The Japan Karate Shotorenmei Kenya (JKS) seminar commenced in Nairobi on March 7, featuring instruction from Sensei Hajme Matsue, a fifth Dan black belt from JKS headquarters in Japan. The event, held at the National Youth Service (NYS) School of Engineering, marks the fourth time Matsue has visited Kenya since his initial 2005 trip.
Matsue praised Kenya's athletic progress, stating, "If these athletes are provided with the necessary resources to train karate, then I am optimistic Kenya will soon be winning gold medals at global events." He is set to continue the seminar in Mombasa on March 9.
Over 200 athletes from 10 counties participated, including Kisumu, Kakamega, and Turkana. Peter Ombima, founder of JKS Kenya, emphasized the organization's mission to "spread the karate gospel countrywide" through partnerships with Japanese instructors. He called for local governments to support training equipment costs, noting karate's potential for integration into schools.
NYS students benefited significantly, with 30 participants including seven women. Lydia Mwangi, a second-year aeronautical engineering student, highlighted karate's discipline and self-defense value, stating, "The self-defense part is also very important to a woman because you just never know when the devil strikes nowadays." The seminar included a grading session for athletes seeking belt promotions.
Founded in 2011 after Ombima's 2010 training in Japan, JKS Kenya became an affiliate of the Japanese organization by year's end. The group offers traditional karate training, competitive programs, wheelchair karate, and self-defense classes.
