Ashihara Karate welcomed back four young champions from a successful trip to India and Ethiopia in January.

Taygan Brown, Zachary Hendricks, Sadiya Narker and Rabia Narker were part of a 28-day tour in India and Ethiopia, wrapping up with the All India Ashihara Karate Sabaki Championships in Mumbai.

The welcome back was also a training session in commemoration of 93-year-old karate instructor Joe van Rensburg, at the Karate Confederation dojo, at Naruna Scouts Hall in Plumstead, on Saturday, January 25.

Buckroad Primary School’s 12-year-old Taygan won a gold medal for kata and kumite in the under-14 division.

Taygon said he felt privileged after earning a plaque for his outstanding performance. He impressed with his kata demonstrations and also took on the role of an official in India.

While at the training session in Plumstead, 13-year-old Zachary, from Fairbairn College, in Goodwood, said he was pleased to have earned a gold medal in kata and a bronze medal in fighting.

Zachary participated in the under-16 category. He also officiated at the event and earned a special plaque for impressive demonstration skills.

“I find karate fun. I do all disciplines,” said Zachary.

In the girls’ division, 14-year-old Sadiya Narker, from South Peninsula High, crushed it.

Sadiya, a brown belt, took home a gold medal for both fighting and kata, along with a plaque for best female competitor. She also contributed as an official.

“The experience was hectic. It was good. I won gold in the under-16 category,” said Sadiya.

Another fierce competitor is the former head girl of South Peninsula High and the current first year pupil of Islamic Studies at Zahraa in Crawford, Rabia Narker.

The 18-year-old Rabia served as a tournament director for the third time, marking her first international event.

Although Rabia did not compete, she showcased kata and earned a trophy and plaque for her outstanding performance.

“It was my first international tournament that I directed. I feel very privileged to know that I could not only run tournaments in Cape Town but I can do it overseas as well. It was tough because of the language barrier but we made it happen,” said Rabia.

At the training session in Plumstead at the weekend, the four young karatekas said their hard work was inspired by their sensei, the world head master of Ashihara Karate, Kaicho Hoosain Narker.

Narker prepared and accompanied them to India and Ethiopia, for a 28-day karate tour, that started in December last year.

The tour included training camps and visits to 21 cities in the snowy north of India.

“We empower our students. Either than competing, they also officiated, showing that there are other skills to be learnt in sport,” he said.

They rode on jam-packed bullet trains to get from one destination to another in India.

“In India they have fewer facilities but are producing higher standards of education because education is important,” said Narker.

Narker said he has a new technique book that will be launched at South Peninsula High School, on Sunday February 16.

World Head Master of Ashihara Karate International, Kaicho Hoosain Narker with four of his karatekas that took gold medals, trophies and plaques at the Ashihara Karate National Championships held in Mulund, Mumbai on January 12.

Zachary Hendricks, 13, from Fairbairn College in Goodwood, clinches Gold in Kata and Bronze in Fighting in the under-16 division. Along with officiating, he earned a special plaque for his impressive demonstration skills. Picture: Lonwabo Marele

Buckroad Primary School’s Taygan Brown, 12, from Lotus River, won gold for kata and kumite in the under-14. He received a plaque for outstanding performance, demonstrated various katas and also officiated in India. Picture: Lonwabo Marele

Rabia Narker, 18, former head girl of South Peninsula High School, served as tournament director for the second time, marking her first international event. Although she didn’t compete, she showcased kata and earned a trophy and plaque for her outstanding performance. She's currently in her first year of Islamic Studies at Crawford. Picture: Lonwabo Marele

South Peninsula High’s Sadiya Narker, 14, won a gold medal for fighting, a gold medal for kata, a plaque for the best female competitor, as well as officiated, at the Sabaki and Ashihara Karate All India International Championship 2025. Picture: Lonwabo Marele