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Hillside Karate Club Celebrates 30 Years And Continues To Serve The Community

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The Hillside Dojo in Gqeberha which opened its doors to youth in 1994 continues to pay it forward to the communities in the Northern Areas.

“In celebration of the Dojo’s 30-year partnership with Erica Youth and Child Care Centre, we would like to repair and re-paint the venue, replace the curtains which have now become worn, replace broken window panes, and complete the painted murals,” said Current Dojo Head, also the provincial Head of Goju-Kai Eastern Province, Clayton Thom.

Thom added that Erica was a government facility but often needed assistance in some areas. Over the years Hillside Dojo has through various programmes with its members, donated to the centre much-needed personal goodie bags, clothing and toiletries to the residents, and the baby section, also painted the hall, repaired the lights, broken windows and doors of the hall, beautified the entrance hall with painted murals, provided curtains for the hall, donated funds for Christmas parties and recreational activities for the residents.

“Hillside Dojo has been operating for 30 years from the Erica Youth and Child Care Centre, in Hillside, Gqeberha. The centre opened its doors to the local community in 1994 and serves as a safe haven for children from troubled homes,” Thom said.

The centre had the only hall facility in the area then and was the perfect venue to open the Dojo to serve the community. There have been various managers at the centre over the 30-year period and all have understood the need to touch the lives of our community positively.

“Even though the Dojo runs officially for two days per week, Erica Centre has allowed us the use of the venue up to six days per week until late in the evening to do what needs to be done to affect positive changes to all who come through the dojo doors,” said Thom.

Children residents of the centre have full access to the dojo and its activities. Some highlights were having these children represent EP Goju-kai at our national championship around the country. The training preparation towards the events and them having the opportunity to travel and form part of a team environment did wonders for their self-esteem and personal growth.

The Dojo has been under the leadership of numerous instructors.

The Dojo was started in 1994 by Sensei Tommy Mannie and Duncan Afrikander. Past instructors include Sensei’s Bevan Maleiba, Brent Maleiba, Malcolm Petersen, Heren Mannie, Sean Ahmed and

Clayton Thom. Clayton Thom Shihan has been the instructor at the Hillside Dojo since 1999 to date.

Thom recalls that at its peak the dojo had 150 members before Covid 19 pandemic. Even though none of the original students remain from when the club opened, one of the current instructors Warda Mallick Shihan, is the longest member having joined in 1995 from an associated club.

Sempai Duncan Afrikaner has since passed away, but his nephew is currently training at the Ddojo.

Unfortunately, some of the earlier years of the dojo’s records have been lost, but the last two decades accolades include:

  • 1st EP Goju-kai Shihan
  • 1st EP Goju-kai female Shihan (1 of 3 in Africa)
  • Over 40 black belts graded
  • 1 KSA national Protea coach
  • Over 50 Protea representatives
  • 1 EC karate Head Coach
  • 15 Goju-kai world champions
  • 24 Goju-kai world medallists
  • 4 commonwealth medallists
  • 2 Zone 6 champions
  • 11 Zone 6 medallists
  • 1 All Africa Games medallist
  • Uncountable SA all styles & SA Goju-kai Champions

“The dojo has had many contributors over the years, we would like to thank all of them for their commitment to furthering endeavours from their roots in the underprivileged Northern areas of Gqeberha,” Thom added.

Shihan Sean Ahmed, a former instructor at Hillside Dojo, now leads a Goju Kai dojo in Edenvale, Gauteng. Many of his senior students are former Hillside members who relocated to Gauteng for career opportunities. “Hillside Dojo has had a profound impact on the lives of countless karateka who trained there. Many of those students are now accomplished professionals, thriving in their respective fields. It’s a testament to how the principles learnt in the dojo have positively shaped other areas of their lives. I am proud to have trained and taught there, and I am honoured to carry forward those teachings in my dojo today.”

Current Instructor, Warda Mallick states “If the last 30 years are anything to go by, I’m super excited to see what boundaries, boxes, stereotypes and records the dojo will continue to break over the next 30 years!”

Current Dojo Head, also the provincial Head of Goju-Kai Eastern Province, Clayton Thom said: “It is hard to believe that the dojo has been operating for 30 years now. So many people have come and gone over these three decades. We remain friends, always connected through the dojo. I give thanks to all instructors and students before and present, for contributing to the success of the dojo.”

In September this year, the Hillside Dojo also hosted the Youth Karate Challenge at the Nelson Mandela University Indoor Sports Centre, Missionvale Campus.

“The tournament has been running since 2014 but took a hiatus during the Covid-19 restrictions and this year was the 7th edition of the event,” said Thom.

This year there was also a rise in participating Dojo’s from various parts of the Eastern Cape and even the Western Cape. Approximately 400 competitors, ranging in age from 5 years to 21 years, from 26 Dojo’s (clubs) were in attendance, competing in various disciplines (kata, kumite, team kata, team kumite) with trophies up for grabs for all team events.

“It was an honour having friends in sport sharing in this special milestone with our dojo,” he added.

The focus of the tournament is to foster goodwill amongst youth, sharing the day together in sport. The tournament is about celebrating youth, but more importantly, it provides a place of unity for all karateka.

The tournament coincides with the celebration of the hosting dojo, Hillside Dojo’s 30th anniversary.

“It was an honour having friends in sport sharing in this special milestone with our dojo,” said Thom.

The focus of the Youth Karate Challenge tournament was to foster goodwill amongst youth, sharing the day in sport. The tournament celebrated the youth, but more importantly, it provided a place of unity for all karateka.

This year the tournament focussed on education where NMU Madibaz provided information packs and gift bags for all teenager competitors, to promote education through sport. “We hope to build on this in future Youth karate challenge events”.

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