Coastal fighters bag huge medal haul
Spirited display
Members of a coastal based martial arts outfit gave a good account of themselves at a competition in Windhoek
The Walvis Bay Sport Martial Arts (WBSMA) club recently participated in a Ring Contact Fighting Arts (RCFA) tournament at CrossFit Windhoek.
The competition accommodated fighters from clubs in South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. Namibia won the competition by pocketing 60 gold, 45 silver, and 17 bronze medals. South Africa finished second with 15 gold, 11 silver, and five bronze medals. Zimbabwe finished third with three gold and four silver medals.
WBSMA finished in the third position in the top ten ranking after its members collected 13 gold, 14 silver, and two bronze medals. RCFA Windhoek won the competition with 28 gold medals, 18 silver, and 11 bronze medals. RCFA Mariental took the second position with 19 gold, 13 silver, and four bronze medals.
Sensei Reenen Le Grange, the chairman of WBSMA, explained that fighters from the club did not take part in the self-defense events due to differences in rules and formats. “Instead, our participants competed in semi-contact, millennium fighting, and low kick, which involves kickboxing in a boxing ring. If we had participated in self-defense, our medal count would have been significantly higher.”
According to Le Grange, the atmosphere at the competition was incredible, with several top officials from RCFA South Africa present. “We were honored to have master Joe Viljoen, a legendary figure, among us, which made the trip even more worthwhile. This competition was likely the largest of its kind in Namibia thus far.”
Le Grange and sensei Dorothy Bachman serve as the instructors for WBSMA. He also organised a Fodada International Women’s Self-Defense Day on 11 November. The main objective was to advocate for female empowerment and self-protection globally. Despite a few cancellations, a group of 15 women successfully attended the event.
Sensei Le Grange possesses several black belts in different disciplines. Chris Profit and Rachel van der Westhuizen, both certified instructors at an international level, are also part of his team.
The competition accommodated fighters from clubs in South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. Namibia won the competition by pocketing 60 gold, 45 silver, and 17 bronze medals. South Africa finished second with 15 gold, 11 silver, and five bronze medals. Zimbabwe finished third with three gold and four silver medals.
WBSMA finished in the third position in the top ten ranking after its members collected 13 gold, 14 silver, and two bronze medals. RCFA Windhoek won the competition with 28 gold medals, 18 silver, and 11 bronze medals. RCFA Mariental took the second position with 19 gold, 13 silver, and four bronze medals.
Sensei Reenen Le Grange, the chairman of WBSMA, explained that fighters from the club did not take part in the self-defense events due to differences in rules and formats. “Instead, our participants competed in semi-contact, millennium fighting, and low kick, which involves kickboxing in a boxing ring. If we had participated in self-defense, our medal count would have been significantly higher.”
According to Le Grange, the atmosphere at the competition was incredible, with several top officials from RCFA South Africa present. “We were honored to have master Joe Viljoen, a legendary figure, among us, which made the trip even more worthwhile. This competition was likely the largest of its kind in Namibia thus far.”
Le Grange and sensei Dorothy Bachman serve as the instructors for WBSMA. He also organised a Fodada International Women’s Self-Defense Day on 11 November. The main objective was to advocate for female empowerment and self-protection globally. Despite a few cancellations, a group of 15 women successfully attended the event.
Sensei Le Grange possesses several black belts in different disciplines. Chris Profit and Rachel van der Westhuizen, both certified instructors at an international level, are also part of his team.
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