S&K Karate Club ran very successful online karate classes during the C-19 lockdown (read: S&K Karate prove that virtual karate classes do work) and they are now pleased to announce that their normal classes are back in action.
All their clubs are now training at the Mill Park Bowling Club (MPBC) off College Drive Port Elizabeth.
Kyoshi Steve Johnson, one of the two instructors running the club, says, “We normally run our clubs at Grey Junior School, Charlo Primary School and Greenwood Primary School but as schools are still not allowed to run sports activities under Level 1 Lockdown, we have combined all classes at the MPBC.”
Classes run on a Tuesday and Thursday evening in the three different sessions of 45 minutes each. Each session caters for a different group of grades.
Kyoshi Karl von der Marwitz, the other instructor, says “We abide by the very strict regulations set out by government for running a karate clubs during Level 1 Lockdown. These include having your temperature taken before entering the hall, sanitizing hands as you enter and wearing facemasks through the training amongst a host of others.”
Tora Dojo, run by Sensei Graeme Lund, has also joined S&K Karate Club at the MPBC.
Graeme says, “Our students are very pleased to be part of face to face training again. We learnt a lot from online training, particularly from watching ourselves on video, but it is good to hear each other laugh without any digital echo.”
Extra classes offered to S&K Karate students
Many students were unable to train online during lockdown and special classes are being held over weekends or at the private dojos of the senior instructors.
Sensie Pieter du Randt regularly hosts training sessions at his Nintai-Ryoku Dojo in Summerstrand and rather than charging a fee, he has a box were participants can insert a cash donation. These donations are then used to buy food that is donated to Love Story who help feed the underprivileged.
All three dojo’s belong to the Shorin-Ryu Shorinkan style of Okinawan karate.
Since starting classes at MPBC many older students who have not been to classes for extend periods have returned too.
“We are very thankful for the MPBC for allowing us to use their facilities and we look forward to working with them long after Lockdown is over,” says Steve.
For more information contact: Kyoshi Steve Johnson 084 200 0111; Kyoshi Karl von der Marwitz 082 650 1781; Sensei Graeme Lund 073 322 5445; Sensei Pieter du Randt 083 240 9767
