Over 250 karateka deliver electrifying championship
The Sports Plaza Hall at the Windhoek Showgrounds transformed into a high-octane arena of focus, discipline, and elite athleticism today as the Namibia Karate Federation (NKF) hosted its national junior and senior championship 2026.
With more than 250 athletes converging on the tatami from every corner of the nation, the event solidified its place as one of the most successful and electrifying national tournaments in recent years.
From pint-sized junior competitors executing lightning-fast katas, to seasoned seniors battling it out in intense kumite bouts, the sheer scale of participation underscored the booming growth of karate in Namibia.
Across a packed day of competition, 177 medals including 53 golds were fiercely contested.
The future of Namibian martial arts was on full display as youth competitors took centre stage. Athletes aged 15 and younger accounted for nearly 58% of the entire event program, with 98 athletes featured across those rising junior age groups.
The U14 division led the charge as the largest segment of the day with 11 gold medals, closely followed by the children and cadet divisions with 10 golds each.
Female engagement continues to be a shining beacon for the federation. Women and girls competed across 22 categories, with 53 female athletes earning official placings. Demonstrating extraordinary skill, Goju-Kai Namibia’s Mikayla Geyser and Caitlyn van Wyk, alongside Shotokan-JSKA Namibia's Mia Eve Brockerhoff (who swept both U14 kata and kumite), walked away with prestigious double-gold honours.
Ensuring fairness and global alignment, the tournament ran seamlessly under the watchful eye of Namibia’s chief referee, Sensei Wikus Oberholster, alongside technical chair Sensei Leonard Martin.
To keep transparency at the forefront, all tournament draws, scoring and results were managed using Sportdata (SET-Online) – the official WKF-approved system – giving every competitor an internationally recognized permanent record.
When the senior divisions stepped onto the mats, the intensity reached a fever pitch. Scoring was calculated on a weighted scale of 15 points for gold, 10 for silver, and 5 for bronze:
Top individuals
Senior Male Grand Champion: Keanu Stuurman (Shotokan-JSKA Namibia) claimed the crown with 25 points after winning gold in individual kata and silver in -67 kg kumite.
Senior Female Co-Champions: In a thrilling deadlock, Nankole Mazila and Katelin Martin (both of Goju-Kai Namibia) finished level on points, proudly sharing the female Grand Champion title.
Other notable champions included Elizabeth Shikongo, Julio Mwiya, Timothy Coleman, Freddy Mwiya, and double-gold standout performers Paulus Makemba and Dylan Grove.
Dojo placings
Goju-Kai Namibia led the championship with a dominant total of 117 medals, consisting of 35 gold, 39 silver, and 43 bronze.
Shotokan-JSKA Namibia secured second place with 27 total medals, including 12 gold, 6 silver, and 9 bronze.
Karate Zen claimed third place with 22 total medals, comprising 4 gold, 6 silver, and 12 bronze.
Ryushinkan International Karate-Do Namibia rounded out the standings with 11 total medals, featuring 2 gold, 2 silver, and 7 bronze.
After an unforgettable day of sportsmanship, NKF president De Wet Moolman and the executive committee extended heartfelt thanks to every athlete, coach, parent, official, and volunteer who made the 2026 championship an absolute triumph.
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