Fighters from 11 clubs across the country stepped into the square to do battle in a ring contact fighting tournament, hosted in memory of a sensei who passed away earlier this year, in Somerset West at the weekend.
The Ring Contact Fighting Arts International (RCFAI) Battle of False Bay Championships was hosted by Gordon’s Bay RCFAI Club at the activity centre of Hottentots-Holland High School on Saturday (8 October).
Event organiser Shihan Gert Kotzee, who is also the president of Ring Contact Fighting Arts Western Cape, said the event was held in memory of Sensei Gawie Herbst, an instructor at Gordon’s Bay RCFAI-club, who tragically passed away after being bitten by a spider earlier this year.
The 60 students from the various clubs participated in different divisions that include semi-contact, full-contact, low kicks, close combat, baton fighting and a fitness challenge.
The following students from the Gordon’s Bay RCFAI Club performed well during the tournament: Cadrian Combrinck claimed two second places; Matthew King placed second and third; Anje Gunnink came in third place; Abigail Cronje finished in first place; Branden Hagemeiser claimed a first and second place; Joshua Conway took second place; Zeah Stewart made the club very proud with three first place finishes; Jared de Lange came in second; Angelique Nunez and Alex Hon both won two first place spots; and Donell Kanengoni came in first and third place.
