Kenya Reigns at Mombasa Open Tong Il Moo Do International Championship
Some of the athletes celebrating their victory. (Photo By Mwakwaya Raymond)
By Mbungu Harrison
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
Kenya emerged as the overall champions of the Mombasa Open Tong Il Moo Do International Martial Arts Championship after delivering a commanding performance that placed the host nation far ahead of its international rivals.
Official results from the championship show that Kenya topped the medal standings with an impressive haul of 67 gold medals, 67 silver medals and 100 bronze medals, underlining the country’s growing dominance in Tong Il Moo Do on the global stage.
The Philippines finished second overall with 23 gold, 10 silver and 17 bronze medals, while Zambia claimed third place after collecting 5 gold, 4 silver and 14 bronze medals.
India placed fourth with four gold medals, while traditional martial arts powerhouse South Korea settled for fifth place with three gold and one silver medal.
Other notable performances came from Vanuatu and Japan, each winning two gold medals, as Nigeria, Uganda, Rwanda, Thailand, Mali and Côte d’Ivoire also featured on the medal table, highlighting the expanding international reach of the sport.
The championship, held in Mombasa, brought together athletes from Africa, Asia and the Pacific, showcasing elite competition, cultural exchange and sports tourism.
Kenyan athletes dominated across multiple weight categories and age groups, drawing loud support from the home crowd and reaffirming the country’s investment in martial arts development.
Speaking after the tournament, Kenya Tong-Il Moo-Do Federation President Master Clarence Mwakio hailed the championship as a major success despite several logistical challenges.
“We had top-quality teams competing at this championship, and interest continues to grow every year. With clearer confirmation on hosting, we would have attracted even more countries to this year’s edition,” he said.
The president noted that while the technical aspects of the event were successful, operational challenges affected preparations.
“Funding arrived late and was insufficient, which affected key operational areas. We plan to engage the Cabinet Secretary for Sports to address these gaps, as hosting an international tournament of this scale requires strong commitment and adequate support.”
Team Jasiri, reign means Kenya defended its overall title at the 12th edition of the championship, reaffirming the country’s authority in the martial art on the international stage.
The tournament attracted over 600 athletes from Thailand, India, Zambia, South Korea, Nigeria, France, Côte d’Ivoire, Japan, the Philippines, Mali and Vanuatu, turning Mombasa into a vibrant hub of competitive martial arts.
Mwakio said Team Jasiri had brought immense pride to the country and deserved recognition and reward for their achievements
Tong Il Moo Do, which combines elements of judo, taekwondo, karate, boxing and mixed martial arts, continues to grow in popularity, with Kenya firmly established as one of the world’s leading nations in the discipline.
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