On 25 July 2026, Paterson Park in Norwood became a shared competition floor for karate and kung fu practitioners from across South Africa, coming together for the 6th United World Martial Arts Federation South Africa (UWMAFSA) Open Martial Arts Tournament.
Martial arts come together in Norwood
The 6th UWMAFSA Open Martial Arts Tournament brought karate and kung fu practitioners together at Paterson Park in Norwood for a day of competition across disciplines.
The event created an open competition environment where students from different martial arts backgrounds could demonstrate their skills, compete and learn from one another on the same floor.
Different disciplines. One martial arts community.
Competitors first demonstrated forms from their respective martial arts, judged by senseis, before moving into fighting divisions.
Karate competitors from different dojos took part alongside kung fu practitioners, including representatives from the South African Chin Woo organisations in Cape Town and Johannesburg. A central theme of the event was bringing martial artists from different traditions together while promoting respect and sportsmanship.
Building connection through martial arts
UWMAFSA general secretary and event organiser Roxanne Cassim explained that the tournament has continued to grow, bringing many styles and martial artists together, and that the federation hopes to involve additional martial arts disciplines in future events.
UWMAFSA president Shihan Imtiaz Abdulla spoke to the role martial arts can play in developing discipline and respect, and in encouraging people to take a more proactive approach to their own lives.
The event also brought together competitors and communities from different backgrounds, creating a shared competition floor where ability and participation mattered more than where someone came from.
Karate meets kung fu
Mohammed Junaid Chefeker, representing the Chinese martial arts division, spoke to the value of Japanese and Chinese martial arts sharing the same event as a demonstration of unity within martial arts more broadly.
Although the disciplines may approach training differently, the underlying goals of discipline, self-worth and personal development remain closely aligned.
Technology supporting the tournament
Sports Trainer Connect was used as the tournament's digital event-management platform, supporting competitor registrations, competitor divisions, electronic results and general event administration on the day.
More than a tournament
An open tournament like this gives athletes an opportunity not only to compete, but also to meet practitioners from other clubs and disciplines, learn from how they train, build confidence and strengthen the broader martial arts community.