Windhoek — The annual Black Belt Grading of Goju Ryu Karate was held on September 20 2008 in Windhoek.

Four students tested for Shodan (1st Dan Black Belt) and 1 tested for Nidan (2nd Dan Black Belt) in front of a panel headed by Sensei Bakkies Laubscher, 8th Dan Black Belt, Chief Instructor of the IOGKF (International Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate Federation) for Africa.

Due to the severe physical test performed no spectators are allowed.

The Namibians did well under the tough circumstances. Sensei Bakkies Laubscher expressed his satisfaction with the standard of the Namibian Black Belts and mentioned that the standard in Namibia equals and in many cases exceeds the international standards set by the IOGKF. He performs many gradings each year all over the world.

The students had to attend an 8 hour Gasshuku (training camp/seminar) before the physical grading test of more than two hours. They also had to pass a written examination to test their knowledge about the history as well as technical aspects of Goju Ryu Karate.

The following students were graded:

Maximillian Meyer - Shodan

Michiel Greeff - Shodan

Christoph Haenisch - Shodan

Stefan van der Merwe - Shodan

Tony Robertson - Nidan (2nd Dan)