Local JuJitsu stars aiming for international stage
Four fighters come back with six medals
Described as ‘full-contact, self-defence art’ and ‘situational combat training’ by Sensei Adrian van der Werken, the ancient, close-quarters battleground discipline of Ju-Jitsu has a flourishing home here in Horison. Adrian operates Shunkenkan Ju-Jitsu from the Alida van Wyk Hall at the NG Gemeente Horison.
”The harder your attacker comes at you, the harder you will be able to hurt him.” This is how Sensei Adrian motivates his young students when training them. From five years old, both male and female students learn that size does not matter when being attacked. With the right technique, smaller persons can put even the biggest attackers on their backs. “It’s all about knowing when and where to strike,” Adrian stressed.
Shunkenkan Ju-Jitsu has sent four of its top fighters to the South African Ju-Jitsu Council (SAJJC) National Championships in Kempton Park in September. The eldest was 30-year-old Jean Olivier. He has been involved in combat sports since a young age, but has been with Shunkenkan for just over three years. Jean won the silver medal in the ground fighting category.
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Lola Dos Santos Sardinha is Shunkenkan’s 16-year-old gold medallist who won the random attacks category. Hogging all the medals though, are the brother-and-sister duo of Hunter and Mercedez Erasmus. Hunter, 17, won three medals at the National Championships. He won silver in the grappling category, and gold in the random attack and Kumite (freestyle fighting) categories respectively. Mercedez won gold in grappling. With Mercedez only 13 years old, and she and Hunter only two years into their Ju-Jitsu careers, more medals are surely on the way.
Adrian calls his love for Ju-Jitsu a ”burning desire deep inside” and hopes that the progress his students are making will pay off next year. “These four will go to the international qualifying tournament and if they medal, they will get the opportunity to represent South Africa,” he explained.
Anyone wishing to learn the art of Samurai hand-to-hand combat can call 071 548 8014 or email shunkenkan@gmail.com.
