About Hoosain Narker

Hoosain Narker, the International Director for Ashihara Karate, and a 8th Dan martial artist with over forty five years” experience, has a vast knowledge of many major styles of Martial Arts. He started his Martial Arts career in 1974 at age 10 and holds Dan Ranking in Ashihara Karate, Kyokushin, Goju Ryu and Taekwondo.

Kaicho has travelled the world in training and teaching this unique brand of Karate. He was a finalist in the U.S. Open Championships in 1988. He has taught Self-defence to members of the US Army Home Guard and whilst not tournament oriented, succeeded in becoming the Grand Champion at the 1994 S.A. Taekwondo Championships, after which he represented South Africa at the World Championships. Since then he has competed in several other tournaments around the world.

Since  1990, he   has  served  as   an Executive Member on    the Provincial  and National Karate Structures, being a founder member of the governing body for Karate in South Africa. He currently serves on several macro-sports structures as an administrator. Kaicho is a certified Exercise Teacher as well as a University accredited Sports Coach and he has been teaching professionally since 1985. He continues to teach classes on a full time basis in Cape Town, South Africa.

About Erik Petermann

Erik Petermann was born in Bonn, Germany, and immigrated to Cape Town, South Africa at age 5. After school he studied at the University of Cape Town, receiving an Honours degree and a teaching diploma.

Erik started his martial arts career with Judo, at age ten, changing to Karate a few years later. He worked as a bouncer for five years, has been shot twice and stabbed three times.

As a result of his years as a bouncer, combat effectiveness has always been his primary interest and, as such, he has studied a broad spectrum of arts, ranging from traditional arts such as Karate, Tai Chi Chuan and Xing Yi Chuan to Reality Based systems such as World War Two Combatives and our local Piper Knife Fighting system. Erik has also studied Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to blue belt level and done a few years of amateur boxing.

Erik has taught traditional arts and self-defence locally, as well as running a Mixed Martial Arts Gym for several years. Internationally, he has taught Piper knife seminars in many countries. He has written and published five books and produced one educational DVD on Piper Knife Fighting.