MOMBASA OPEN TONG-IL MOO-DO INTERNATIONAL MARTIAL ARTS CHAMPIONSHIP.

The Mombasa Open Tong-IL Moo-Do International Martial Arts Championship is the first martial arts program of its kind in Africa. It was founded in 2013 after KTMF with support from the Sports Ministry lobbied to have an international event in Kenya. The Mombasa Open Tong-IL Moo-Do International Martial Arts Championship is a World Championship status event according to the World Tong-IL Moo-Do Federation events classification. 

The tournament brings together participants from across the globe in Mombasa for twelve days to take part in training martial arts & learning character education, compete against martial artists from all styles, participate in voluntary service to our communities, tour our beautiful historical sites and see our exotic wildlife through the Safari experience. 

The competition is open to Tong-IL Moo-Do the host and other invited Martial Arts like Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Judo, Kung-Fu, Aikido, Jiu-jitsu, Ninjutsu, Hapkido, Capoeira, Japanese Kendo and Wushu. 

The Mombasa Open Tong-IL Moo-Do International Martial Arts Championship – 2022 Organizing Committee invites martial arts practitioners to compete in sparring, forms, and special techniques. Competitors from as young as 8 years boys and girls to men and women of up to 55 years shall compete as individuals and teams in various categories in the 3 days tournament. 

The entire event lasts for 12 days during which participants go through training from international masters and grandmasters of different martial styles, they will attend character education lectures and take part in several voluntary community service projects at the Coast. 

Participants also visit historical sites and as a tradition, all participants local and foreign go on safari and see our wildlife at Tsavo or Shimba Hills.

This promotes sports tourism and markets our country, especially to the visiting foreign participants from all over the world. 

So far, the federation with direct support  from the Kenyan government through the Ministry of Sports, Kenya Tong-IL Moo-Do Federation, Private Companies and Non-governmental Organizations has hosted successful editions of this Global Championship since 2013 drawing participants from the following countries: –

• 2013 – 5 COUNTRIES; – KENYA, UGANDA, ENGLAND, SWITZERLAND & JAPAN

• 2014 – 6 COUNTRIES; – KENYA, UGANDA, COTE D’IVOIRE, ETHIOPIA, BRAZIL & JAPAN

• 2015 – 9 COUNTRIES; – KENYA, THAILAND, BRAZIL, SOUTH KOREA, COTE D’IVOIRE, ETHIOPIA, IRAN, PHILIPPINES & JAPAN

• 2016 – 12 COUNTRIES; – KENYA, THAILAND, SOUTH KOREA, COTE D’IVOIRE, ETHIOPIA, IRAN, PHILIPPINES, NIGERIA, SOUTH AFRICA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, NETHERLANDS & JAPAN.
• 2017 – 12 COUNTRIES; – KENYA, THAILAND, TANZANIA, CONGO BRAZZAVILLE, SOUTH KOREA, COTE D’IVOIRE, ETHIOPIA, PHILIPPINES, NIGERIA, ZAMBIA, UGANDA & JAPAN
• 2018 – 11 COUNTRIES; – KENYA, THAILAND, TANZANIA, SOUTH KOREA, COTE D’IVOIRE, ETHIOPIA, PHILLIPINES, NIGERIA, CAMEROON, ZAMBIA, & JAPAN

• 2019 – 13 COUNTRIES; – KENYA, THAILAND, TANZANIA, IRAN, SOUTH KOREA, PARAGUAY, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, ETHIOPIA, REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, PHILIPPINES, NEPAL, ZAMBIA & JAPAN
• 2020 – 11 COUNTRIES; – KENYA, THAILAND, IRAN, TURKEY, SOUTH KOREA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, COTE D’IVOIRE, REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, PHILIPPINES, ZAMBIA & JAPAN
• 2021 – 16 COUNTRIES; – KENYA, THAILAND, IRAN, TURKEY, SOUTH KOREA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, COTE D’IVOIRE, REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, PHILIPPINES, ZAMBIA, NIGERIA, ANGOLA, BURKINA FASO, ETHIOPIA, USA & JAPAN
• 2022 – 13 COUNTRIES; – KENYA, SOUTH KOREA, COTE D’IVOIRE, PHILIPPINES, ZAMBIA, RUSSIA, INDIA, PARAGUAY, BRAZIL, USA & JAPAN

The number of participating countries has been growing annually, making the event the most popular among the World Tong-IL Moo-Do Federation international events.

Benefits of Hosting
Mombasa Open Tong-IL Moo-Do International Martial Arts Championship

1. Economic Boost: International martial arts tournaments often attract participants and spectators from around the world, leading to increased tourism and spending in the host country. This can boost the local economy through increased revenue from ticket sales, accommodation, transportation, dining, and other related services.

2. International Exposure: Hosting an international martial arts tournament puts the host country in the international spotlight, generating media coverage and increasing global visibility. This helps promote the country’s culture, tourism, and sports, leading to enhanced international recognition and reputation.

3. Sports Development: Hosting an international martial arts tournament promotes the development of martial arts and combat sports within the host country. It encourages local athletes to participate, train, and compete at an international level, leading to improved skills and performance. This also inspires young athletes to take up martial arts and promote grassroots sports development.

4. Cultural Exchange: International martial arts tournaments often bring together participants from different countries and cultures, providing a platform for cultural exchange and understanding. It allows participants and spectators to learn about different martial arts styles, techniques, and traditions, fostering mutual respect and appreciation for diverse cultures.

5. Health and Wellness Promotion: Martial arts tournaments promote physical fitness, health, and wellness. Hosting such an event encourages people to take up martial arts as a form of exercise and self-defense, leading to improved mental and physical health and well-being among the local population. This is especially important in addressing the prevalent cases of deteriorating mental health in the country.

6. Community Engagement: This international martial arts tournament engages local communities, as they provide opportunities for volunteering, sponsorship, and participation. This fosters a sense of community pride and involvement, bringing people together and creating a positive social impact. Mid-week within our program we have a public service program where we have been joining in community service, beach clean-ups, and giving donations to children’s homes. 

7. Tourism Legacy: Hosting an international martial arts tournament leaves a lasting legacy for the host country’s tourism industry. It creates a positive image of the country as a sports tourism destination, attracting future tournaments, events, and visitors. As part of our event 12 days program, we have a permanent component of visiting tourist sites like museums and ruins as well as going for Wildlife Safari at Shimba Hills and Tsavo which is their favorite part of the tourism circuit. We want to establish Kenya as the Sports Tourism Destination of Choice for all Martial Arts Global Events.

8. Economic Multiplier Effect: The economic impact of hosting an international martial arts tournament extends beyond the event itself. It stimulates spending and economic activity in various sectors, such as hospitality, transportation, retail, and services, creating a multiplier effect on the local economy. Our target when the event reaches its prime is to be hosting 10,000 visitors annually for minimum 2 weeks from all parts of the world.

9. Diplomatic Relations: Hosting an international martial arts tournament facilitates diplomatic relations and promotes goodwill between the host country and participating countries. It provides opportunities for cultural exchange, dialogue, and cooperation, strengthening diplomatic ties and international relations.

10. Infrastructure Development: Hosting this event has greatly supported the local infrastructure of the federation and set standards for all Kenyan clubs and visiting federations from other nations. After hosting this annual martial arts championship, training equipment are distributed to KTMF Affiliate Clubs countrywide to aid in their daily training and winners are awarded some training equipment. This has enabled all our players to train safely with modern equipment as well as raise our general performance ranking globally. Modern equipment has also lowered levels of possible injuries during training and tournaments.

11. Monetization of the Sport: Due to the fast and visible growth of Tong-IL Moo-Do as a sport in Kenya and the exposure the federation has been getting out of hosting this magnificent global martial contest, some of our instructors have had an opportunity to get free international training in Korea, The Philippines, Thailand, Iran, and the United States of America. We also have some of our coaches practicing trade in the USA, with plans of training enough instructors who shall train more new members in all counties in Kenya as well as more than 100 Coaches to feed the demand for more instructors needed by more than 42 African countries in Africa where we don’t have a presence yet.

Our local players have benefited immensely financially from the Presidential Cash Awards Scheme for having won numerous medals in different global championships including Mombasa Open. The Cash awards have enabled many young players to pay tuition fees for their Primary, Secondary, and College education. Several students in various universities are paying their school fees from the cash awards proceeds. Others ventured into business, while others stabilized their families financially. 

Tong-IL Moo-Do has greatly changed the lives and fortunes of many young people and our goal is to work together with Kenya Kwanza Government to achieve The Plan together.

12. Expansion for Tong-IL Moo-Do in Kenya: This event has greatly contributed to the fast growth of the sport in more counties in Kenya. We have established many newer clubs in all levels of educational institutions and still expanding. We have a solid presence in 14 counties and soon we are opening up more branches in new counties.

13. Expansion for Tong-IL Moo-Do in Africa: The sport has expanded from five countries in 2013 to 12 countries IN 2023. Most of these nations have drawn their inspiration from the success story of Kenya Tong-IL Moo-Do Federation and its vibrant expansion programs. They are also greatly inspired by the support our government has granted KTMF through the Ministry of Youth Affairs, The Arts and Sports. 

Most Tong-IL Moo-Do practicing countries globally envy Kenya due to its rapid growth of the sport and good working relations with our government.

In conclusion, hosting Mombasa Open Tong-IL Moo-Do International Martial Arts Championship brings a range of benefits to a country, including economic, cultural, sports, and social advantages. It contributes to the local economy, promotes the country’s culture and tourism, encourages sports development, fosters community engagement, and leaves a lasting legacy.