Where Karate is not only taught, but also understood, perfected and applied inside and outside the Dojo
Affiliated to SASKA, WUKF, UWK & ISKS
Sensei Laurent was born in 1962 in France and moved to South Africa in 1970. He started Karate with his son and daughter under Shihan Koos Burger of the South African Shotokan Karate Academy. He is currently a 6th Dan and runs the Cobras Karate club in Brackenhurst, Alberton where he teaches together with his son Sensei Nicholas and assistant instructor Sensei Andrea.
The club teaches students of all ages. All three instructors still compete at national and international levels.
He was selected as the national coach for the seniors team for the World Union of Karate-Do Federation (WUKF) World Championships held in Brazil 2005, Spain 2007, Ukraine 2009, Italy 2011 and Romania 2013. He is also the Vice President for WUKF in Africa and holds the position of Chairman for SASKA. Sensei Laurent's achievements at the World Championships was obtaining a 3rd place in Spain 2007, 2nd place in Ukraine 2009, 2nd place in Italy 2011 and 2nd place in Romania 2013.
​"I feel that the art of karate is beneficial to both children and adults alike, as it brings confidence in our lives and the challenges that we face. Young or old, we all have fears that we may come across in life. Karate helps and trains us to make the best decision be it in combat, self defence situations, or any other decisions we may need to make. It helps you think and plan, quickly and effectively.
Karate is also beneficial to one's mental and physical health and improves the core strength of the body.
I see karate as a way of life. It teaches you self-defence, confidence and discipline. I feel that people who practice the art of karate become achievers and live life in a positive way. I believe perseverance is the pathway to success."
My best achievement in life is the fact that I have had the opportunity to train with my son, and both winning medals in the Karate World Championships.
Laurent
Gaston-Bellegarde
Sensei
• 6Th Dan Black Belt
• SASKA Shihan Kai member
• SASKA Chairman
• WUKF Africa – Vice President
Nicholas
Gaston-Bellegarde
Sensei
• 4Th Dan Black Belt
• SASKA Shihan Kai member
My karate career began in 1989 when I was just five years old. After having just started school, I decided that I wanted to begin taking karate classes too. Now, more than 2 decades later I can honestly say that I have never looked back and karate has become a way of life for me.
Currently I am a full time partner at the Cobras Shotokan karate club in Alberton, where I teach twice a week with my father, Sensei Laurent Gaston-Bellegarde. I enjoy teaching this magnificent art to people of all ages and I believe that all these years of teaching have instilled certain morals and values within me, for which I am well respected today.
I have competed at various World Championships over the last 10 years and my highest national and international achievements to date, are as follows: I achieved my Protea Colours in 2002 when I was selected as part of the official South African Team to represent the country at the WKF World Championships held in Novisad, Yugoslavia. On an international level my highest achievement to date was winning a bronze medal in the Senior Men's Shotokan Kata division at the 4th WUKF Seniors and Veterans Karate World Championships held in Lignano, Italy during May 2011.
Over and above teaching karate and also competing, I have refereed at many local, provincial and national tournaments. I became a member of the SASKA Shihan Kai committee in December 2008 after being awarded my Yondan (4th Dan Black belt) by our style head, Shihan Koos Burger.
My words of advice to aspiring Karateka out there:
My karate journey began in 1997, at the age of 6, when I first saw the Cobras karate club training at my school. From the minute I walked into the dojo, this journey has become my way of life. Now, 17 years later I can honestly say it was the best decision I ever made. I have been teaching twice a week since 2006 with the Head Sensei, Sensei Laurent Gaston-Bellegarde. I thoroughly enjoy passing not only my knowledge, passion and etiquette of karate to students of various ages.
I obtained my Shodan (1st black belt) in 2007 and since then have achieved my Sandan (3rd black belt) in 2014. Over and above teaching and training, I have competed and refereed in various local, provincial and national karate competitions and have been selected three times to represent SASKA at the WUKF Seniors and Veterans Karate World Championships held in Ukraine (2009), Italy (2011) and Romania (2013). To date my highest achievement has been winning the best senior female at the SASKA nationals for the years 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015.
Train! Train hard! And if at first you don't succeed then train harder and let karate become a part of your life, like it has mine.
My advice for any new karateka, would be to train.... because there is no finish line in karate, when you reach one goal in karate find a new one and maintain good strength and honour in doing so.
Sensei
Andrea
Kolkenbeck-ruh
• 3Rd Dan Black Belt
