A group of 47 students from Goju Ryu Karate Namibia represented Namibia at the I.O.G.K.F. Africa Karate Championships in Stellen-bosch, South Africa, on the 31 May 2008.
The Namibian Goju Ryu Karate team equalled the amount of medals of last year with the exception that 2 more gold medals were obtained. This year they won 13 Gold, 3 Silver, 11 Bronze + 7 fourth places. Karateka have to win both the Kata and Kumite disciplines in order to win a medal. A true fourth place is also determined by die winners/losers pool draw sheet system.
The Black Belt Men team, who obtained silver medals last year, showed extreme skill by beating the Western Cape B team, the Western Cape A team a well as the Gauteng team. By winning gold medals this year they became the I.O.G.K.F. Black Belt Men Cham-pions for the first time in the six years since Namibia started to participate at this championships. What makes this achievement even more special is that two of the three team members of the Western Cape A team are part of the three men team that are the defending I.O.G.K.F. World Champions of 2005.
Stefan van der Merwe, who started to compete at this championship in 2003, won his division for the sixth consecutive year. This achievement is not equalled by anyone in the I.O.G.K.F. in Africa.
Namibia dominated the senior events on the day by winning the Black Belt Men Team Division (Willie Viljoen, Jürgen van Wyk and Roche Louw), the Black Belt Ladies Division was won by Tegan Sham (Walvis Bay Club) (2nd consecutive year), Stefan van der Merwe won the Brown/Black Belt Junior Division and Max Meyer won the Brown Belt Male Division.
Gold medals were also won by Ndapewa Nendongo, Paulus Kanyangela (Walvis Bay Club), Shaun Halgreen, Opomanga Kafidi, Michelle Lewis, Chad Hansen (2nd consecutive year) and Mufaro Nhundu.
Goju Ryu Karate wants to thank Ekonolux for their support.