Students of the Kroonstad Black Belt Academy who participated in the American Taekwondo Association South Africa (ATA-SA) national tournament, comprising the Tournament of Champions and Family Festival, performed very well.
These 15 students participated in the tournament that was held in Pretoria from 8 to 10 March.
A total of 94 medals were bagged in the different categories, including extreme martial arts (XMA), that included 50 gold, 21 silver, and 23 bronze medals.
The following students participated in the colour belt divisions:
Kayla Coetzee, Katya Pestana, Iwan Landman, Burhan Coetzee, Danika Viljoen, Daniellé Pestana, Megan Pestana, Wian Kotze, Crystal Bailie, Benno van der Westhuizen, SJ van Rensburg, and Mathew Bailie.
Christian Barnard, Johann Pienaar, and Jessica Pienaar competed in the black belt division.
The following students attained national champion status:
- Crystal Bailie (traditional forms, traditional weapons, traditional combat weapons and traditional sparring);
- Wian Kotze (traditional forms, traditional weapons and traditional combat weapons);
- Christian Barnard (traditional forms);
- Johann Pienaar (traditional combat weapons);
- SJ van Rensburg (traditional forms, traditional weapons, traditional combat weapons, traditional sparring, XMA forms, and XMA weapons);
- Megan Pestana (traditional forms and traditional combat weapons); and
- Kayla Coetzee (traditional forms, traditional sparring, and XMA weapons).
At the Family Festival, students attained the following:
- Benno van der Westhuizen (first place: traditional forms, first: traditional weapons, third: traditional sparring, third: traditional combat weapons, third: team sparring, and third: team combat weapons);
- Kayla Coetzee (first: traditional forms, first: traditional weapons, first: traditional sparring, third: traditional weapons, first: XMA forms, and first: MA weapons);
- Burhan Coetzee (first: traditional forms, first: traditional weapons, first: taditional sparring, third: traditional combat weapons, first: XMA forms, and first: XMA weapons);
- Iwan Landman (first: traditional forms, first: traditional weapons, second: traditional sparring, and first: traditional combat weapons);
- Megan Pestana (first: traditional forms, first: traditional weapons, and first: traditional sparring);
- Daniellé Pestana (first: traditional weapons, third: traditional sparring, and third: traditional combat weapons);
- Katya Pestana (second: traditional forms, second: traditional weapons, first: combat weapons, and third: traditional sparring);
- Wian Kotze (first: traditional forms, first: traditional weapons, first: traditional sparring, first: traditional combat weapons, third: team sparring, and third: team combat weapons);
- Crystal Bailie (third: forms, second: traditional weapons, third: traditional combat weapons, third: team sparring, and third: team combat weapons);
- Danika Viljoen (second: traditional forms, and second: traditional weapons);
- Johann Pienaar (second: traditional forms, first: traditional weapons, third: traditional combat weapons, and first: traditional sparring); and
- Mathew Bailie (first: traditional forms, first: traditional weapons, and first: traditional combat weapons).
Anyone who is interested in becoming a member of the Kroonstad Black Belt Academy is invited to call 082-928-3583 or visit the club at the Primitive Pump Gym, Oranje Street, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 17:30 to 19:30.
