Madibaz semi-contact powerhouse Luchay Weideman is gearing up to bring the heat at the USSA Karate Championships in Durban on 28 and 29 June — and she’s not arriving quietly. After snagging four gold medals at last year’s tournament, the 22-year-old Mandela University student is back, sharper than ever and ready to defend her title.
“There’s pressure, sure,” says Luchay, “but it’s a privilege to be here and fight for my team.”
Studying toward her Master’s in Human Movement Science, Luchay is as much about mental strength as she is about physical performance. Whether it’s refining her technique or tracking her fitness levels, she believes staying calm under pressure is what separates the champions from the rest.
Earlier this year, she proved that her dominance isn’t a one-time thing. Competing at the Afro-Asia World Open right here in Nelson Mandela Bay, she earned a silver in kata and a team gold in kumite as part of Hillside Dojo – a squad specially invited to the event, which doubled as the SA championships.
Now, with her eye firmly on USSA glory, Luchay says the Madibaz team is fired up and focused. And they’ll need to be — 2024’s impressive medal haul (28 in total) has only raised the stakes.
“The growth in the sport is incredible. We have so many new faces joining us. It’s exciting,” she adds.
One of the key figures behind that growth is her older sister, Adré Weideman, who mentors the semi-contact team and believes 2025 could be another golden year for Madibaz.
“Both our semi-contact and full-contact teams are in great shape,” says Adré. “We’re ready.”
Karate has seen a huge boost in popularity across Nelson Mandela Bay, and the Weideman sisters are right at the centre of it — combining passion, power and performance as they lead their team into another national showdown.
Image: Adré and Luchay Weideman, Madibaz Semi-Contact Team
Story adapted from Full Stop Communications
Leave a Reply