first aid, photographers, you are too many to mention, but without your invaluable help and assistance we would not have been able to have such successful tournament. Pity that other local Royama and Matsuie Kyokushin groups could not see beyond their ego’s and come pay tribute to the founder and father of Kyokushin Karate in South Africa, Shihan Len Barnes.
Thank You; Shihan Shigeru Tabata, Shihan Yoshikasu Koi and Sensei Jiyu Shibata, we will meet again soon. Lastly, thank you to my wife Andrea, who made sure that our guest discovered a small part of beautiful South Africa.
OSU; Bas van Stenis
TO KNOW, TO WILL, TO DARE, TO BE SILENT: SHIHAN LEN BARNES
Member of the ALL JAPAN KYOKUSHIN UNION
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