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Sensei Stefan van der Merwe

4th Dan Goju-Ryu Karate (IOGKF)

Sensei at Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate Namibia

Biokineticist at Trinity Fitness Namibia

AUSC Region 5 Certified Kata and Kumite Coach

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“ Absorb what is useful, discard what is useless and add what is specifically your own.”

– Bruce Lee –

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Sensei Stef

4th Dan Goju-Ryu Karate (IOGKF)

Owner and Biokineticist @TriFitNam
Sensei @gojuryukaratenamibia
Coach @hpsknamibia

Sensei Stef
Smash and Tear! Saifa is one of my all time favorite katas and the first step into the more senior and difficult Goju-Ryu Katas. 

What makes Saifa unique is the amount of round/circular techniques and how they are used to generate power. This makes the kata ideal for all karateka; regardless of strength or stature. 

I hope you enjoy the video - Make sure to watch all the way to the end! 

Key Moments:
0:39 - Kata Meaning
0:59 - Sequence and Timing
1:59 - 360 View
3:19 - Why Saifa is so hard.

Learn more Goju-Ryu Katas:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7cF72Ew6wRq41gmTv3ufR-Hw9iwi7DVI

Find out more about what I do:
https://www.SenseiStef.com
Learn more about Biokinetics Rehabilitation:
https://www.trifitnam.com
Start your Karate Journey:
https://www.goju-ryu-karate-namibia.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
@SenseiStef

Music:
ShogunBoomBap - BLVD
Feels - Patrick Patrikios
Kata Tutorial – Saifa
YouTube Video UCE-peDeijsx3Mr9v_eBkS5w_rttLrsRiAug
Kihon Dai Ichi is a basic kata used by many dojo’s around the world to teach  karate movement, stances and techniques to beginners. 

The version I’m going to show you in this video is the way that we like to do the kata in my dojo at Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate Namibia. 

Timestamps:
0:47 - Kata Meaning
1:12 - Sequence and Timing
2:02 - 360 View

Learn more Goju-Ryu Katas:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7cF72Ew6wRq41gmTv3ufR-Hw9iwi7DVI

Find out more about what I do:
https://www.SenseiStef.com
Learn more about Biokinetics Rehabilitation:
https://www.trifitnam.com
Start your Karate Journey:
https://www.goju-ryu-karate-namibia.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
@SenseiStef

Music:
ShogunBoomBap - BLVD
Feels - Patrick Patrikios
Kata Tutorial – Kihon Dai Ichi
YouTube Video UCE-peDeijsx3Mr9v_eBkS5w_X8m6ELHUlvk
Geki Sai Di Ni, similarly to Geki Sai Dai Ichi, was created by Miyagi Chojun Sensei to help teach the basic of karate to beginners at schools. 

However unlike it's predecessor, Geki Sai Dai Ni now included open hand blocks such as hiki uke and tora guchi. 

In this video we will cover the basic sequence and timing of Geki Sai Dai Ni.

Key Moments:
0:32 - Kata Meaning
0:55 - Sequence and Timing
1:49 - 360 View

Find out more about what I do:
https://www.SenseiStef.com
Learn more about Biokinetics Rehabilitation:
https://www.trifitnam.com
Start your Karate Journey:
https://www.goju-ryu-karate-namibia.com
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
@SenseiStef

Music:
ShogunBoomBap - BLVD
Feels - Patrick Patrikios
Kata Tutorial – Geki Sai Dai Ni
YouTube Video UCE-peDeijsx3Mr9v_eBkS5w_ayJEd1A5N_o
Geki Sai Di Ichi is one of the most basic and fundamental kata in the Goju-Ryu Syllabus. The kata was first introduced into the Goju-Ryu syllabus by Miyagi Chojun Sensei to help teach the basics of karate, such as punching, kicking and blocking at school. 

In this video we will cover Geki Sai Dai Ichi's basic sequence and timing!

Key Moments:
0:28 - Kata Meaning
0:48 - Sequence and Timing
1:42 - 360 View

Find out more about what I do:
https://www.SenseiStef.com

Learn more about Biokinetics Rehabilitation:
https://www.trifitnam.com

Start your Karate Journey:
https://www.goju-ryu-karate-namibia.com

Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
@SenseiStef

Music:
ShogunBoomBap - BLVD
Feels - Patrick Patrikios
Kata Tutorial – Geki Sai Dai Ichi
YouTube Video UCE-peDeijsx3Mr9v_eBkS5w_thVtzxdpTzU
The lovely Miss Happy Auala recently reached out to Okinawa Goju-Ryu Karate Namibia (OGKN) in order to create a basic self-defense guide that can be used to help raise awareness for gender-based violence in the country and empower women around Namibia! Together we decided to come up with this four part video series which covers a few crucial tips and tactics that can be used in basic self-defense scenarios! 

In this final part of the basic self-defense series we cover a few of the most common scenarios that you may be faced with in real-life. This video we draws upon the techniques and theory covered in parts 1-3 and applies these techniques in more practical and realistic situations.

As previously mentioned, the techniques and theory shown in this video is but fraction of what real self-defense is about. Self-defense is something that needs to be practiced regularly not only to build familiarity with the techniques but also to physically condition the body for combat. 

If you have enjoyed this series and are interested in learning more about karate, martial arts and self-defense, please make sure to follow all the appropriate links below!

CREDITS:
Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate Namibia 
@gojuryukaratenamibia 
www.goju-ryu-karate-namibia.com

Sensei Stefan van der Merwe
@stefvandermerwe 

Happy Auala
@the.non.typical

Jonas Amunyela
@Jonas_the_billionaire_king

Garwin
@garwin_the_cam_guy

Music: The Reckoning – AEROHEAD
OGKN Basic Self Defense – Part 4
YouTube Video UCE-peDeijsx3Mr9v_eBkS5w_LsJ5q_51148
The lovely Miss Happy Auala recently reached out to Okinawa Goju-Ryu Karate Namibia (OGKN) in order to create a basic self-defense guide that can be used to help raise awareness for gender-based violence in the country and empower women around Namibia! Together we decided to come up with this four part video series which covers a few crucial tips and tactics that can be used in basic self-defense scenarios! 

Part three of our basic self-defense series focuses primarily on various kicking techniques that can be used in self-defense scenarios. Since the legs are generally longer than the arms, they are highly beneficial at helping create distance between you and your opponent in order to allow you to escape. Once again the video touches on the most vital striker areas. Similarly to punching techniques, kicks need to be practiced regularly to insure maximum effectiveness. Start by practicing each of the kicks in the video against a punching bag for 3 sets of 10 kicks each leg. 

If you have enjoyed this video and are interested in learning more about karate, martial arts and self-defense please make sure to follow all the appropriate links below!

CREDITS:
Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate Namibia 
@gojuryukaratenamibia 
www.goju-ryu-karate-namibia.com

Sensei Stefan van der Merwe
@stefvandermerwe 

Happy Auala
@the.non.typical

Jonas Amunyela
@Jonas_the_billionaire_king

Garwin
@garwin_the_cam_guy

Music: The Reckoning – AEROHEAD
OGKN Basic Self Defense – Part 3
YouTube Video UCE-peDeijsx3Mr9v_eBkS5w_EVXA9Gd43gc
The lovely Miss Happy Auala recently reached out to Okinawa Goju-Ryu Karate Namibia (OGKN) in order to create a basic self-defense guide that can be used to help raise awareness for gender-based violence in the country and empower women around Namibia! Together we decided to come up with this four part video series which covers a few crucial tips and tactics that can be used in basic self-defense scenarios! 

This video covers a few different striking techniques, other than punching, which may be more beneficial for women in a self-defense scenario. Since females generally have longer nails than men, as well as often not being as conditioned to punch, open hand striking may be a more effective means of defensive striking. This video also touches on a few vital striking areas which generally result in the most damage to your opponent. 

If you have enjoyed this video and are interested in learning more about karate, martial arts and self-defense please make sure to follow all the appropriate links below!

CREDITS:
Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate Namibia 
@gojuryukaratenamibia 
www.goju-ryu-karate-namibia.com

Sensei Stefan van der Merwe
@stefvandermerwe 

Happy Auala
@the.non.typical

Jonas Amunyela
@Jonas_the_billionaire_king

Garwin
@garwin_the_cam_guy

Music: The Reckoning – AEROHEAD
OGKN Basic Self Defense – Part 2
YouTube Video UCE-peDeijsx3Mr9v_eBkS5w_K7ziLV_CxK0
The lovely Miss Happy Auala recently reached out to Okinawa Goju-Ryu Karate Namibia (OGKN) in order to create a basic self-defense guide that can be used to help raise awareness for gender-based violence in the country and empower women around Namibia! Together we decided to come up with this four part video series which covers a few crucial tips and tactics that can be used in basic self-defense scenarios! 

Part one of the series focuses on the fundamentals of making a fist as well as proper punching technique! As you can clearly see in the video, punching is something that needs to be practiced regularly in order to physically condition the hands for impact.  To start, practice hitting a punching bag using a tight fist for 3 sets of 10 punches with each hand, every day. This should help insure proper form and focus throughout the technique. 

If you have enjoyed this video and are interested in learning more about karate, martial arts and self-defense please make sure to follow all the appropriate links below!

CREDITS:
Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate Namibia 
@gojuryukaratenamibia 
www.goju-ryu-karate-namibia.com

Sensei Stefan van der Merwe
@stefvandermerwe 

Happy Auala
@the.non.typical

Jonas Amunyela
@Jonas_the_billionaire_king

Garwin
@garwin_the_cam_guy

Music: The Reckoning – AEROHEAD
OGKN Basic Self Defense – Part 1
YouTube Video UCE-peDeijsx3Mr9v_eBkS5w_W_rQ5CJDtiw
In this video I will take you through the basic sequence and timing of Sandangi Kata. 

Sandangi is the first kata or sequence taught in the IOGKF syllabus and by definition means technique in three levels or steps. The sequence is generally used to establish basic movement and introduce karateka to kata training.

For more information on Sandangi Kata check out the great links below: 
http://www.otgka.co.uk/articles/san-dan-gi-training-exercises
http://sanchindachi.blogspot.com/2014/06/sandan-gi-drills.html
https://www.southwestlondonkarate.co.uk/japanese-terminology/

Key Moments:
0:27 - Kata Meaning
0:44 - Sequence and Timing
1:17 - 360 View

Find out more about what I do:
https://www.SenseiStef.com

Learn more about Biokinetics Rehabilitation:
https://www.trifitnam.com

Start your Karate Journey:
https://www.goju-ryu-karate-namibia.com

Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
@SenseiStef
Kata Tutorial – Sandangi
YouTube Video UCE-peDeijsx3Mr9v_eBkS5w_uAGt4Jh_-Kk
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