In October 2010 IOGKF South Africa is hosting one of the most unique events in IOGKF history! This week long event will be supervised by Grand Master Higaonna Morio, aided by Bakkies Laubscher sensei and other prominent senior IOGKF instructors. Members will have the opportunity to attend and participate in one of the following three official IOGKF events.
- The 2010 IOGKF Country Chief Instructors’ Gasshuku (合宿) for country chief instructors and senior members of 5th Dan and higher.
- An IOGKF International Gasshuku (合宿) , known as the Ubuntu Gasshuku (合宿) – the first in South Africa since 1985.
- The Official 2010 IOGKF World Friendship Tournament – a tournament held every four years beginning 2006 in Canada.
A special effort has been made to accommodate junior members who constitute the majority of the IOGKF membership worldwide.
Our theme for this event is ‘Ubuntu’, an African concept derived from ‘Ubuntu Ngumuntu Ngabantu’, meaning “A Person is a Person through other People” focusing on people’s allegiances and relations with each other.
‘A person with Ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he or she has a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed’
Desmond Tutu
‘A traveller through a country would stop at a village and he didn’t have to ask for food or for water. Once he stops, the people give him food, entertain him. That is one aspect of Ubuntu but it will have various aspects. Ubuntu does not mean that people should not address themselves. The question therefore is: Are you going to do so in order to enable the community around you to be able to improve?’
Nelson Mandela
You’ve been to Europe, the Orient, the Middle East, Russia, the America’s, Oceania… now experience Africa and discover why it’s fast becoming the world’s number one tourist destination!
The event will be staged in the historical town of Stellenbosch, the oldest village in South Africa, founded by the Dutch in the late 1600’s in the Cape Province. Stellenbosch is world renowned for its wines, scenic beauty and laid back lifestyle and is the centre of the wine culture in South Africa. It is also a vibrant university town. Stellenbosch is situated in a scenic valley between famous mountain ranges about 30km from Cape Town, 20 km from the nearest warm water beaches and 15km from the Franschoek valley, which was founded by the French Huguenots two and a half centuries ago and is also renowned for its wine and natural beauty.
Entertainment abounds for visitors of all ages, including pubs, clubs and restaurants of every variety (even a genuine Japanese restaurant!) which are within walking distance of most of the town’s accommodation facilities. Self-catering is made easy by numerous accessible shopping malls.
The training and tournament will be held at the DF Malan Sports Centre at Coetzenburg Sports Fields, which has produced many well-known South African (Springbok) rugby players.
October is springtime in Cape Town and temperatures can range between 12oC and 28oC. The average daytime temperature should be around 25oC with sunny skies and occasional rain!
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General
October is well into the tourist season, meaning busy airlines and scarce accommodation – Airfare usually increases in March so it is advisable to book early for the best prices.
Group accommodation in Stellenbosch is limited and should be booked early to avoid disappointment. To experience the South African wildlife in its natural habitat, it is best to fly to Cape Town via Johannesburg and to take a safari tour from Johannesburg on your return journey.
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Events
The IOGKF Country Chief Instructor Gashuku
Commences on Saturday 23 October with an official welcome function for all country chief instructors, 5th Dan and higher, followed by all day training on Sunday 24 October and the chief instructors’ meeting. From Monday to Thursday, training will be every morning for two hours exclusively.
The IOGKF South Africa ‘Ubuntu’ International Gashuku
Runs from Monday 25 October until Friday 29 October with daily group training sessions, similar to the European Gashukus and Okinawan Budosai.
Juniors can participate in the entire Gashuku in their grade groups, or in special session for juniors aged 7 years and older, on Thursday 28 October and Friday 29 October. We are catering for the many juniors that we have in South Africa, so please bring your junior members along.
Black Belt group will have a daily training session with Higaonna Sensei (as opposed to the single training session offered at most of these events)
Kyu grades will be grouped together
Training will finish daily at 14h00 to make time available for sightseeing etc.
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The IOGKF World Friendship Tournament
Will be held on Saturday 30 October.
- The general tournament, Black Belt team finals and Master’s Demonstrations will take place on Saturday 30 October.
- Mens’ and Ladies’ Black Belt teams will each comprise of three persons and countries can field more than one team. It is advisable to have a 4th person as a reserve. The format will be a straight knock out.
- In addition to the team events, there will also be individual black belt divisions for Men and Ladies who do not take part in the team events.
- Members may takes part in either the team or individual events.
- Only members and reserves of the teams knocked out in the 1st rounds, can enter on the spot for the individual divisions.
- There are 61 divisions for juniors and seniors, run on a Loser Pool system, which means every competitor gets two chances before being knocked out. Juniors take part in weight and age categories with seniors in kyu grade categories.
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The Sayonara Party
Will take place on Saturday evening 30 October. The registration for the Ubuntu Gashuku includes the Sayonara Party for members. Tickets for family and guests are available at R450.00 per person
