MARTIAL ARTS STARS: Kenya reap big at Mombasa Tong- IL Moo Do due to qualified coaches

Marlon Otanda (in blue) from Philipins lands a left kick to Atomas Hiroyena (in red) from Thailand on the second day of the Mombasa Open Tong-il Moo-do International Martial Arts championship t the Aga Khan Academy, August 28, 2016. PHOTO BY GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD].

Kenya has continued to dominate Tong- IL Moo Do championships for the last four years. This has been as a result of better preparations from highly professional instructors that have previously excelled as players in international tournaments.

Kenya Tong –IL Moo Do Federation Chairman Clarence Mwakio and the organiser of the 4th edition of Mombasa open Tong –IL Moo do international Martial Arts championship said Kenya has always had an upper hand against her rivals because it fields big teams that are multi-talented.

Mwakio added that the Kenya team has coaches that have attained level C international certification and are passionate about the sport.

“The coaches periodically participate in trainings internationally and are well aware of the sport skills and scoring techniques that are universally looked into during tournaments,” he said.

Further, he said the Kenya national team led by technical team manager Anuro Makanga ensures that the players win more medals to reflect the same success that they previously obtained in international championships in Korea and Thailand.

A Philippines Bantam weight player Marlin Oranda featuring for the first time said he was nervous when he was paired with an Ethiopian in the preliminary bout but stood firm to beat him before sailing into the semi-finals on day one of the event.

Oranda said the event is well organised and the Kenyan people are ever smiling and friendly.

“Next year, we will come in large numbers to compete and win more medals. We have also come to win more friends not only medals,” he added.

A Kenyan female finalist Rozet Kusimba, who won the 23 to 32 years old individual form gold medal, said compared to last year, the game has become more competitive with more foreign participants.

“The Philippines and Thailand players are not easy match but we are able to beat them. This shows that our standards too, are high,” Kusimba said.

She said most of the players in the Kenyan team are motivated by the passion of the sports and are eager to train to excel at both the local and international competition.