Instructors

Shihan Kenny Uytenbogaardt

Shihan Kenny Uytenbogaardt (8th Dan) – Chairman I.K.O Africa first began his karate career training Goju-Ryu Karate in 1965. He then changed to Kyokushin Karate in 1966 at the Sea Point Dojo under the tuition of Shihan Len Barnes.

In 1981 he won a Gold Medal at the SA Games for non-contact Karate and retired, undefeated, as the SA Kyokushin Open Champion (both contact and non-contact). He won this division 5 years in a row!

Unfortunately, he could not participate in the 1979 Championships due to the ban on SA sports. The SA team was stopped at the airport and made to sign an undertaking that they would not compete in any sporting or cultural activities in Japan. Some fighters did manage to take part by registering as fighters from different African countries.

In 1984 he was the 3rd highest ranked non-Japanese competitor at the World Championships in Japan and managed to finish in the top 16, out of more than 200 competitors even though he was in his late 30’s by that time!. He narrowly lost to the well-known Japanese fighter, Takayama, fighting with broken bones in his foot.

Shihan Kenny’s close father-son relationship with the great Mas Oyama was envied and respected by both Japanese and Westerners alike.

His profound humility and moral standing despite his physical size earned him the worldwide nickname “the Gentle Giant”. Such was his presence, temperament and demeanour that the Japanese actually created a Comic strip character of him in a National Daily Newspaper, few Japanese let alone Westerners can boast such an honour.

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Shihan Kenny has been instrumental in teaching in the townships and rural areas since the 1970’s. As the Chairman of I.K.O Africa, he is also responsible for the development of Kyokushin Karate throughout our continent.

Shihan Kenny travels extensively across Africa and internationally and instructs at Honbu (headquarters) Africa in Cape Town.

Shihan Kenny is currently one of the members of the International Committee of the Kyokushinkaikan, I.K.O Honbu. In 2015 he was awarded his 8th Dan in recognition of his contribution to Kyokushin Karate.

He is in great demand for his knowledge of Kyokushin Karate and is frequently giving seminars around the world to top instructors of Kyokushin.