Chinese Kung Fu back in full force, festival set for next month

Kenya's Kung Fu Master Aphrodice Bakorubusa displays the martial arts skills during the launch of StarTimes Kung Fu Festival scheduled for November 5, at KICC Grounds.[PHOTO:DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

Famed Chinese martial arts, Kung Fu is back in Kenya.

The sport known also as WuShu is set for major boost locally by pay TV company, StarTimes.

Kenya’s Kung Fu clubs are set to receive training from China-based Kung Fu masters, StarTimes announced yesterday.

The training will precede a Kung Fu festival on November 5 at KICC Comesa grounds.

While making the announcement, StarTimes Vice President Mark Lisboa said the training will culminate in a major event dubbed the Kung Fu Festival where local Kung Fu clubs and the visiting masters from Beijing will showcase their talents in the sport.

“This marks the start of our development of Kung Fu sports in the country. The training of local Kung Fu clubs will ensure they adopt the sport’s best practices while setting the stage to grow the awareness through the StarTimes Kung Fu festival, an event set for November 5,” Lisboa said.

Little known clubs mainly from Kiambu, Muthurwa, Kangemi, Kayole and Majengo will gain from an exchange programme the StarTimes is rolling out in an effort to develop local Kung Fu.

The players will have an opportunity to sharpen their skills with a team of 10 Kung Fu masters derived from the Beijing International Arts School, who arrive in country on November 2.

The company also plans to sponsor three Kenyan Kung Fu experts for an all expenses visit to China for a week of training at the Beijing International Arts School come December. This will be done through auditions on October 29 at the Kiambu Madaraka gardens where the three best candidates will be picked.

“This is the best opportunity we have had as Kung Fu professionals in Kenya to grow our talent.

“The StarTimes Kung Fu festival will act as a strong platform to further raise the awareness of the sport while exposing us to the best practices gained from the China based Kung Fu masters,” said Joseph Ngaruiya, a representative of the clubs.

The event at KICC will be a family fun day to be graced by music heavy weights including Jose Chameleon from Uganda, Jua Cali, Timmy Tdat among others. Entry will be free.