Oscar Knoester
Sensei Oscar’s judo career started at the tender age of 3 with his father, Sensei Joe. He was a hard task master on and off the mat, and discipline was high at all times. At the age of 13 he represented his province for the first time. In these early years he achieved many titles such as Sportsman of the year for Judo South Africa. He captained the junior and senior men’s team for his province for many years. He won his first senior SA Open at the age of 16 (u86kg’s) and from 1981 he represented SA on many occasions in England, Holland, Germany. Belgium, Switzerland, Israel, Zimbabwe and Taiwan. He also trained in many countries all over the World. During the 80’s he represented SA in the military as well as the combined forces teams overseas and qualified as an international coach in Japan in the early 90’s. Sensei Oscar was head of refereeing and coaching for SA for a number of years.He is a qualified World Referee and the first and only South African Referee to achieve the status of representing South Africa at the 2012 London Olympics and the Youth Olympics in Nanjing China in 2014.
In his career as a coach he produced many Provincial and National champions and International players.
Sensei Oscar retired as a competitor at the age of 38, to focus on his coaching and refereeing. He currently holds a sixth Dan grading and is still the Head coach at KANO INSTITUTE.
He is an outdoor enthusiast, is a long standing member of the Bushveld Conservation Bureau and loves being in nature, hunting, trout fishing, spear-fishing and diving.
Damien Botha
Damien has been dedicated to Judo since the age of eight, with over 22 years of experience in the sport. He holds the rank of Nidan (2nd Dan) Black Belt and brings more than 20 years of refereeing expertise, having started officiating at just 10 years old.Beyond the tatami, Damien holds a degree in Psychology with a focus on child development. His passion for working with young people is evident in his career—he spent two years at a school in Pretoria as Head of Sport and Culture and worked as an au pair for nearly five years, supporting the growth and development of two boys.
Seeking broader professional experience, Damien has also worked for the past four years as an accountant, gaining valuable business and organizational skills that complement his coaching and leadership.
Damien is a dedicated coach and mentor, guiding athletes of all levels. He also leads junior programs at various schools and provides private Judo lessons at the Fairland Dojo, where his expertise and enthusiasm continue to inspire the next generation of judoka.
Kyeren Bartman
Kyeren is a dedicated and accomplished figure in South African judo, having transitioned seamlessly from a competitive environment to a respected coaching role at Kano Institute.As a competitor in the –100 kg division, Kyeren represented South Africa on the international stage, including at the African Junior Championships and Commonwealth-level events, where he earned podium honours. This experience at the provincial and international level granted him deep insight into the technical, physical, and mental demands of competitive judo. His continuous study of sports nutrition blends a powerful connection with the discipline of judo and the science of athletic performance.
His coaching philosophy has been guided by the mentorship of Sensei Oscar Knoester and is firmly grounded in the core judo principles of discipline, technical precision, and mutual respect. Kyeren is passionate about fostering continuous improvement and works with judoka of all ages and abilities. He focuses on building solid fundamentals, developing strong competition skills, and instilling confidence that extends beyond the mat.
Kyeren’s calm leadership, commitment to excellence, and genuine passion for the art enrich the Kano training environment. His broad real-world experience and strong work ethic further enhance his ability to mentor and guide each student on their unique judo journey.
