The 12th Mombasa Open Tong-Il Moo-Do International Martial Arts Championship will be held in December 2025 following official approval by the Ministry of Sports, ending nearly two years of uncertainty after last year’s event was cancelled.
Kenya Tong-Il Moo-Do Federation (KTMF) Chair Master Clarence Mwakio Ingalwa announced that the championship has been scheduled for December 10th to 23rd, 2025, with competition days set for December 19th to 21st at Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa.
He said the event’s revival follows the intervention of Cabinet Secretary for Sports Salim Mvurya, whose engagement with the World Tong-Il Moo-Do Federation (WTMF) prevented Kenya from being banned after the federation failed to host the championship in August and again in December 2024.
“His intervention ensured the ban was lifted and normalised relations between KTMF and the world body. We received official approval after more than 20 months of waiting, and we are grateful for the government’s support,” said Master Clarence Ingalwa.
According to Ingalwa, Kenya’s delegation travelled to South Korea in April to begin negotiations with the world federation, followed by an official mission in August that included Principal Sports Officer Jackson Munywoki and Elvis Malipe. The delegation held discussions with WTMF officials, focusing on restoring Kenya’s status and securing international confidence in hosting rights.
Meanwhile, more than 50 countries from Africa, Asia, South and North America, the Middle East and Australia are expected to send teams to Mombasa.
International competitors are due to start arriving from December 10. New participating countries include Vanuatu, Germany and São Tomé and Príncipe. Cambodia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Canada, Finland and Ireland will also attend for the first time.
The championship will feature six categories: senior men, senior women, youth men, youth women, junior boys and junior girls. Ingalwa said the Championship gives Kenyan athletes broad exposure to international competition.
He noted that Kenya and the Philippines remain among the world’s top-ranked countries in the sport, but funding challenges in recent years reduced international attendance and affected competition balance.
“This year we expect strong competition and a more level playing field as more countries return,” he said.
Ingalwa called on the Mombasa County Government and private sector sponsors to support the event, citing its tourism and economic benefits to the region.
“This championship brings the world to Mombasa and drives hotel bookings, transport and local business activity,” he said. “We invite partners to work with us to make this event bigger and better.”
The Mombasa Open Tong-Il Moo-Do International Championship has previously attracted global participation and is regarded as one of East Africa’s premier martial arts competitions.