09/09/2026
🥋 IJKA SA WARRIORS – 1st DOJO GASSHUKU
4–6 September 2026
And so, we begin our journey.
Over the weekend of 4–6 September 2026, we held our very first IJKA SA Warriors Dojo Gasshuku. The weather certainly wasn't on our side, but our Warriors faced it head-on!
We laughed, we challenged ourselves, we worked hard, and most importantly, we grew — not only as karateka, but as individuals.
When we arrived, the rain was coming down heavily, forcing us to move our first training session into the dining hall. But a little rain was never going to stop the Warriors!
Early on Saturday morning, our members got up, faced the cold, and took on the run up the hill. It wasn't easy. Every step demanded determination, discipline and mental strength. There were moments when it would have been easier to stop, but they kept going.
Because a Warrior learns that the greatest battles are often fought within.
At the top of the hill, we trained together and then took a moment to appreciate the incredible view around us. It was a reminder that sometimes you have to push through the struggle before you can see the reward on the other side.
Throughout the Gasshuku, we completed four training sessions, each lasting an hour. But the training didn't end there. Our Warriors then faced the obstacle course and gladiator arena, testing their strength, courage, teamwork and determination.
I am incredibly proud of the small group of Warriors who attended this camp. They stepped outside their comfort zones, got to know one another on a deeper level, and built a stronger bond as a team.
This is what a Gasshuku is about.
It is more than karate.
It is about stepping away from the familiar.
It is about testing yourself.
It is about discovering what you are truly capable of.
It is about falling, getting back up, and refusing to give up.
A person who enters a Gasshuku may return as the same person physically — but mentally, something has changed.
You become stronger.
You become more confident.
You become more resilient.
A very special thank you to Magalies Retreat Resort for welcoming us. It was a great privilege for me to bring my students to a place where I have personally attended Gasshuku before, and to share some of those memories and experiences with them.
Seeing them experience it for themselves made this Gasshuku even more meaningful.
To every person who attended, participated, pushed through the cold, the tiredness, the challenges and the moments of doubt:
Thank you. You made our first Dojo Gasshuku something truly special.
This is only the beginning.
Train hard.Stay strong.Never give up.
Become the Warrior Within.
🥋 WARRIORS!!!! 🔥
Magalies Retreat(North West)
IJKA SA
