Kenya National Tong-Il Moo-Do team ‘Jasiri’ is ready to defend their title in the upcoming 12th edition of the Mombasa Open Tong-Il Moo-Do International Martial Arts Championship.
Speaking during a training session at Nyali Beach in Mombasa, Jasiri Captain Elvis Malipe said the team has been preparing for the Championship since August when the tournament was postponed.
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“We are expecting about 35 teams to come compete for the title. Currently, we have a team from Japan that has already arrived, we also have some Indian players here and one from Turkey is in Nairobi. We are expecting more teams to come as the days progress towards the tournament,” said Capt Malipe.
The team’s indoor camp training has been split into three due to funding challenges. Part of the team is training in Mombasa, another in Nairobi, and the other in Bungoma.
“We are preparing them in bits because we have not yet received funding, but once funding comes, we will assemble here in Mombasa for the final preparations. Right now we are preparing with our regional coaches,” said Malipe.
This year’s tournament is set to be held from the 11th to the 24th of December at the Aga Khan Academy. Team Jasiri says it is looking forward to flying the Kenyan flag high as they have done before since the inception of the Mombasa Open Tong-Il Moo-Do Championships.
“We hope this time the government is going to make it happen for us and give us a chance to showcase our skills and motivate the next generation to participate in the sport and represent the country,” said Jasiri Captain.
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The tournament will be bringing in foreign nationals from 35 countries into Mombasa, an opportunity for the county to tap into the tourism bit of the championship.
“So in days leading to the tournament, some of the activities we do take place at Fort Jesus. We also have a sightseeing program, we have been to Shimba Hills and Tsavo East National Parks before. This is the part of the program that our foreign participants really enjoy and look forward to, we have even visited Children’s homes before” said Malipe.
“This year, we were planning to hold a tree planting event, probably along the mangrove forest in Mombasa,” he added.
