Ruan Potgieter is a 11-year-old from Kraaifontein, Cape Town (South Africa) with a huge talent for Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate.
Ruan started doing karate at the age of 6 on 30 August 2017. Ruan found that he liked karate a lot and soon started outshining his peers and fellow competitors. Ruan won his first two medals in 2018 in his first tournament. (1x Gold, 1x Bronze) In 2019 Ruan won another nine medals. (2x Gold, 1x Silver, 6x Bronze)
Ruan wanted more opportunities to learn more and to better himself and in the beginning of 2020, Ruan made the decision to join the International Martial Arts Academy (OGKK Brackenfell). He now trains under the guidance of Sensei Monique Morrison-Hagen and Sensei Nicolette Morrison-Hagen. Ruan felt that this was the only way he could better himself as a karateka and to accomplish his dreams.
Before COVID put a stop to all tournaments in 2020, Ruan won four medals in two tournaments he took part in. (1x Gold, 3x Silver) On 19 September 2020 Ruan graded to Blue 3 - 5th Kyu.
In 2021 Ruan managed to win 3 medals. Two Silver medals for kata in two Virtual Tournaments and a Bronze medal for kumite representing KSA UNICITY Cape Town (Western Province) at the KSA Western Cape Karate Championships (KAWC).
His biggest dream is to become a Black Belt one day and he also wants to compete in more National Tournaments and ultimately to represent South Africa in International Tournaments.
Ruan’s dream to be able to compete on the international stage and to represent South Africa came true when he was selected for the South African Goju-Ryu Karate Team that will compete at the 6th World Goju-Ryu Karate Federation World Championships (WGKF). The tournament will be held from 08–11 September 2022 in Foligno, Italy.
