50th Anniversary of Bakkies Laubscher

I went to Cape Town, South Africa, to celebrate with one of the best Karate practitioners I have had the privilege to be associated with; Sensei Bakkies, he is an inspiration to everyone.

I was met at the airport and made my way to the accommodation; it was actually a bachelor flat with an open plan bedroom and the weather was a comfortable 25°C. After settling in, there was a knock at the door, it was Gavin Hill from Australia, he said "I have hired a car", so we made our way to the Stadium.

It was such a pleasure to see Higaonna Sensei in good spirit and his assistants Nakamura and Yamashiro Sensei’s. After all the greetings it was time for training, 3rd Dan to 8th Dan for 90 minutes then training was spilt into 4 groups, there were about 250 people.

Every morning we met for breakfast with a healthy Green Tea and Porridge with Honey and Raisins outside one of many Café/ Restaurants in Stellenbosch, but it was not all about Karate – Do, we visited a Cheetah Sanctuary where Gavin went in with the Cheetahs, I stood outside because I like my own space and I respect theirs.

Then we went to a Lion Sanctuary where we both defiantly respected their space, it was quite daunting to be walking between 35 Killing Machines and a fence that I’m sure they could clear had it not been for the 20,000 volts that deter them.

And of course we climbed Table Top Mountain, Gavin Hill and Paul Parrlett did it in 47 minutes, and I did it in 15 minutes in the Cable Car, once up there the view was quite breathtaking.

My Special thanks to the Laubscher Family and Gavin Hill for a wonderful time.

George Andrews