Who do we cater for?
We cater for beginners to senior belts, old and young, big and small. If you want to learn to fight, do kata, or even just to get fit, join us. Check our class schedules HERE.
Technical & Kata
Traditional Karate: we pride ourselves on traditional training that seeks to find understanding and perfection of technique. There is more to karate than just fighting, a deeper understanding of movement and technique that will take you on a journey that, for some, lasts a lifetime. There is something breathtaking about watching a KATA being performed at the highest level, luckily for us we have a number of multiple provincial and national Kata champions in the dojo.
Fighting - It's what we do!
KYOKUSHIN is renowned for its full contact fighting tournaments. This class is for those (M+F) who want to be competitive fighters (or those who just want to fight). We offer FIGHT CLASS: a bit more robust than the sparring that is done in class, this is where you want to be (adults and invited juniors). We have Protea team members, World Tournament Team members, SA and All Africa Champions (past and present) waiting to help you!
Shihan Kenny – 8th Dan
Shihan Kenny Uytenbogaardt, legend in South African Karate. Shihan Kenny started doing Kyokushin karate nearly 60 years ago while recuperating from a rugby injury, luckily for us the karate bug bit and rugby lost out. After seeing him perform at the 2nd World Open Karate Tournament Sosai Mas Oyama started to take a personal interest in 6'8" South African giant, often flying him to Japan for one on one training sessions. Their relationship remained close until Sosai died and ever faithful Shihan Kenny pledged allegiance to Sosai's chosen succesor Kancho Matsui. Kancho Matsui has relied on Shihan Kenny for guidance and assistance, flying him to Japan at least twice a year for meetings, promoting him to 8th Dan and appointing him a member of the IKO board of directors. While Shihan Kenny was a formidable force as a fighter, winning multiple SA titles in both FULL and SEMI contact karate it is as a Karate technician that he has really gained fame. His understanding of Kyokushin karate sees him being flown all over the world from Russia, Australia, Canada and many countries in between to give camps and seminars. Our gentle giant teaches the senior classes at the dojo and we are hugely priviledged to have a man that countries all over the world queue up to have him attend their seminars.
Shihan Mike – 5th Dan
Shihan Mike started karate 35 years ago at Cape Town dojo and has been the "custodian" of Cape Town dojo for many years. Shihan Mike was graded to 5th Dan by Kancho Matsui at Mt Mitsumine / Japan along with Shihan Jason Dawes in 2014. Shihan Mike and Shihan Jason have been partners for 20 + years, running Cape Town Dojo and teaching at schools around the Peninsula with idea "we bring karate to you". Shihan Mike has travelled to Japan many times and has competed in the Veterans IFT on a number of occasions. His strong admin skills and his ability "to get things done" have seen him initiate many new programs for Kyokushin in South Africa and throughout the Kyokushinkaikan community in Africa. Shihan Mike is Shihan Kenny's assistant in matters pertaining to IKO in Southern and Central Africa and has been responsible for organising the annual Oyama Cup and Africa Selection Tournaments (four yearly event) since 2004. Shihan Mike has ensured that Kyokushinkaikan in our region has kept up with modern trends, initiating online registrations for black belt records, refereeing qualifications, dojo registration and online fighter registration for tournaments.
Shihan Jason – 5th Dan
Shihan Jason started karate as a young boy 35+ years ago and at age 18 he went to Japan as an uchi deshi (live in apprentice) and trained with Sosai Oyama. He trained with notable fighters like Kancho Matsui, Nicholas Pettas, Ryu Narashima etc. During his fighting career Jason was selected as part of the SA Kyokushinkaikan team to participate in the quadrennial World Open Karate tournament FIVE times, represented Africa Kyokushinkaikan in World Team Tournaments in France and Brazil and being invited to fight in places as far afield as Kamchatka in Russia. Unfortunately Jasons fighting career was bought to a premature end by a back injury.Shihan Jason is widely acknowledged in our community as a superb technician with excellent understanding of movement and technique. He graded along with Shihan Mike for a 5th Dan in Japan 2014. Shihan Jasons gentle demeanour and wicked sense of humour sees him as a favorite with the kids and he excels at bringing out the best in even the most the most uncoordinated students.
Sensei Nicole – 3rd Dan
Sensei Nicole started karate as a 10 year old at Sweet Valley Primary school being taught by Shihan Mike. Nicole arrived at karate for her first class in her ballet leotard much to the amusement of Shihan Mike, some 18 years later Sensei Nicole is a partner in the Karate business started by Shihans Mike and Jason. After finishing school Nicole went on to gain a BA degree from UCT. While taking a gap year after graduating Nicole started to assist and teach classes at schools and dojos belonging to Cape Town Dojo, she became an invaluable member of the team and Shihans Mike and Jason realised early on that they could not let this talent go. Nicole has been the queen (and king) of KATA in South African Kyokushinkaikan since she was 16, is the current WC and SA kata champion and represented Africa in the World Team Tournament in Brazil even though she was still a junior. In the past few years Nicole has turned her attention to full contact fighting and is growing in stature as a fighter in the womens arena, at 55kg coupled with fierce determination and willpower she is certainly a handfull to contend with. She is the driving force behind our burgeoning social media presence making sure we remain relevent in spaces like Facebook, instagram and Tik Tok. She is also becoming an accomplished tournament organiser and is passionate about helping our kids become competitors by hosting mini, informal "one match tournaments" in the dojo
Sempai Amanda – 1st Dan
THE BOSS OF US ALL, Sempai Amanda started karate because she used to have to wait around while her daughter attended classes (her daughter gained her black belt, went on to receive Protea colours and fight in the Junior World Tournament). Her attention to detail. coupled with her strong accounting background, she soon started to impose herself in the dojo, helping to organise and run things. She has been Shihan Mikes assistant in organising numerous national events. Slowly she took control of many of the karate business's admin functions and the next thing we new we were being bossed around and told what to do. Without Sempai Amanda much of our admin would crumble and we dont mind being bossed around. A solid karateka in her own right, Amanda, although a late starter has competed in a few tournaments and will attempt her 2nd dan grading at the end of this year. Amanda is the goto person in SA Kyokushinkaikan when organising international teams trips and has been responsible for organising the last two World Tournament (2019 / 2023) teams flawlessly, making sure everyone gets to Japan and are at the right place at the right time, an unsung hero who rarely gets the accolades that she should.