Karate JKS seminar well underway in Nairobi

The Karate JKS seminar well underway in Nairobi [Courtesy]

The fifth Japan Karate Shotorenmei Kenya (JKS) three-day seminar kicked off in Nairobi on Thursday, March 7.  

The ongoing seminar is being conducted by Sensei Hajme Matsue from the JKS headquarters in Japan, at the National Youth Service (NYS) School of Engineering.

“It’s always been a pleasure coming to Kenya. My first time here was way back in 2005, this is now my fourth time here. I am amazed at how Kenyan athletes are improving day by day. 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,” said the karate teacher from Tokyo.

The black belt holder has proceeded to Mombasa County today and will be at the KPA hall in Makande. JKS will conduct its last of the three-day seminar on Saturday at the coast. The event has already attracted more than 20 clubs countrywide with over 200 karate athletes mainly from Kisumu County, Kakamega County, Turkana County, Kiambu County, Uasin Gishu County, Nairobi County and Bungoma County.

“Of course growing the sport in Kenya has been a challenge to us and that is why we came up with this organization JKS. We are trying as much as possible to spread the karate gospel countrywide. The best way to grow this sport is also by inviting the best teachers from Japan to train our athletes,” said sensei Peter Ombima.

National Youth Service (NYS) students karate club were the main beneficiaries of the event. The club which has about 30 students also attracted seven ladies.

“There is a great deal of discipline with this sport. I started out with taekwondo before I joined NYS two years ago. Karate will help you concentrate and focus on your education while at school. The self-defence part is also very important to a woman because you just never know when the devil strikes nowadays, “said Lydia Mwangi, a second-year aeronautical engineering student.

The event was also used as a grading session for those athletes who took a practical exam in order to get a belt.

Peter Ombima who is the founder of JKS also called upon local governments to chip in the facilitation of training equipment. According to him, karate can be popularised in Kenyan learning institutions starting from primary schools up to college levels.

He founded the organisation in July 2011 after spending some months training in Japan from 2010. JKS Kenya then became an affiliate of JKS Japan by the end of 2011, hence the great partnership.

JKS in Kenya trains its students the traditional style of Karate which covers mainly the physical aspects of the human body, competitive athletes who participate in competitions, wheelchair Karate which is mainly for athletes with disabilities and self-defence classes for protection.