Our History
Bassonia JKA is situated at 7 Rooigras Avenue, Bassonia in Johannesburg’s southern suburbs and is affiliated to, amongst others, SA JKA Karate Association and Karate Syndicate. Originally called JKA South, over the course of time the name was changed to Bassonia JKA to make it more clear where the dojo is situated. We encourage our students to compete at as many competitions as possible and our tournament results at all levels speak for themselves.
In addition to achieving Protea Colours our instructors and members have had a proud history with the SA JKA Senior and Junior Karate Team having produced many members of the team to represent South Africa at the JKA Shotocup World Championship and Indo Pacific Cup Champs 2023:
SENIOR SA JKA NATIONAL TEAM:
JKA Shotocup
Japan 1996 – Wayne Smith (Bronze)
Paris 1998 – Wayne Smith (Bronze) and Bruce Smith (Manager);
Tokyo 2000 – Wayne Smith (Bronze), Christelle Schofield (bronze medal) and Karyn Smith and Bruce Smith (Manager);
Tokyo 2004 – Christelle Schofield and Karyn Smith and Bruce Smith (Manager);
Sydney 2006 - Wayne Smith, Karyn Smith and Bruce Smith (Manager)
Thailand 2011 - Nataly Marchbank, Melanie Marchbank, Wayne Smith (Jnr Coach), Karyn Smith (Jnr Coach), & Bruce Smith (Manager)
Japan 2014 - Nataly Marchbank, Melanie Marchbank, Wayne Smith (Junior Coach)
Ireland 2017 - Karyn Smith (referee)
Japan 2024 - Karyn Smith (bronze medal), Bruce Smith, Chadwin Deysel, Samantha Pillay, Alysha Govender, Jaco vd Westhuizen
Indo Pacific Cup Champs 2023
Mauritius 2023 (IPC Champs) - Bruce Smith (bronze), Karyn Smith (gold and bronze), Gert Aucamp, Steve Elliott, Chadwin Deysel (bronze), Rorisang Pule (Silver), Alysha Govender.
JUNIOR SA JKA NATIONAL TEAM:
JKA Shotocup
Paris 1998 - Trevor de Brito
Thailand 2011 - Ashleigh Nickloes, Daniela Barletta and Paige Stopforth
Japan 2014 - Paige Stopforth and Tarien Prinsloo
Ireland 2017 - Brittany Shepstone, Chadwin Deysel, Xavier Strydom, Jean-Pierre Michau, Therin-John de Meyer
Japan 2024 - Leanne King, Ben Parry, Cadence Parry, Alexis McKeown
Indo Pacific Cup Champs 2023
Mauritius 2023 (IPC Champs) - Gabby Bester, Taylin Bester (Bronze), Xavier Strydom
Our students have also excelled at National level in KSA All Styles and other all styles tournaments. Many of the students have also earned Provincial Colours and several have earned National Colours:
Senior Protea Colours: Instructor Karyn Smith, Christelle Schofield and Nataly Marchbank;
Junior Protea Colours: Kegan Webber-Maeder, Troy de Paiva, Matthew Champion and Daniela Barletta.
STUDENTS
The club has about 100 members ranging from “Dinky” white belts (beginners) to senior black belts. Our students range in age from 5-80+ years of age!
In addition to achieving Protea Colours our instructors and members have had a proud history with the SA JKA Senior and Junior Karate Team having produced many members of the team to represent South Africa at the JKA Shotocup World Championship and Indo Pacific Cup Champs 2023:
SENIOR SA JKA NATIONAL TEAM:
JKA Shotocup
Japan 1996 – Wayne Smith (Bronze)
Paris 1998 – Wayne Smith (Bronze) and Bruce Smith (Manager);
Tokyo 2000 – Wayne Smith (Bronze), Christelle Schofield (bronze medal) and Karyn Smith and Bruce Smith (Manager);
Tokyo 2004 – Christelle Schofield and Karyn Smith and Bruce Smith (Manager);
Sydney 2006 - Wayne Smith, Karyn Smith and Bruce Smith (Manager)
Thailand 2011 - Nataly Marchbank, Melanie Marchbank, Wayne Smith (Jnr Coach), Karyn Smith (Jnr Coach), & Bruce Smith (Manager)
Japan 2014 - Nataly Marchbank, Melanie Marchbank, Wayne Smith (Junior Coach)
Ireland 2017 - Karyn Smith (referee)
Japan 2024 - Karyn Smith (bronze medal), Bruce Smith, Chadwin Deysel, Samantha Pillay, Alysha Govender, Jaco vd Westhuizen
Indo Pacific Cup Champs 2023
Mauritius 2023 (IPC Champs) - Bruce Smith (bronze), Karyn Smith (gold and bronze), Gert Aucamp, Steve Elliott, Chadwin Deysel (bronze), Rorisang Pule (Silver), Alysha Govender.
JUNIOR SA JKA NATIONAL TEAM:
JKA Shotocup
Paris 1998 - Trevor de Brito
Thailand 2011 - Ashleigh Nickloes, Daniela Barletta and Paige Stopforth
Japan 2014 - Paige Stopforth and Tarien Prinsloo
Ireland 2017 - Brittany Shepstone, Chadwin Deysel, Xavier Strydom, Jean-Pierre Michau, Therin-John de Meyer
Japan 2024 - Leanne King, Ben Parry, Cadence Parry, Alexis McKeown
Indo Pacific Cup Champs 2023
Mauritius 2023 (IPC Champs) - Gabby Bester, Taylin Bester (Bronze), Xavier Strydom
Our students have also excelled at National level in KSA All Styles and other all styles tournaments. Many of the students have also earned Provincial Colours and several have earned National Colours:
Senior Protea Colours: Instructor Karyn Smith, Christelle Schofield and Nataly Marchbank;
Junior Protea Colours: Kegan Webber-Maeder, Troy de Paiva, Matthew Champion and Daniela Barletta.
STUDENTS
The club has about 100 members ranging from “Dinky” white belts (beginners) to senior black belts. Our students range in age from 5-80+ years of age!