Maxwell Mburu is declared winner after beating Joseph Mbathi in the Sanda fight in the Inaugural National Wushu Competition/CHARLENE MALWA
The championship, organised by the Confucius Institute at Kenyatta University, StarTimes Group and the Kenya Kungfu Wushu Federation, with support from the Chinese Embassy in Kenya, the Ministry of Sports and Sports Kenya, brought together 29 athletes from across the country to compete in Sanda, Quan and weapon disciplines across different age and gender categories.
Kenyatta University Confucius Institute Chinese Director Zhou Xiaodong said the event was a response to the increasing number of Kenyans embracing the Chinese language and martial arts.
“More and more Kenyans want to learn Chinese, and they also love martial arts. A lot of students and community people ask whether we can provide activities for martial arts,” Zhou said.
He explained that the immediate objective is to provide local athletes with regular competition while creating a system to identify and nurture talent.
To strengthen athlete development, Zhou revealed that Shandong Normal University has partnered with the programme by sending two national champion martial arts instructors to Kenya.
“They come and help us to teach students, organise club activities and open the curriculum at Kenyatta University, and also help the Kenya Wushu Kungfu Federation to train their students,” he said. T
he championship allows Kenyan athletes to compete in disciplines such as Sanda, traditional Quan and weapon events while benefiting from structured coaching and increased exposure. Zhou confirmed that organisers, with the backing of the Chinese Embassy and Sports Kenya, have agreed to stage the competition annually.
“We have discussed and decided to continue year after year. Every year, we will host this event,” he said.
The annual championship is expected to strengthen the federation’s talent identification programme, widen participation and provide a clear pathway for athletes to progress to regional and international competitions.
For Zhou, the vision extends beyond competition to promoting cultural exchange and healthy lifestyles. “So many people love Chinese Kung Fu, so I think it’s very important for us to organise this event, promote Chinese Kung Fu, help Kenyan people improve their health and fitness, and also learn more about Chinese culture,” he said.
