Zim Ninja Academy Unleashes Major National Martial Arts Tournament
MORE than 200 athletes from across Zimbabwe have registered for the inaugural Zim Ninja Academy National Martial Arts Tournament, setting the stage for one of the country’s biggest martial arts competitions at Harare City Sports Centre on 26 September.
The tournament, being held under the Zimbabwe Karate Union banner, will feature full contact Karate and Kobudo, with male and female competitors battling across different age and weight categories.
Running under the theme “Building a Drug-Free Generation Through Sport”, the competition seeks to combine talent identification and development with efforts to encourage young people to embrace sport and healthy lifestyles.
The strong registration numbers have exceeded expectations for an inaugural competition and underline growing interest in competitive martial arts in Zimbabwe.
Full contact Karate Kumite will feature athletes from seven years old through junior, senior and veteran divisions, while Kobudo competition will accommodate participants from as young as four.
Kobudo athletes will compete in Traditional Weapons and Freestyle Weapons disciplines, while competitors aged 40 and above will battle in the veterans category.
Beyond medals and prizes, organisers intend to use the tournament to identify promising athletes who could be developed to represent Zimbabwe at continental and international competitions.
The academy also hopes to establish the competition as an annual fixture on Zimbabwe’s martial arts calendar, creating more opportunities for emerging athletes to gain competitive experience without having to travel outside the country.
Zim Ninja Academy was founded by decorated martial artist and coach Shihan Wilfred Mashaya, popularly known as Zim Ninja.
Mashaya, a Kobudo weapons world champion and multiple Martial Arts Hall of Fame inductee, has competed and received recognition in several countries across Africa, Europe and Asia.
His development programme produced a major international result at the 2025 ICO World Championships in Wales, where eight young Zimbabwean martial artists under his guidance collected a combined 43 medals.
He was also recognised at the 2026 Annual National Sports Awards, receiving the People’s Choice Award and the Coach of the Year Silver Award.
The tournament has attracted support from several corporate and institutional partners, including Fleximarble Investments, Baines Intercare Medical Centre, Musabvunda, Gas Up Energy, Quality Glass Warehouse, Jandrup Group and Aqua Rangers Lifesaving & Water Safety Services.
Admission for spectators is free, with organisers hoping for a strong turnout from families, martial arts enthusiasts and members of the public.
