KARATE

Karate can be divided into two main groups:

Traditional Karate and Sport Karate.

Traditional Karate:

Traditional karate teaches you the basic punches, strikes, kicks and blocks that evolved from Okinawa, Japan. It also teaches you the basic kata`s and traditions of your style of karate.

A Karateka is tested twice a year to see their progress in learning. If a karateka passes the necessary curriculum, he or she moves up in the karate ranks. It is shown by the colour belt they wear.

White

Jnr Yellow, Yellow

Jnr Orange, Orange

Jnr Green, Green

Jnr Blue, Blue

Jnr Purple, Purple

Jnr Brown I, Brown I

Jnr Brown II, Brown II

Jnr Brown III, Brown III

Jnr Black or Black

Sport Karate:

It is still necessary to practice traditional karate.

Sport Karate concentrate more on competitions. In competitions you have two divisions, kata and kumite. A karateka compete in his or her age and belt division.

Kata: Trained movements – shadow fighting

Kumite: Controlled Fighting

Ryushin-kan Karate-do

Bloemfontein Martial Arts Academy is part of Ryushin-kan Karate-do International. Our leader Soke Takeshi Masuyama from Kobe, Japan.

Soke Takeshi Masuyama

Sensei Takeshi started karate in April 1965. He trained under Sensei Tani. He received Shodan (1st Dan) 21 April 1973. He is currently a 9th Dan and hold the degree of Hanshi, being the president of Skukokai World Karate Union, with headquarters in Kobe, Japan. He is also the Soke of Ryushinkan International Karate-Do Federation.

After the death of Tani Sensei, his son Mr. Hiroshi Tani, and many Senseis and instructors from other countries announced themselves as top of their respective Shukokai groups.

All the Shukokai Headquarters Instructors got together and founded the Shukokai World Karate Union (Ryushin-Kan), with Takeshi Masuyama as Kancho, he was chosen for this position because he was Tani sensei's personal assistant and supervisor since 1975. S.W.K.U. Ryushin-Kan is a group of Instructors from former S.W.K.U. Headquarters and our intention is the same as original S.W.K.U.

When Kimura-sensei, from United States passed away, his ash was divided half for America and half for Japan. The relationship between Kimura-sensei and Takeshi-sensei was like brothers. Takeshi was privileged to be appointed as the chief of the funeral committee. During Kimura - sensei's lifetime, he often talked about the organization of Kimura karate with Masuyama and he decided and confirmed that Takeshi Masuyama would be a successor and counsellor to the Kimura Karate. He had also decided Alex, Orlando and Armstrong would be messengers for Japan. He took this decision back to America but unfortunately there were ambitious people who did not want to accept Kimura-sensei's decision. They forced Kimura Karate to collapse.

Kyoshi Elias Jacobs

He started Karate 20 January 1970 with Shukokai Karate Sensei Eric Smith and Sensei Gilbert Pears. (45 years in karate)

Grading History

1980 : He started with Sensei Chris Thompson at the Samurai Dojo in Claremont.

1990 : Graded to 4th Dan by Kimura Sensei whom also appointed him on the Master Panel

(Shihankai) in South Africa

1995 : Graded as 5th Dan by Sensei Chris Thompson at the Head Office in Claremont Dojo

2001 : Graded as 6th Dan by Soke Takeshi Masuyama of Japan in Durban South Africa

2002 : He became the official direct students of Soke Takeshi Masuyama

2007 : Graded as 7th Dan by Soke Takeshi Masuyama in Head Quarters in Kobe City Japan

Karate Official History

Chief Referee of Karate Boland
President of Karate
Become the Chief Instructor/President for RIKDOSA in March 2002
Team Manager with the Senior Team competing at Senior World Championships (WKF) that was held in 2008 in Japan
Key role-player with organising the Africa Union Championships that was held in 2010 in the Velodome in Cape Town.

Accomplishments History

He was inducted in South Africa Karate Hall of Fame
Best administrator for Karate South Africa
Best administrator for Boland Sport Confederation
Sport Legend for the Western Cape
Life Time Achiever by Boland Sport Confederation
Appointed as the Higher Brother of RIKF, he is the only one allowed to sit with Soke Takeshi Masuyama when countries meet with Soke in Japan.

Sensei Liam Nel

Sensei Liam started training under Sensei Tom Goosen in 2009 at his dojo Bloemfontein Martial Arts Academy. With passion and hard work Liam reached brown belt in a record time. He practices Ryushin-kan Karate-do, Kyusho Aiki Jutsu and Systema. It has broadened his horizon not only for karate but in self defence.

In 2013 sensei Tom Goosen was transferred to Natal. With permission from the higher brothers of RIKF Liam took over Bloemfontein Martial Arts Academy as a brown belt. Liam graded as shodan 2013. In 2014 he was honoured with the first shodan that received the title of sensei in Ryushin-kan Africa history. In 2015 sensei Liam Nel graded to nidan.

Sensei Liam Nel is part of the Free State Karate team. With his passion for karate and his students he have grown Bloemfontein Martial Arts Academy to one of the best dojo`s in the Free State.