Vernon Willer Sensei
"Live your kata" - Sensei Vernon Willer
(26/11/1941 - 01/09/2024)
Timeline of Sensei Vernon
1941
A Legend was born
Sensei Vernon was born in Bethlehem, Free State. At the age of six, he moved with his family to Port Elizabeth, where he attended Victoria Park School and later Port Elizabeth Technical College. After qualifying as an electrician, he was offered a job in Chingola, working as an electrician on the mines.
1964
Karate Journey
Sensei Vernon’s karate journey began when he opened his first dojo in Chingola in 1964 and joined Sensei Stan Schmidt and the JKA Association.
1966
Karate Journey
In 1966, he earned his Shodan grading.
1968
Life Journey
In 1968, Sensei Vernon returned to Port Elizabeth.
1968
Karate Journey
In 1968, he opened his first Port Elizabeth dojo in Algoa Park.
1971
Karate Journey
In 1971, established the first Honbu Dojo in Bates Street, Port Elizabeth.
1972
Karate Journey
In 1972, Sensei Vernon expanded to East London, opening a dojo at Turnbull Park, run by Rodney Shadwell.
1973
Karate Journey
Sensei Anthony Prinsloo, the Honbu Dojo’s first Shodan, graded in 1973 and won double gold under-21 under-75kg at the JKA Nationals that year.
Sensei Anthony, referred to as Sensei Vernon’s “blue-eyed boy,” now runs NSKF Port Elizabeth.
1974
Karate Journey
Rodney Shadwell and Sam Meyers became his first two East London black belts, grading Shodan together in 1974. Rodney later became the Chief Instructor of JKA Border.
1975
Life Journey
In 1975, he met Anne, and they married in 1977.
1975
Karate Journey
In 1975, he established the first Honbu Dojo in East London on Caxton Street.
Contributions To Karate
Sensei Vernon taught karate in many Port Elizabeth schools and at both UPE and Rhodes University.
Rhodes University is now run by Sensei Gary Grapentin, who began his karate journey with Sensei Vernon in 1985 and became WUKF President for Africa in 2024.
He opened dojos in Uitenhage, Cradock, Noupoort, and Middleburg, run by Dave van Rooyen and Barry van Tonder.
1975
Contributions To Karate
In 1975, he hosted the first All Styles Eastern Cape and Border Championships at the Port Elizabeth Showgrounds. Many years later, Sensei Gary Grapentin hosted the WUKF Championships at the Boardwalk, where Sensei Vernon was awarded a medal for his outstanding contribution to karate.
2018
Contributions To Karate
After a 20-year hiatus, Sensei Vernon returned to karate in 2018 at the encouragement of his former student, Sensei Desmond van den Doel, joining Best Karate.
2020
Contributions To Karate
In 2020, due to illness, Sensei Vernon and Anne relocated to East London.
2021
Contributions To Karate
In 2021, he took over a dojo from Shawn O’Connell and established Best Karate East London with 20 members ranging from white belts to Shodans. This dojo quickly became his pride, with members winning medals at every competition.
2022
Contributions To Karate
In 2022, Sensei Desmond van den Doel was appointed Chief Instructor of NSKF South Africa, and Sensei Vernon joined the organisation, which he considered one of his best decisions. NSKF grew into a strong organisation.
2024
Contributions To Karate
In 2024, Sensei Vernon was elected President of NSKF South Africa. That year, he took six members to the National Dan Grading, where three achieved Shodan and three Nidan. NSKF East London also earned nine medals at the National Championships.
His Legacy
Sensei Vernon often shared that his greatest achievement was seeing his “kids” grow in karate, excelling in the sport he dedicated his life to.
He trained with and under many renowned national and international instructors, including Shihan Nakayama, Senseis Tanaka, Enoeda, Yahara, Schmidt, Robertson, Wittstock, Dorfman, Roets, and others. He was proud to be one of the “originals.”
Some of his notable students include:
- Sensei Desmond van den Doel (NSKF South Africa Chief Instructor)
- Sensei Gary Grapentin (WUKF President for Africa)
- Sensei Anthony Prinsloo (NSKF Port Elizabeth)
- Sensei Andre Wessels (Instructor of Les Marais Dojo)
- Senseis Lynn Palmer, Fanie Meyer, Elena Efstratiou, Dawie Pretorius (NSKF Border), and many others.
His own children also excelled in karate as provincial and national champions: Sensei Dean (3rd Dan), Quinton (3rd Dan), Shoun (2nd Dan), and Lynnette (4th Kyu).
One of his greatest honors was hosting Shihan Nakayama at his Port Elizabeth Honbu Dojo in 1975.
A farewell to a legend
On the 1st of September 2024, a day symbolic of his love for nature—Spring Day—Sensei Vernon passed away.
He was a true karate legend, a dedicated instructor, a loyal husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
Sensei Vernon leaves behind his devoted wife Anne, two sons, one daughter, five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and countless karateka he proudly called his “karate kids.”
