Gary Purcell, of Sunnyridge, together with his daughter and son (Rebeca and Joshua), competed in the 22nd annual United Nations Ju-Jitsu World Championships, on October 4 and 5.
The championships were held at the Barnard Internal Arena, in Kempton Park.
Ju-Jitsu, also known as Jiu-Jitsu, is an ancient martial art used by the Samurai warriors of war-torn Japan.
The art itself consists of punches, kicks, throws, ground-grappling and weapons.
Ju-Jitsu techniques rely heavily on leverage, so you don’t have to be extremely strong to train.
The Purcells and some of the other members of the Tonkinkan Ju-Jitsu Club, based in Edenvale, represented South Africa at the championships.
Gary, Rebeca and Joshua all participated at blue belt level and did exceptionally well.
Gary, defeated by his daughter, received a bronze medal in the random attacks green to blue belt category, which placed him third in the world.
The two siblings also put on outstanding performances at the two-day world championships and collected the following medals:
- Rebeca: silver medal (second in the world) – pairs kata green-blue belt; silver medal (second in the word) – Random Attacks green-blue belt; silver medal (second in the world) – ground fighting (women).
- Joshua: silver medal (second in the world) – ground fighting (men); silver medal (second in the world) – kumite (full contact); silver medal (second in the world) – random attacks green-blue belt.
Other achievements the family has racked up in Ju-Jitsu are:
- Gary: SA colours; provincial colours two years running; two bronze medals in the Gauteng Provincial Championships.
- Rebeca: SA colours; provincial colours two years running; three gold medals for Gauteng Provincial Championships; one silver medal for SA Championships; one bronze medal for SA Championships.
- Joshua: SA colours; provincial colours two years running; one gold medal for Gauteng Provincial Championships; one bronze medal for Gauteng Provincial Championships; two bronze medals for SA Championships.
Currently on blue belt level, the family unit is training to move to purple belt level.
