Cape Town Kyokushin Karate is a member of the All Japan Kyokushin Union & Karate South Africa
Our Instructors
Charmaine Abrahams
Born 19/06/71 started karate 1986 at age 15, joining her brother Sensei Marco in the Kyokushinkaikan organisation. Training 4 times a week she graded Shodan in 1990 and was graded Nidan in 1977 by the father of karate himself Shihan Len Barnes. Combining a successful business career, mother, wife and karate sensei she was awarded Sandan by Kancho Hatsuo Royama in 2003. Sensei Charmaine has participated in many Western Province and National tournaments and received her provincial colours in semi contact and full contact karate. She represented South Africa at the 2nd All Japan Kyokushin Union World Cup in 2009 and was awarded a trophy for outstanding female fighter. Her believes: Courage, Honour and Dedication. Sensei Charmaine is a teacher at the Kyokushinkaikan Karate Honbu in Green Point under Shihan Bas van Stenis.
Hakiem Meyer
Born 6/12/77 started Kyokushin karate in 1986 at age 9. At age 12 being a 1st Kyu he moved to Johannesburg were he trained with Seido Karate under Shihan Solly Said. At the age of 16 he returned to Cape Town and graded Shodan in Kyokushin karate. From there on he trained with Shihan Bas van Stenis and in 1997 was graded Nidan by the master himself Shihan Len Barnes. In 2003 he was awarded Sandan by Kancho Hatsuo Royama. Sensei Marco has received many awards and trophies in semi and full contact karate accumulating in him representing South Africa at the All Japan Open Karate Tournament in 2006 held in Osaka, Japan. His believes: Courage, Honour and Perseverance. Sensei Hakiem is a teacher at the All Japan Kyokushin Union, South Africa Honbu, Greenpoint under Shihan Bas van Stenis.
William Langenhoven
Born 23/05/68 started Kyokushin karate training at the University of Cape Town in 1986 under Shihan Len Barnes. Sempai William was graded shodan in 1992 by Shihan Len Barnes. After finishing his studies at UCT he continued training with Kyokushin karate under Sensei Theo Woolf (ret) and in 2001 joined Shihan Bas van Stenis at his Greenpoint dojo. In 2004 Sempai William was graded Nidan by Kancho Hatsuo Royama. He represented UCT at the SA Champs in 1990 obtaining 2nd place in the lightweight division. Sempai William is a medical practitioner, who with his wife Cathy also a medical doctor, runs two busy practises. His medical knowledge is much appreciated at Kyokushin tournaments.
Carol Russ
Sempai Carol is the perfect example that it is never to late to start karate! Seeing her daughter doing karate inspired Sempai Carol and in 1998 after a lifetime of teaching and training in swimming she made a life changing decision and started Kyokushin karate with Shihan Trevor Tockar. When Shihan Trevor left South Africa she joined Shihan Bas van Stenis. Since then she has never looked back and with training every day she graded Shodan in 2005, a magnificent achievement! Sempai Carol’s motto: my life and inspiration are my children, karate and my Shihan. Sempai Carol instructs novices and juniors at the Kyokushin Karate Honbu in Greenpoint under Shihan Bas van Stenis
Kieran Crowe
Sempai Kieran started Kyokushin karate in 1996 at the age of 7 with Shihan Trevor Tockar. At the age of 9 he was already taking part in numerous karate competitions and at 12 was a 1st Kyu. He joined Shihan Bas van Stenis, when Shihan Trevor left South Africa, after searching for over a year looking for a teacher. Sempai Kieran graded Shodan in 2003 and soon developed into a formidable karateka and fighter, earning his provincial and national Kyokushin colours participating at the All Japan Junior Full Contact Tournament in 2004 as well as in the Australian Kyokushin Championship in 2005 where he obtained 1st place in the boys under 17 division. In 2005 Sempai Kieran was appointed head boy at Herzlia High School.
Keenan Crowe
Sempai Keenan started Kyokushin karate the same time as his brother Kieran in 1996 at the age 5. His first tournament was at age of 7 and has since participated in many tournaments, winning numerous trophies and medals. At the age of 14 Sempai Keenan graded Shodan in 2004! The youngest black belt ever graded by Shihan Bas van Stenis. He earned his provincial and national Kyokushin colours in semi as well as full contact karate and came second in the All Australian Kyokushin Tournament in 2005 and participated in the All Japan Junior Full Contact Tournament in 2006. Sempai Keenan has followed in his brothers footsteps and was appointed head boy at Herzlia High School in 2006. A first for Herzlia High School!
Justin Peterson
Born 27th March 1991 and started karate at the age of 7. As a 12 and 14 year old, Justin won numerous tournaments under the old “clicker” system, something which has now been abolished and replaced by full contact karate. In 2006 Justin participated in the All Japan Junior Kyokushin Union Tournament in Osaka, Japan obtaining a distinguished third place. In 2006 Justin obtained his Shodan grade and has since developed into a formidable Kyokushin fighter. In 2008 he became the SA under 18 champion as well as capturing the Ashihara Karate Jnr championship. Justin is at present a full time instructor with Shihan Bas at the South Africa Kyokushin Union Honbu in Cape Town.
