TRICORE Martial Arts: A rising force in Kraaifontein's combat sports
Based close to the N1 highway in Kraaifontein’s leafy Windsor Park suburb, this establishment has built a strong and respectable reputation for years, focusing on creating a family-based gym while churning out talented and hard-working combat sports athletes.
2024 has seen the fruits of Shihan Ruhan Louw and Co’s hard work and commitment as TRICORE celebrated a successful trip around the sun.
A handful of athletes received honours, and leading the charge for TRICORE was stand-up athlete Driaan Bosman, who shone on the international and local stages.
In April, Bosman and his teammates Stefan de Lange and Roslyn Humphreys flew the TRICORE flag at the South African Kickboxing Championships with podium finishes in their various disciplines.
Bosman and de Lange secured Gold in all their respective divisions, while Humphreys piled on the medal count for her team, winning silver in the points division and gold in two additional categories.
In June, at the RCFA (Ring Contact Fighting Arts) All Out War event in Potchefstroom, despite a tough pool of competitors from across the nation, Tricore Martial Arts Gym rose above once again, bagging an array of medals and accolades. With only three fighters, they still made it into the Top Ten gyms to participate.
A few months later, it was a chance for the Kraaifontein-based gym’s grappling students to come to the fore and prove that TRICORE may be known as a strong kickboxing gym, but it is well-versed in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, too.
After a respectable showing at the Cape Town Alpha Grappling League 16 event in August, TRICORE impressed at the AJP (Abu Dhabi Jiu Jitsu Pro) Tour a month later in Camps Bay.
There, Quinton Brink stood out, securing a bronze medal in his category.
Around the same period, TRICORE starboy Bosman donned his gear again to represent South Africa at the WKO World Championships that took place in England.
There, he cleaned out in his divisions, bringing home four world titles and three silver medals.
Bosman dominated in the K-1 Light (16-17 under 56kg), Sport Boxing: Light (15-16 under 54kg), Low Continuous (14-16 under 55kg) and Low Kick Light (14-16 under 54kg) divisions.
Coupled with his three silver medals, the young warrior earned an overall 9th place ranking on the world stage.
Shortly after touching down in Mzansi again, the young Driaan was en route to the neighboring state of Namibia to showcase his talents at the second RCFAI Namib War Championships.
TRICORE’s dominance was undeniable as Bosman, Roslyn Humphreys, and Bradley Bezuidenhout earned podium spots. Bosman claimed four gold medals, including a spectacular win in the Full Contact High Kicks main card event.
Humphreys stepped up to the plate, walking away with an equal tally, after proving versatility in baton fighting and sports boxing, before Bezuidenhout rounded out the team’s achievements with an impressive gold and silver medal haul in the semi-contact divisions.
Despite competing with just three students against larger teams, Tricore’s excellence was evident as the club secured a spot in the top 10 martial arts schools, placing sixth overall. The second time in one year they have done this. Driaan and Roslyn shared 14th place in the overall rankings, while Bezuidenhout secured 25th, out of more than 100 entries.
While the gym continues to make a strong mark nationally and internationally, the club is committed to grassroots development, too.
With a big focus on kids and the foundation phases of martial arts, TRICORE, in partnership with Absolute Legends, also hosted a Fury Development Tournament at Fanie Theron Primary School in Kraaifontein. This tournament brought together kickboxers from various gyms, focusing on developing new fighters and giving junior and senior fighters a platform to showcase their skills in the ring. The event proved to be a massive success for Tricore Martial Arts, with their team walking away with an impressive haul of medals —17 gold, 9 silver, and 4 bronze. This event was more than just a competition—it was an opportunity for young fighters to experience the thrill of the sport in a supportive environment, while also helping to develop and grow the local kickboxing scene.
“We are so proud of all our fighters, especially the juniors who fought for the first time,” said a representative from Tricore Martial Arts. “It takes a lot of courage to step into the ring, and they showed great heart and dedication. We’re excited to see how they continue to grow as martial artists.”
If you're in or around the Kraaifontein area and are looking for a place to learn valuable life, and defense skills while also losing weight, contact TRICORE Martial Arts for more details.