Martial Arts: Kenya should do well to learn from Koreans

President Uhuru Kenyatta tries martial arts moves at State House, Nairobi during the flagging off of the martial arts team who are representing the country at the 2019 Chungju World Martial Arts Mastership in Korea [Courtesy]

Quite often, the mention of South Korea does not arouse political interest globally unless of course in the context of US-North Korean tense relations. The East Asian power also evokes little excitement in sporting terms despite being the only other Asian nation, with Japan, to have hosted the Summer Olympics.

One of Kenya’s memorable performances at the Olympics came in 1988 here in Seoul where we bagged nine medals (5 gold, 2 silver and 2 gold).

South Korea fares better in business and technological advancement what with their marque corporations such as Samsung, Hyundai and LG Electronics just to mention a few.

Yet behind that veil of seemingly laid back façade is a meticulous strategy for her people to wield, enjoy and exercise the soft power sport affords.

Sports infrastructure here in South Korea is at par with the world’s powerful nations. This explains South Korea’s competitiveness in global sporting arena. They, like most Asian nations, are increasingly becoming destinations of choice when it comes to hosting sports events.

While Unified Martial Arts, (Tong-Il Moo-Do), which is being held here in Chungju is causing a buzz in Kenya – it is just another sport in South Korea. Every community (estate in Kenya) has state-of-the-art multi-purpose gymnasiums that afford the youth space to discover and express their talent for indoor sports.

Just outside Chungju, we stopped over in Cheongpyung, where we sampled an imposing Cultural Centre that millions of visitors come from across the world every year to indulge in cultural sports that Koreans have to offer.

South Korea’s popular sports are football, basketball, baseball and golf with its traditional sport Tae Kwon Do (self-defence discipline) being the greatest export to the world. They also have Jokgu, which resembles a mix of football and volleyball.

Ssireum -a folk wrestling style and traditional national sport of Korea in which protagonists aim to bring any part of the opponent’s body above the knee to the ground.

All these sports would not be possible without attendant infrastructure.

Lush golf courses, imposing stadiums and gymnasiums doting the mountainous Korean peninsula leaves your eyes teary, if you are a Kenyan, wondering what would it take to have our government construct such facilities for its citizens.