Zimbabwe Martial Arts Team of Kobudo scooped 11 Medals leaving an impressive Mark in the ICO World Martial Arts Championships held in England at the University of Hull in Hull City. The Team was made up of 2 Athletes namely Wilfred Mashaya and Vincent Fambira. The Tournament was held for three days as from 20 October to the 22 October 2023. Total Medals won were 11 comprising of 8 Gold Medals, 2 Silver Medals and 1 Bronze Medal.
They were various Martial Arts Styles at the Tournament that included , Point Fighting, Full Contact, Traditional Forms, K1 Rules, Kick Light, K1 Light, Box Light, Boxing, Weapon Categories & Muay Thai. The Zimbabwe Team participated in the Weaponry Categories also known in Japanese as Kobudo Martial Arts. Kobudo is a weaponry Martial Arts style that specialises on the Okinawan/Japanese ancient Weapons such as the Tonfa, Sai, Bo, Kama, Katana, Nunchaku among others.
The Tournament was organised and hosted by Mr Andrew Hennessy of International Combat Organisation (ICO) and the ICO Organising Team.
For a record this was the first physical World Tournament by the Zimbabwe Kobudo Team comprising of more than 1 person. From 2016 the Multi Award Winning Martial Artists Wilfred Mashaya used to go alone and latter on pioneered the Sport in Zimbabwe and started grooming Zimbabweans in the Sport. He has impressively developed the sport which was evidenced by the number of Tournaments they entered so far including the Virtual Competitions held in the Covid era and now the Physical ones held this year that include the regional Tournament & the just ended World Martial Arts championships.
In Virtual Competitions held during the Covid pandemic period of 2020 to 2022 they won more than 200 medals from 15 participants having entered more than 10 Virtual Competitions. Then in Physical regional Tournament held in August in South Africa, the team of 6 Athletes coached by Mashaya scooped 22 Medals. Then on the just ended World Championships attended by two Athletes Mashaya & Fambira they have scooped 11 Medals.
Mashaya has nurtured his students well to be able to compete with the rest of the world which is a positive move to show that the sport is growing and bearing fruits in Zimbabwe. The Kobudo Team’s main challenge all along is lack of Sponsorship and even this time the team had to drop more than 10 of their athletes who were supposed to go and perform as they could not find enough Sponsorship.
With this win, the team is hopeful that it will open doors and attract Individuals , the corporate world and potential Sponsors to chip in for the good of supporting Zimbabwe Sport especially those Sports raising the country’s flag high on World Stage.
Wilfred Mashaya won a total of 4 Medals that comprised of 3 Gold Medals & 1 Silver Medal. He was crowned World Champion in Black Belt Traditional Weapons, World Champion in Black Belt Free style Weapons & World Champion in Black Belt Extreme Weapons to earn him 3 Individual Gold Medals.
Vincent Fambira won a total of 4 Medals as well that comprised of 3 Gold Medals & 1 Silver Medal. He was crowned World Champion in 17 plus Years Traditional Weapons, World Champion in 17 plus Years Free style Weapons & World Champion in 17 plus Years Creative Weapons to earn him 3 Individual Gold Medals.
The Former Zimbabwe Sports person and Regional Sportsman of the year Master Wilfred Mashaya was both the Team’s Coach and athlete. He was very much impressed by Fambira’s performance as it makes him a proud Teacher and coach. Fambira was groomed by Zim Ninja for so many years now among other Zim Ninja Academy Martial Artists who are doing well in the discipline. The team falls under the Zimbabwe Karate Union (ZKU)
Master Wilfred Mashaya is happy with the Zimbabwe team’s performance as despite the various challenges they faced, they did their best to raise the country’s flag high in England infront of more than 15 countries from around the World. It is a great honour representing the country in a World Tournament and by going further to win it makes the nation proud.
Mashaya gives all the glory to the Almighty Lord and wanted to thank the Individuals who chipped in to help by contributing funds to make the trip possible. He also wants to thank the Zim Ninja Academy family members who played a great party in contributing for the journey though it was not easy. “God is good all the time. We are here because of his endless grace and love – He is an Awesome God.”
Mashaya believes in Hard work, focus, humility & above all
discipline to drive one to greater heights in sports.
The team of Mashaya were also crowned Team World Champions in two categories namely Team World Champions in Traditional Weapons and Team World Champions in Creative Weapons.
The team is expected back in Zimbabwe tomorrow from a successful Mission after conquering the World with flying colors. The Organisers and other Countries at the tournament were impressed by their performances and complimented the Zimbabwe team.
The Zimbabwe Kobudo Team has broke history by becoming the First African Kobudo Team to win the World Martial Arts Championships in Weapons and be crowned Team World Champions. They made the country and everyone proud. Congratulations to Mashaya and Fambira, Congratulations Zimbabwe
Quite amazing. May the lord continue to give them strength in their endeavors. keep it up Shidhoshi and Fambira
They are a powerhouse, a great duo with incredible potential. We appreciate the wins, raising the Zimbabwean flag is worth celebrating. Kudos gents!
Congratulations amhlopeeeee
Our champions, massive congrats to them.
Congratulations
Massive congrats to our champions.