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JKA S.A. Karate Union events and student achievements 1997
The JKA S.A. Karate Union, led by 7th Dan Malcolm Dorfman Sensei, ended 1997 with superb results.
Karate history was made, when Saville Dorfman (13) became the All-Japan Youth Champion. This was only the second time in the 40 years of the existence of the All-Japan Championship , that a non-Japanese has won this title. To add to the uniqueness of this achievement , his older brother Shane was the first non- Japanese to win this title , eleven years ago.
Shane Dorfman (22) , again proved his overall superiority in 1997 , by winning both the kata and kumite titles to become South African All-Style Grand Champion for the 4th successive year. He also took both JKA kata and JKA kumite titles to become JKA South African Grand Champion , for the 5th successive year.
Saville Dorfman holding the bag as older brother Shane Dorfman executes a flying side thrust kick
In world karate circles , Shane once again proved his worth , by annihilating top European and world competitor Michael Braun , 6-0 in forty five seconds , on his way to becoming Maccabi Games Grand Champion.
Other senior members of the JKA S.A. Karate Union who achieved in 1997 were Lisa Greenspan , who became the Africa Ladies Kata Champion.
(L to R) Imtiaz Abdulla (President - KASA/UFAK), Nadeer Sherif (Egypt), Marco Fanicchi (JKA SA),
Sam Ramsamy (President NOCSA), Malcolm Dorfman (JKA SA/KASA)
The national unison kata team of Michael Roetz, Tyrone Theodorides and Bryan Dukas, took silver at the All-Africa Championships and gold at the Africa Zone 6 Championships. Terri Nathan took silver for Ladies Kata at the Maccabi Games.
Besides Saville's exceptional achievement in Japan , two other juniors excelled in the international arena by attaining medals in senior divisions. Jarrid Rosen (16) took bronze in Mens Kumite Under 65 kg , and Candice Rabinowitz (17) took gold in Ladies Kata at the Maccabi Games.
On the national sphere , Saville again led the way by becoming both South African All-Style Junior Grand Champion and JKA South African Junior Grand Champion for the 5th successive year.
Not content to rest on his laurels , Malcolm Dorfman Sensei , after undergoing examinations in Japan , became only the second non-Japanese ever , to be awarded the status of A-class International Instructor , A-class International Judge and A-class International Examiner , by the Japan Karate Association. He was also appointed onto the President's Development Commission in Africa and as Chairman of the Technical Commission of the Karate Association of South Africa.