The 2024 Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate National Championships took place at the Sports Facilitation Centre of the Windhoek Show Grounds, bringing together 103 contestants from all ages. The competition featured a diverse range of athletes, with participants as young as 7 years old competing alongside veterans over 35 years of age. This year, the OGKN introduced a new format by splitting the kata and kumite disciplines, encouraging competitors to specialize in each. However, to uphold the tradition of all-rounded karate, athletes who secured gold medals in both disciplines were crowned the ‘Grand Champions’ of their respective divisions.

Grand Champions for 2024:

Lumé Karsten
12-13 years Female Orange – Green Grand Champion

Demi von Solms
14-15 years Female Green – Blue Belt Grand Champion 

In addition to individual kata and kumite competitions, Team Kata and Family Team Kata events allowed teams and families to showcase their skill in synchronized kata performances. These events fostered a spirit of camaraderie and demonstrated the deep-rooted family connections within our karate community. A total of 18 family teams participated in the Family Team Kata Events.

OGKN also took the opportunity to honor karateka who have achieved significant milestones in their karate careers. The following individuals were recognized for their unwavering dedication to Goju-Ryu karate in Namibia:

Sensei Carl van der Merwe – 40 Years

Sensei Karin Brockmann – 30 Years

Sensei Stefan van der Merwe – 25 Years

Sempai Sergio Duchaine – 10 Years

The 2024 Championships were a resounding success, with competitors and spectators alike celebrating the spirit of Goju-Ryu and the achievements of our karateka.